If you were watching the notre dame usc football score tick up on that rainy Saturday night in South Bend, you know it wasn't just another game. It was a 34-24 battle that felt like a throwback.
Notre Dame won.
Honestly, the score tells a story of survival as much as dominance. The No. 13 Fighting Irish managed to fend off a late surge from No. 20 USC, keeping the Jeweled Shillelagh in Indiana for yet another year. It was the seventh straight time the Trojans left South Bend with nothing but a loss and a long flight home.
The Run Game That Ruined USC’s Night
Jeremiyah Love is probably still running in someone's nightmares. He didn't just have a good game; he had a historic one. Love put up 228 rushing yards on a defense that looked, frankly, gassed by the third quarter.
That’s a career-high for him. It's also the 18th time a Notre Dame back has crossed the 200-yard mark in the program’s massive history.
Basically, the Irish offensive line decided they were going to bully the USC front seven, and it worked. Jadarian Price chipped in with 87 yards on the ground too. When you have two backs averaging that kind of yardage, your quarterback doesn't even need to be a superstar. C.J. Carr only threw for 136 yards.
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He didn't need to do more.
One of the weirdest stats from the game? Notre Dame’s longest pass was only 15 yards. Think about that. In a modern college football game where everyone is obsessed with the "air raid," the Irish won a top-20 matchup by basically ignoring the deep ball.
Momentum Is a Fickle Thing
There was a moment in the third quarter where it looked like USC might actually pull it off. Jordan Maiava hit Ja’Kobi Lane for a 59-yard touchdown, then they converted the two-point play. Suddenly, USC was up 24-21.
The stadium got quiet. Rain was coming down harder.
Then Jadarian Price happened.
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Price fielded the kickoff and just... went. 100 yards. He broke two tackles, hit the sideline, and the momentum in the stadium shifted so fast it probably gave the USC bench whiplash. Lincoln Riley admitted after the game that the return was the "biggest singular play" of the night. It changed everything.
Why the Score Stayed at 34-24
The fourth quarter was a defensive masterclass by the Irish. They didn't allow a single point in the final fifteen minutes. Not one.
Adon Shuler was everywhere. He finished with 10 tackles and forced a fumble that Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa jumped on when USC was deep in Irish territory. It’s those kinds of plays that don’t always show up in the headline notre dame usc football score but absolutely dictate the outcome.
USC’s Jordan Maiava finished with 328 passing yards, which looks great on paper. But he also threw two interceptions in the second half. One to Christian Gray and the game-ender to Luke Talich with about a minute left.
- Total Yards: ND 412, USC 355
- Rushing Yards: ND 306, USC 68
- Turnovers: ND 1, USC 3
You can't win big games when you're out-rushed by nearly 240 yards. It just doesn't happen. USC was playing without their top two running backs, Eli Sanders and Waymond Jordan, which definitely hurt. They were limited to just 68 yards on the ground. When a team becomes that one-dimensional, a good defense like Notre Dame’s is eventually going to pin its ears back and find the ball.
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What This Means for the Playoff
This win pushed Notre Dame to 5-2. It kept their College Football Playoff hopes on life support and eventually helped them climb the rankings as the season progressed. For USC, it was a "what if" game. If they cover that kickoff, or if they don't fumble in the red zone, we're talking about a completely different season for Lincoln Riley.
The rivalry now stands with Notre Dame leading 52-38-5. Even with the vacated wins over the years, the Irish have clearly had the upper hand lately, winning seven of the last nine meetings.
If you're looking to understand why the Irish continue to dominate this specific matchup at home, look no further than the trenches. The weather was messy, the grass was slick, and Notre Dame played like a team that was comfortable in the elements. USC played like a team that wanted to be back in the California sun.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors:
- Monitor Rushing Disparities: In this rivalry, the team that wins the rushing battle has won the game in 9 of the last 10 meetings.
- Home Field Advantage: USC hasn't won in South Bend since 2011. Until they prove they can handle the environment, the Irish remain the safe bet at home.
- Special Teams Impact: This game was decided by a 100-yard return. In high-stakes rivalries, look for "hidden yardage" in kick and punt return rankings before placing a wager.
Check the current injury reports for both teams heading into next season's matchup, specifically looking at depth in the secondary, as both teams are expected to lean more heavily on young quarterbacks.