Notre Dame Earns Hard Fought Win Over USC, Locks Down Playoff Spot
The stage was set for another great battle between Notre Dame and USC, and after a four quarter battle the Irish did what was needed and earned the victory. Notre Dame and USC battled it out for the Jeweled Shillelagh Trophy, but the Irish won it with a 49-35 victory. The win secures a spot for Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.
It was a back and fourth first half in Los Angeles in this historic rivalry. Notre Dame started the game hot, getting a stop on 4th down defensively, then taking the ball 12 plays for 72 yards and scoring on their first offensive possession. One thing was extremely clear, Jeremiyah Love came to play. From his first rush of the game, the sophomore star was running hard, and USC's first defender could not bring him down. It was also encouraging watching Notre Dame's offensive line get a push down field when Love was stopped up by two to three USC defenders.
Riley Leonard also picked up where he left off from the Army game, and ended the first half hitting eight different pass catchers, going 13 of 15 for 91 yards and a beautiful slot fade touchdown grab to tight end Eli Raridon.
The interior of the offensive line struggled periodically, but was able to maintain a good push in the run game, and survive on passing downs. The true game changing play came on Notre Dame's second offensive possession, when senior Jayden Thomas had the football punched out from behind when making a run after the catch which gave the Trojans the ball inside of Fighting Irish territory. USC proceeded to go on a 5 play 37 yard scoring drive with quarterback Jayden Maiava punching the ball into the end zone on a one yard quarterback sneak.
Defensively, the Irish played a solid half of football outside of USC's final possession of the first half. Up until that point, Notre Dame held the Trojans to 119 total yards of offense and 7 points. On their final drive of the half, USC went 78 yards in five plays, where Christian Gray struggled to prevent a few big plays, picked up a defensive pass interference call, and gave up a receiving touchdown to USC wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane.
Both teams started off the second half as hot as they finished the first. Notre Dame went right down the field and capped off a six play 75 yard scoring drive with a 36 yard Jadarian Price touchdown run. USC answered quickly with an eight play 77 yard drive, helped out by another Gray defensive pass interference, and capped off by a one yard Maiava touchdown run. Notre Dame answered with another six play 75 yard touchdown drive, capped off by a Leonard touchdown rush. 21 points were scored in the first eight and a half minutes of the second half. There was a total of 28 total points scored in the 3rd quarter, 21 of them belonged to the Irish. Leonard threw a bad interception, and responded the following drive with a beautiful 23 yard touchdown pass to Mitchell Evans the following drive.
USC opened up the scoring in the 4th quarter going on a five play 45 yard scoring drive, capped off with Lane's second touchdown of the game. Notre Dame needed to go on a long scoring drive and take time off of the clock, but the Irish went three and out. Momentum was certainly wearing red and yellow late in the 4th quarter. It was 35-28 and the Trojans were driving. Maiava took a shot at the end zone and it was picked off by Gray and returned for 99 yards to the house. In a game where Gray had given up big play after big play, he made the biggest one of the night, ultimately sealing USC's fate, and punching the ticket for Notre Dame into the playoffs.
True freshman Leonard Moore shined on defense, while his counter part Gray sealed the game with a 99 yard pick six. Xavier Watts wanted to join in on the party and returned a pick six 100 yards to add insult to injury against the Trojans. This was the first double digit win for Notre Dame in Los Angeles since 2000. Marcus Freeman has built something special in South Bend, and in a year full of battling adversity and injuries, Notre Dame has won 10 straight, and is well on their way to hosting a home playoff game in December.
Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge
Irish Breakdown Content
2024 Scholarship Chart
2024 Football Schedule
Notre Dame 2025 Scholarship Offers
2025 Commit Rankings - Offense
2025 Commit Rankings - Defense
2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense
———————
Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.
Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!
Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @TTrow5
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook
What's Trending
