Best games in Notre Dame-USC history, from miracle comebacks to the Bush Push

Notre Dame. Southern California. Two iconic college football programs that have one of the sport’s rich, prestigious rivalries.

It’s been close to 100 years since the Fighting Irish and Trojans first met on a football field, and since then each have claimed 11 national championships and produced several Heisman Trophy winners while putting on memorable matchups. But could their 96th meeting end up being the last? The 2025 edition of the intersectional rivalry is scheduled to be the last as the two sides work out the future of their series.

It would no doubt be a tragedy if Notre Dame and USC don’t meet on the gridiron anymore, but with the future of this great rivalry in doubt, it’s time to look at the best games and moments it has produced. We all hope this won’t be the last.

1926: First meeting

Thanks to the wives of Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne and USC athletic director Gwynn Wilson, Notre Dame and USC meet for the first time. In Los Angeles, Notre Dame wins 13-12 thanks to a late touchdown, setting the stage for a great rivalry.

One member of that USC team was offensive lineman Marion Morrison, who went on to an acting career under the stage name John Wayne.

1931: USC rises to prominence

In the first meeting in South Bend, Notre Dame entered the matchup on a 26-game unbeaten streak and was the defending national champion. However, the Trojans completed a 14-point fourth quarter comeback, capped by Johnny Baker’s field goal in the final minute to propel USC to a 16-14 win.

The victory was so big, more than 100,000 people greeted USC as it arrived back home by train. It helped solidify USC as a nationally-recognized team and the Trojans won the national championship that season.

1947: No. 1 vs. No. 3

A high-ranked matchup pitted the top-ranked Fighting Irish against No. 3 USC. It was a great season for the Trojans, however, that Notre Dame team was dominant, entering the December contest having allowed only 45 points in eight games.

Led by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack, Notre Dame used a strong second half to beat USC 38-7, capping off a national championship-winning season.

1964: USC upsets No. 1

Undefeated and top-ranked Notre Dame strolled into Los Angeles as a heavy favorite against its rival. Behind eventual Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, Notre Dame had a 17-0 lead at halftime and looked to be on its way to a national title.

However, USC broke through in the second half and scored 20 consecutive points to stun the Fighting Irish and ruin their perfect season.

1974: USC’s great comeback

Ten years after USC authored a stunning comeback against Notre Dame, the Trojans did it again in what is regarded as one of their all-time great victories.

In what became legendary Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian’s final season, the Fighting Irish jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first half. But USC responded emphatically with 55 straight points − all in a 17-minute span − for a dominant victory over the defending national champions.

1977: The green jersey game

USC had dominated the 1970s, winning six of the past seven meetings heading into the 1977 matchup. Trying to switch the vibe, Dan Devine’s squad came out in green jerseys for the first time in program history.

Green definitely helped changed things, as quarterback Joe Montana led the Fighting Irish to a dominant 49-19 rout of their rival. The success of the green jerseys set the stage for Notre Dame to wear them at various points since then.

1982: Controversial game-winning touchdown

Neither USC or Notre Dame had great seasons in 1982, but their season finale that year provided one of the most controversial decisions in the rivalry. In the final minutes of the game, USC running back Michael Harper ran across the goal line for the go-ahead score.

The only problem? Photo evidence shows Harper didn’t have the ball.

Notre Dame recovered the football in the end zone, but the officials ruled Harper broke the plane for a touchdown. Replay review wasn’t available then, so USC won on a score that likely didn’t actually happen.

1986: Lou Holtz’s first season

Holtz’s debut season in South Bend wasn’t spectacular, but he notched his first notable win with a ranked upset of the Trojans. Notre Dame overcame a 17-point fourth quarter deficit and used a last-second field goal to stun USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

1988: No. 1 vs. No. 2

For the first time, USC and Notre Dame entered the contest as the top two teams in the country, with the Fighting Irish at the No. 1 spot and the Trojans second. Even better, it was the regular season finale.

However, the heavyweight battle was all Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish forced four turnovers, including a pick-six, as they comfortably beat USC 27-10. Notre Dame then beat West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl to win a national championship − the last time it won the title.

1996: USC breaks skid

Heading into 1996, Notre Dame had dominated USC, with the last Trojans win in the series coming in 1982. Another USC loss seemed likely with a middling team hosting a ranked Fighting Irish squad in the regular season finale.

Thanks to a late touchdown and two-point conversion, the Trojans forced overtime. USC scored a touchdown on its opening drive, and denied Notre Dame to break the 13-year streak.

USC fans also got to end Lou Holtz’s time in South Bend with a loss.

1999: Notre Dame comeback

The 1999 season was one to forget for Notre Dame, but the highlight came when the Fighting Irish overcame a 21-point deficit to win by a narrow score of 25-24.

USC nearly avoided disaster as it was closing in on a score in the final minutes, but running back Jarious Jackson fumbled the ball and Jabari Holloway recovered the ball in the end zone to preserve the comeback.

Arguably the most famous game in rivalry history, defending national champion and No. 1 USC scored a last-second touchdown to beat Notre Dame in controversial fashion.

With less than 20 seconds left inside the 10-yard line, USC quarterback Matt Leinart scrambled to his left to try and score a touchdown. However, just as he was approaching the goal line, the ball popped out of his hands.

The clock continued to roll down to zero, and Notre Dame players and fans assumed the game was over and ran onto the field to celebrate. However, officials confirmed the ball went out of bounds and the clock should have stopped. The field was cleared and seven seconds were put on the clock, with USC at the 1-yard line.

USC could have spiked the ball to tie and send the game to overtime, but instead Leinart decided to try and sneak the ball in for a touchdown and the win. He was stuffed, but luckily, running back Reggie Bush pushed his quarterback into the end zone for a touchdown to pull off the wild victory.

The play was controversial as NCAA rules at the time stated it was illegal for players to push teammates, but it was rarely enforced. Still, it remains one of the biggest moments in college football history.

2012: Notre Dame’s goal line stand

Notre Dame was one win away from the national championship game. Down by nine points late in the fourth quarter, the Trojans got to the 1-yard line with a chance to put the pressure on.

The Trojans ran the ball three consecutive times, and three straight times, Notre Dame stuffed USC. The USC offense stayed on the field on fourth down and tried a pass instead, but it went incomplete and the Fighting Irish completed “a goal line stand for the ages,” as announcer Brent Musburger said.

With a ranked matchup in store, perhaps the 2025 meeting can add another page to this historic rivalry.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Notre Dame vs USC best games in historic rivalry

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