The rivalry was born in 1926 by two women:
USC's traditional version of the story is that Marion Wilson, whose husband, Gwynn, was the Trojans' athletics team manager (much like today's athletic director), was on a train to Chicago along with the Notre Dame team, determined to convince Notre Dame Coach Knute Rockne that a series of games between USC and Notre Dame would be a good idea. Rockne thought his team was traveling too much and didn't like the idea of hauling the Irish halfway across the country on the train. But Marion was in a compartment with Rockne's wife, Bonnie. The women hit it off. Bonnie told Knute she thought the game was a good idea. And a legendary series was born.

A parade:
When USC won at South Bend for the first time in 1931, rallying from a 14-0 deficit for a 16-14 win and ending a 26-game Notre Dame winning streak, the national champion Trojans were welcomed home by a parade through the streets of Los Angeles that drew 300,000.

Spoiler of an undefeated season
Six times, Notre Dame has beaten or tied USC to wreck an undefeated season for the Trojans (1927, 1947, 1952, 1968, 1973 and 1988). Five times USC has beaten or tied Notre Dame when the Irish would have otherwise had an undefeated season (1938, 1948, 1964, 1970 and 1980).

Anthony Davis Part I
Few players in college football history have enjoyed more success against one team than the Trojans' Anthony Davis against Notre Dame. He scored 11 touchdowns in his three games (1972-74). No wonder he was approached after a game by a woman with a small crucifix. "I don't know if she was serious or not," he says, "but she started swinging it in front of my face. And do you know what she said? 'Nobody's ever done this to Notre Dame ... you've got to be the devil."
A look at the five USC individual game records set by Anthony Davis against Notre Dame in 1972 that still stand today:
- Most points: 36 (ties Pac-10 record).
- Most touchdowns: Six (ties Pac-10 record).
- Most yards all-purpose running: 368 (99 rush, 51 receiving, 218 kickoffs).
- Most touchdowns on kickoff returns: Two (ties NCAA record).
- Highest average gain per kickoff return (minimum 3 attempts): 72.7 (3 for 218, NCAA record)

Earthquake
In 1948, the crowd of 100,571 in the Coliseum was treated to a 14-14 tie, and moments after the game ended, it was also treated to a substantial earthquake that left fans talking for years.

120,000
The largest crowd for USC-Notre Dame rivalry was 120,000 in 1927. The game was at Soldier Field in Chicago before Notre Dame had its home field.

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