Jul 282 min read

Pioneering the Way in Hall of Fame: USC, Notre Dame

USC vs. Notre Dame: Bush Push | Hall of Fame — © Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

No schools have more players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame than the USC Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. And, it is not close. Fourteen Trojans and 13 Golden Domers are in the Hall of Fame. (Another Notre Dame alumnus, Edward DeBartolo Jr., was inducted into the Hall of Fame for front office contributions.) Only 3 other schools have broken the double-digit threshold, and just barely—Michigan (11), Ohio State (10) and Pittsburgh (10).

Historic Programs

Beginning with their inaugural season in 1887, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has had 22 undefeated seasons, 12 of which were perfect. The Fighting Irish have claimed 11 national championships. As an independent program, the Fighting Irish do not compete in a conference. Notre Dame has produced 109 consensus All-Americans and 7 Heisman Trophy winners. The NFL has drafted 495 Notre Dame players.

From its first season in 1888, the USC Trojans football team has achieved 13 undefeated seasons, including 8 perfect seasons. The Trojans have won 11 national championships and 37 conference championships. USC has produced 8 Heisman Trophy winners, the most of any college football program. They have produced 84 first-team consensus All-Americans. Additionally, USC has produced 524 NFL draft picks, the most all-time by any university.

USC vs. Notre Dame — OJ Running — © Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Great Rivalry

The Los Angeles Times characterizes the USC-Notre Dame rivalry as "the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football." The teams have squared off nearly every year since they began playing in 1926. Although some have questioned whether the rivalry will continue now that USC has transitioned into the Big Ten Conference, ESPN reports that it will persist: "The storied football rivalry began in 1926 and will continue with USC in the Big Ten. A lot will obviously change with USC leaving the Pac-12 [Conference] but the Trojans will still play UCLA and Notre Dame every season."

The enduring rivalry has featured memorable and dramatic moments, such as the famous "Bush push," where Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush pushed Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart into the end zone as time expired. It propelled the No. 1 Trojans to a 34-31 victory over the Fighting Irish on Oct. 15, 2005, in South Bend, Ind.