College football fans, get ready to mark your calendars—the storied rivalry between USC and Notre Dame might be on the verge of a major comeback. After a brief hiatus, negotiations are heating up, and power players across the sport are rallying for the annual clash to return in full force.

At the heart of the push is a simple but powerful message: "Just play the game." That’s the rallying cry from ESPN’s "College GameDay" host Rece Davis, who recently made waves by urging historic programs to stop overthinking their schedules. "It’s not just Notre Dame and USC. Georgia and Florida State opted out for a neutral-site thing. Just play the game. It’s better for everybody," Davis said on the "College GameDay Podcast." For him, these matchups aren’t just about tradition—they’re about building résumés for the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua echoed that sentiment, leaving no doubt about his enthusiasm. "Do we want to play USC in the future? 100 percent, yeah," Bevacqua told Davis, as reported by The Athletic. "We think that’s great for Notre Dame, great for USC, and great for college football." He pointed to the expanded College Football Playoff as a game-changer, arguing it could better accommodate a regular-season showdown between these two titans.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Last season, Notre Dame narrowly missed the CFP, and that No. 16-ranked USC win was arguably their strongest credential. Without it, the Irish wouldn’t have been in the conversation at all. That’s why Davis and others are pushing for this rivalry to be a yearly staple—not just for the fans, but for playoff seeding and the health of the sport.

For now, the public support is electric, from administrators to media members. The Jeweled Shillelagh—the trophy awarded to the winner of this historic series—could soon be back in play annually. As negotiations continue, one thing is clear: college football’s biggest voices want this game to happen, and they want it now. So, lace up those cleats and get ready—this rivalry might just be getting the revival it deserves.