Game Information
Location: Los Angeles / Coliseum, CA
Time: 12:30 p.m PST
TV: CBS
Radio: ESPN 710 (Los Angeles), KSZL AM 1230 (Barstow, Calif.), KGU-FM 95.1/ AM 760 (Honolulu, Hawaii), KSHP AM 1400 / FM 107.1 (Las Vegas, Nev.), KJJZ-HD3 102.7 FM (Thousand Palms, Calif.)
Line / Total: ND -7.5 / u52.5
Weather: 75 degrees, cloudy
Injuries
USC: N/A
Notre Dame: OUT: CB Benjamin Morrison (undisclosed), DL Jordan Botelho (undisclosed), DL Boubacar Traoré (undisclosed), LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (knee) QUESTIONABLE: NT Howard Cross (ankle)
Stats to Know
USC all-time record is 37-50-7 vs. Notre Dame
Notre Dame is 7-3 in the last ten meetings vs. USC
What's at Stake: College Football Playoffs
USC ends its stretch of rivalry games with a final test versus No. 5 Notre Dame. The rivalry between Notre Dame and USC goes beyond records. In the 95th meeting of the two programs, the Trojans look to take back the Shillelagh Trophy. Yet, USC (6-5, 4-5 Big Ten) can do more than earn back a Trophy.
Notre Dame (10-1), with one week of the regular season left, has its eyes set on the College Football Playoffs. In the recent rankings, the Fighting Irish are the 8th seed in the new 12-team playoff format. The program seeks its third appearance in the playoffs.
In their way, a trending up USC team. Since Jayden Maiava took the reins as quarterback, USC has been 2-0 and became bowl-eligible last Saturday. The Trojans have exercised their fourth-quarter demons in a small sample size, winning back-to-back one-score games.
On Saturday, USC can play spoiler. The Fighting Irish’s season started with a large 16-14 upset 16-14 to Northern Illinois in South Bend. Luckily, one loss isn't the difference maker in the new age of College Football. After the NIU loss, Notre Dame has rattled off nine straight wins.
However, a loss to USC would be a second-unranked loss, and a late-season defeat comes with a larger tax from the committee. Notre Dame doesn’t have a signature win that puts them over the top of two potential losses.
The Fighting Irish have three ranked wins over Louisville, Navy, and Army. Yet, as of Nov. 29, the Army remains the only ranked opponent at No. 25 in the AP Poll.
Being independent without an SEC or Big Ten schedule, losses come at a greater cost. A two-loss Notre Dame will have a harder time arguing their place in the College Football Playoffs.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Scouting Report: A Green Mean Machine
Notre Dame’s defense will be the toughest unit USC, especially Jayden Maiava, will face this year. The Fighting Irish are like sharks; when they smell blood, they go for the kill.
Defensive coordinator Al Gordon’s unit does not give opposing teams any opportunity to mess up. The unit has produced a nation-best 26 takeaways, including 15 interceptions. Opposing quarterbacks have been held to a 47% completion rate facing Notre Dame’s unit.
The Irish are having all of this success without several key players. All-American cornerback Benjamin Morrison had a season-ending hip injury. Morrison is a projected 1st round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In addition, edge rushers Jordan Botelho and Boubacar Traoré were also lost to season-ending injuries.
In Morrison's absence, senior free safety Xavier Watts has shined. Watts has four interceptions and 8 pass deflections on the season. Watts has been instrumental in creating one of the best pass defenses in the country. Notre Dame allows a nation-low of 139 pass yards per game.
Offensively, quarterback Riley Lenaord has left his mark on South Bend. Leonard is a dual-threat quarterback with 14 passing and 13 rushing touchdowns. Lenoard’s mobility in the pocket always requires a quarterback spy from the opposing defense.
Standing next to Leonard is another headache for defense: Jeremiyah Love. Love leads the team with 14 rush touchdowns. On the field, Love doesn't hold to his name. He runs with an anger that is hard to tackle. Love averages 7 yards per carry.
Matchup to Watch: Notre Dame DL Rylie Mills vs USC LG Emmanuel Pregnon
Notre Dame comes into Saturday's matchup with 29 sacks. The engine beyond production is No. 99, Rylie Mills.
Standing at 6’5", Mills can eat up the trenches himself. He leads the team with 6.5 sacks, including a 3-sack performance against Florida State. The pressure Mills imposes throws quarterbacks off schedule, wreaking havoc on the play.
To limit his impact will be USC’s standout left guard Emmanuel Pregnon. Pregnon has been USC’s most consistent offensive lineman in the air and ground game. In 11 games, he has allowed zero sacks.
The matchup between Mills and Pregnon will set a precedent for the game. Maiava’s ball security has been a point of weakness for the 2nd-year quarterback. While the off-script suits Maiava best, Pregnon has to neutralize Mills' presence in the backfield.
If USC hopes to control the line of scrimmage, it will do so by running the football. Eliminating Mils' impact in the run game is key to unlocking Woody Marks' success. Pregnon finished with an 88.9 run-block PFF grade last Saturday versus UCLA.
Control of the trenches can tell a lot about a game. The Trojans' recipe for success will be keeping Maiava’s jersey clean and opening running lanes for Marks.
Prediction
Notre Dame plays this game with a bigger purpose than the Shillelagh trophy. They can taste the College Football Playoffs. USC’s effort will keep them in a battle with Notre Dame. However, the Trojans' defensive struggles versus the rush will rear its ugly faces.
USC 23 Notre Dame 33