The USC–Notre Dame football rivalry, played almost annually since 1926, may soon vanish, with no agreement beyond 2026. USC’s transition to the Big Ten has created travel and scheduling issues, putting the historic series in jeopardy. While public criticism has targeted Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt redirected blame toward the broader structure of the sport.
He criticized the College Football Playoff system and its selection committee for forcing tough scheduling decisions. He argued that the playoff model ultimately pushes programs like USC to abandon iconic traditions.
USC–Notre Dame Rivalry in Jeopardy as Joel Klatt Points Finger at CFP Structure
During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Joel Klatt sharply criticized the current college football playoff system while discussing USC’s choice to omit Notre Dame from its future schedule.
“They are doing what everyone does in this sport, which is they make decisions that are in their own self-interest, and I’m not against that,” Klatt explained.
However, he quickly highlighted the root issue:
“I am saying that the model is what’s broken.”
Klatt slammed the committee-driven playoff format, saying it has transformed scheduling into a cautious game of risk management. Programs like USC, once known for their tough Power Five slates, are now dialing back.
“Because what the committee has done during the course of their tenure, as in influencing college football through the 14 playoff and even now, last year in the 12-team playoff, is that they have reinforced that it’s better to just win than to go play a difficult schedule,” he said.
In other words, victories are rewarded more than challenging matchups. For over a decade, USC led college football in the number of Power Five games played annually. Their upcoming move to the Big Ten in August 2024 adds more scheduling pressure.
“So if you’re USC, which has traditionally played one of the more difficult schedules in the country… When they make this decision (to not play Notre Dame), I can’t fault them for it,” Klatt stated.
While he doesn’t support the decision, he recognizes it as a byproduct of the current structure.
Klatt proposes a shift to an access-based playoff model that would clarify qualification paths, reducing the penalty for challenging non-conference opponents.
“My argument would just be we need to go to an access-based model for the college football playoffs so that we know the avenues of how we can qualify for the playoff spots, which will lead to these games not being as penal, in particular in the non-conference.”
He warns that the selection committee’s emphasis on win-loss records rather than strength of schedule is pushing schools to drop marquee rivalry games in favor of easier paths to the playoffs.
KEEP READING: ‘Our Sport’s in a Great Place’ — USC’s Lincoln Riley Defends College Football’s Future Amid Chaos
Currently, USC has offered Notre Dame a one-year extension to continue the rivalry in 2026, but Notre Dame is seeking a longer commitment. The future of this historic matchup remains uncertain, serving as a stark example of the unintended consequences created by the playoff system.
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