USC and Notre Dame. It’s an American sports classic, the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football. Knute Rockne and Howard Jones began the series. Icons Frank Leahy, John McKay, Ara Parseghian, John Robinson, Lou Holtz, and Pete Carroll continued it. Now, the Trojans and Irish meet again, not knowing if their rivalry will continue in the future. Trojans Wire’s Adam Bradford hopes USC and Notre Dame will not change the time of year when this game is played:
“On Thursday, we looked back at many of the legendary moments in USC-Notre Dame history. Would Fertig to Sherman have been as impactful if it dropped the Irish to 2-1, instead of spoiling their national championship hopes the final week of the season? Would the 55-24 comeback have hit the same if it did not put the Trojans in prime position to win their second national title in three years? Could Carson Palmer and Caleb Williams have had their Heisman moments against Notre Dame in September?”
The future of USC football versus Notre Dame is another story for another day. For now, USC has to live with another failed trip to South Bend. Mistake after mistake did the Trojans in. Here’s how it all unfolded in Indiana:
Final score — Notre Dame 34, USC 24
This is Year 4 under Lincoln Riley. The Trojans cannot play well against good teams on the road. They can’t play low-mistake football. It’s one thing to make five or six mistakes in a game. The Trojans made 20 to 30, and that’s just not going to cut it in South Bend. The end.
Notre Dame 34, USC 24
You could see that one coming. Notre Dame has rushed for close to 300 yards. USC just can’t win with all the mistakes it has made. The Trojans were begging to get beaten, and midway through the fourth quarter, that’s the likely outcome.
Makai Lemon disaster
On a reverse pass, Makai Lemon clearly had no one open. Instead of throwing the ball away, Lemon tries a desperation pass and fumbles in the attempt. This is Football 101: If no one’s open, throw the ball away. A shocking error gives Notre Dame the ball back and ruins what might be USC’s last best chance to win.
Notre Dame keeps USC in the game
Now it’s the Irish’s turn to cough up points, getting nothing in the red zone. USC’s defense has wobbled a lot but has
End 3rd quarter — Notre Dame 27, USC 24
The Trojans are still in the game, but they are not on the right side of it. Way too many mistakes in a game of this magnitude and importance.
One mistake
Jayden Maiava has been terrific, but he underthrew a crossing route and got picked near midfield. Now those previous missed chances really loom large.
Notre Dame 27, USC 24
The Irish return the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. USC is doing just enough things wrong, making just enough mistakes to lose. Notre Dame did miss the PAT, however.
USC 24, Notre Dame 21
Ja’Kobi Lane roasts the Notre Dame secondary for a 66-yard touchdown. He adds the 2-point catch. He continues to get open and draw defensive penalties. The Irish have not checked him all night. No need to worry about the red zone if you can hit a home run over the top.
Notre Dame 21, USC 16
Another USC drive bogs down. The Trojans went deep on 3rd and 3 for a low-percentage pass instead of getting the first down. 3rd and 3 or 4 has been a problem for USC tonight. Lincoln Riley hasn’t found the right calls against the Notre Dame defense.
Notre Dame 21, USC 13
The Irish eat seven minutes of clock and score seven points, converting 3rd and 7 on a handoff before their touchdown. The USC defensive line continues to fall short. It’s hard to watch.
Halftime — Notre Dame 14, USC 13
Notre Dame got inside the USC 10 and didn’t score, but USC got inside the Notre Dame red zone and settled for three. It failed on a fourth down deep in Irish territory. USC left way too many points on that field in the first half. The Trojans have to finish. They can’t feel too good about where they are. They should have at least 20 if not 24 points right now, given how well Jayden Maiava is playing.
Notre Dame 14, USC 13
Ryon Sayeri kicks a field goal, but it should have been seven, not three.
USC is getting hammered … by Ja’Kobi Lane
The USC receiver dropped a touchdown pass on the goal line with under 1:45 left in the half. If Lane — who is getting open against the Notre Dame secondary — could have caught passes this half, USC would be up at least 17-14, very possibly 24-14. USC could very easily lose because of these mistakes.
CJ Carr helps USC again
Carr, inside the 10, backtracks nearly 20 yards and throws a horrible interception. USC will take the gift. The Irish were cramming the ball down USC’s throat with the ground game. USC is somehow down only four.
Brutal turn of events
USC, with 2nd and 5 at the Notre Dame 21, throws three passes short of the sticks, and Notre Dame defenders are there to stop the Trojans in each instance. A promising drive gets nothing, and now the game is on the verge of careening the wrong way.
Notre Dame 14, USC 10
The USC defensive line does not appear ready for this game. The offense will simply need to score a bunch. No one likes saying or admitting that, but it seems that’s where we are headed. Keep in mind that Notre Dame does not have its starting center in this game.
End 1st quarter — USC 10, Notre Dame 7
The Irish are in scoring range following a long run. USC blew a chance to take control of this game. Dropped passes will do that.
Missed face-mask penalty
Maiava’s face-mask was grabbed and the refs simply didn’t call it. USC punts.
Irish generosity
Notre Dame should not be throwing the ball on 2nd and 2, but it did, and USC got home for a drive-stopping sack. Both offenses have evident advantages but aren’t maxing out. They scored easily on their first drives but are now stopping themselves. First one to settle down wins.
King Miller, nervous
It seemed Miller had an open field to his left. He cut inside and got tackled short of a first down. USC punts. Miller is playing jittery football and has to settle down.
CJ Carr off the mark for Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish quarterback is inaccurate in the first quarter. Notre Dame punts. USC badly needs to get a two-score lead, because Notre Dame figures to score a lot in this game.
USC 10, Notre Dame 7
USC scores, but it could have been seven and not three. Ja’Kobi Lane drops a third-down pass after King Miller dropped a second-down pass. Sloppy play from backs and receivers stops a drive on a night when field goals are unlikely to get it done.
Jayden Maiava with a Caleb Williams-style play
USC 7, Notre Dame 7
Notre Dame’s offensive line blows away USC’s defensive line. Two runs — one over 60 yards, one in the red zone — score an instant touchdown. This is already shaping up to be the track meet many expected it to be.
USC 7, Notre Dame 0
How’s that for an opening statement? The Trojans march downfield and finish the drive in the red zone on a Lake McRee touchdown catch. The USC offense is the strength of this team. This game depends on the Trojans’ defense, particularly the defensive line.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC drowns in mistakes, falls to Notre Dame — rapid recap, analysis for Week 8
Reporting by Matt Zemek / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
