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5 Biggest Notre Dame Wins Over USC

By Daniel Morrison

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 22: Members of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense line up against the offense of the University of Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 22, 2011 in South Bend, Indiana. USC defeated Notre Dame 31-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 22: Members of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense line up against the offense of the University of Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 22, 2011 in South Bend, Indiana. USC defeated Notre Dame 31-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Portrait of American football player Knute Rockne, of Notre Dame, March 6th 1976. (Photo by Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) /

2. 1927-2nd ever meeting

Notre Dame 7, USC 6

1927 was only the second time that Notre Dame and USC had ever played. It would also be the second time that Notre Dame beat USC.

USC came into the game unbeaten, with one tie. They were in the mix for a National Championship. Notre Dame had a loss and a tie. They were in consideration for a National Championship, but not very seriously.

The game would be played at Soldier Field in Chicago. The crowd was estimated to be 120,000 strong. That’s nearly 50,000 more people than came out to watch the inaugural game in the rivalry in Los Angeles. It didn’t take long at all for Notre Dame-USC to become the most important game of the season.

USC struck first, with a passing touchdown. They missed the extra point. USC’s kicker, Morley Drury, mis-kicked it due to a sloppy field. Turns out Soldier Field has always been a mud pit.

Later, Notre Dame scored on a long touchdown pass from Charley Riley to Bucky Dahman. The Irish would make their extra point. Apparently, Notre Dame could handle a little bit of mud in late November. It’s shocking that USC didn’t demand the week of the game changed to earlier in the year then and there, instead of waiting for 1952 to complain.

This rivalry was started by Knute Rockne in 1926. It was an act of genius.

Rockne understood how to build a program. He understood that Notre Dame needed to be a national brand. They couldn’t just be a small Catholic school in Indiana, and win with consistency on a national scale. So, Rockne started an annual series with USC. This gave Notre Dame a chance to travel around the country, be seen by more fans and writers, and develop a national brand.

Rockne only ever lost once to USC.

USC was coached by Howard Jones in 1927, and when the rivalry began. Jones was a brilliant coach, and won 4 National Championships while at USC. Notre Dame likely took away a 5th from him during a late November game in Chicago.

USC would become co-champion of the PCC. Notre Dame would finish the season 7-1-1. The Houlgate System recognizes Notre Dame as National Champions for 1927. However, the school does not consider themselves to be National Champions for the season.

It’s generally accepted that four teams split the 1927 National Championship: Illinois, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Yale.

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