An unusual trophy seems a fitting prize for a storied contest, which, unlike many of the famous rivalries in college football and the other four highlighted this week, features two teams that don't share a state, state border, or even conference.
The University of Southern California and University of Notre Dame campuses are 1,818 miles apart, yet their rivalry stands as one of the most enduring in college sports. Dubbed the “greatest intersectional rivalry” in football, it features two of the nation’s most famous college football programs clashing annually in a game filled with history, tradition, and fierce competition.
The History
The rivalry began in 1926, born from a mutual respect between legendary Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne and USC athletic director Gwynn Wilson, who wanted to showcase their teams on a national stage, but rumour has it that a conversation between their wives sealed the deal. Wilson and his wife Marion travelled to Nebraska in the hope of negotiating a series of games against USC, who were facing the Huskies. Rockne wasn't keen on the fixture and the travel involved, but having allegedly been persuaded that a regular trip to sunny California might be preferable to Nebraska in the cold of winter, Bonnie Rockne persuaded her husband to agree. Since then, the series has symbolised more than just regional pride.
This is a battle of contrasts—Notre Dame’s Midwestern grit against USC’s West Coast glamour, Catholic tradition versus Hollywood flair. These games have held national championship implications, contested by teams boasting 15 Heisman Trophy winners (eight for USC, seven for Notre Dame) and a combined 22 national titles (11 each).
The two teams are No.1 and No.2 in the list of colleges with the highest number of players selected as NFL draft picks, a staggering 1,048 combined players have gone on from these college programs to the NFL, 525 selected from Notre Dame and 523 from USC. Both teams have produced five No.1 overall picks, most recently USC's Caleb Williams, whom the Chicago Bears selected with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The rivalry’s iconic moments are etched in history, from Reggie Bush’s “Bush Push” in 2005 to Notre Dame’s upset of USC’s 11-game winning streak in 1973. Hosted alternately in South Bend, Indiana, or L.A.'s Memorial Coliseum, the game is played out on a national stage.
The Trophy
Introduced in 1952 to this classic rivalry, The Jeweled Shillelagh is the iconic trophy awarded to the winner of the annual USC-Notre Dame. showdown. The trophy is an Irish club made of oak, clovers adorned with emeralds for Notre Dame victories and Trojan helmets containing rubies to signify USC wins, each engraved with the game’s year and score. The shillelagh was a nod to Notre Dame’s Irish heritage, while its jewels were designed to reflect the prestige of the rivalry. One of college football’s most unique trophies, it encapsulates nearly a century of fierce competition and mutual respect between two of the sport’s most storied programs.
Memorable Games in the USC-Notre Dame Rivalry
The "Bush Push" - 2005
No.1 USC were trailing No.9 Notre Dame 31-28 in an iconic game that was decided with seconds left to play in the fourth quarter. Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart scrambled down the Irish sideline, being knocked out of bounds as the stadium clock in South Bend ran out. Officials reviewed the play and added seven seconds back on the clock, allowing USC extra time for another play. Leinart snapped the ball and attempted to run over the goal line, being held up until running back Reggie Bush shoved him over the line to seal a famous victory.
Tim Brown punt return sets up Notre Dame comeback win: 1986
One of the more entertaining games in the USC-Notre Dame rivalry saw Irish quarterback Steve Beuerlein, having been benched earlier in the game, throw three touchdown passes in the second half to haul Notre Dame from a 37-20 early deficit early in the fourth quarter. Heisman Trophy-winning receiver Tim Brown ran back an eye-catching punt return 56 yards to set Notre Dame up for a game-winning field goal and improbable 38-37 win.
USC foils "Joe Cool": 1978
Even back in 1978, future NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana was known for leading his team to fourth quarter comeback wins. USC led 24-6 going into the fourth quarter, before Montana, known as "Joe Cool" for his grace under pressure, led the Irish to a 25-24 lead with a touchdown pass to Pete Holohan with 45 seconds left. USC drove the ball 50 yards in four plays and a 37-yard field goal from Frank Jordan denied Notre Dame to give USC a 27-25 win.
A record 120,000 at Soldier Field witness USC-Notre Dame: 1927
This extraordinary photo highlights how big the USC-Notre Dame college football game became, just two years after they agreed to play each other. New York Yankee superstars Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig are pictured wearing Notre Dame and USC jerseys before the 1927 showdown, which was played in front of a then record 120,000 fans at Chicago's Soldier Field.
Notre Dame won the game 7-6 on the back of a rare forward pass from "Bucky" Dahman to Charley Riley that gave the Fighting Irish a comeback win.
Looking Ahead...
A rivalry which has had national championship implications in its rich history, could do so again when No.6 Notre Dame (10-1) travel to USC (6-5) for their 95th meeting.
A win gives the Fighting Irish a playoff spot and an opportunity to host a first-round game. After their shock loss to Northern Illinois in Week Two, Notre Dame are unbeaten. The Irish defense has 15 interceptions this seaon which could prove the difference against the Trojans. USC, after another difficult season, have a bowl game to look forward to but will want to end their season on a high with a win over their big rivals. Quarterback Jayden Maiava, the UNLV transfer has stepped into the starting job and led the Bruins to consecutive victories over Nebraska and UCLA.
All eyes will be on Southern California this Saturday for the latest matchup between these two huge college football programs.