Notre Dame Football currently holds every rivalry trophy
The Jeweled Shillelagh (USC)
The Jeweled Shillelagh is the trophy given to the winner of the annual contest between the Trojans and The Fighting Irish. Howard Hughes’ pilot brought the war club, made of blackthorn oak, over from Ireland in 1952. The Notre Dame Alumni Club of Los Angeles created the award.
The winner of the contest is awarded the trophy with a new medallion to mark the victor. Notre Dame has emerald shamrocks while USC has ruby encrusted Trojan heads. Although the trophy was created in 1952, the entire series is recorded back to 1926. There have been 5 ties and those games are represented with a combo medallion. The original shillelagh was retired after the 1995 season, as there was no more room.
Notre Dame vs. USC is consistently one of the best matchups in college football. It’s up there with Auburn vs. Alabama and Ohio State vs. Michigan. Both teams are usually in national championship contention and the matchup is usually a tell-tale sign of the strength of each program.
- First meeting: December 4, 1926
- Last meeting: November 24, 2018
- All-time series: Notre Dame, 48-37-5 (.561)
- Largest victory: Notre Dame, 51-0 (1966)