(Photo: Icon Sportswire)
USC is led by Lincoln Riley, now in his fourth season at the helm. The Trojans enter this week at 5–1, having dropped a 34–32 battle at Illinois two weeks ago before righting the ship with a dominant 31–13 win last week at home over Michigan. The win was impressive across the board: USC forced two turnovers, held the Wolverines to just 13 points, and controlled the second-half clock. Freshman King Miller emerged with 18 carries for 158 yards after USC’s top two running backs, Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders went down with injuries, while the passing game was sharp behind Jayden Maiava.
Overall, Notre Dame has won two straight and six of the last seven meetings in this storied rivalry.
Last season, Notre Dame capped its regular season with a thrilling 49–35 win over the Trojans to clinch a College Football Playoff berth. In that game, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns on 27-of-49 passing — but also tossed two costly pick-sixes late that sealed the Irish victory.
Maiava, of course, is back — and playing better than ever. He currently ranks at the top of the national QBR charts, completing 71.9% of his passes for 1,852 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. His offensive line has been superb as well, surrendering only three sacks all season.
Maiava has lots of firepower around him, and the Trojans are No. 3 nationally in scoring offense (45.5 ppg.) and No.2 in total offense (551.ypg.). Makai Lemon has developed into Maiava’s top target, he leads the team with 44 receptions for 682 yards and 6 touchdowns. Ja’Kobi Lane adds a reliable perimeter threat with 18 catches for 313 yards and 2 scores, providing length and physicality on the outside. Lane had three TD catches against the Irish last season.
With injuries suffered in the Michigan game, leading rushers Jordan and Sanders are both out this week (and possibly the rest of the season), meaning the Trojans will rely on King Miller, who performed well last week. Overall on the season the 6-0, 210 freshman has carried the ball 29 times for 310 yards-a 10.7 yard average-and 3 TDs. Expect Sophomore Bryan Jackson to also get carries. He had a 29 yard touchdown run against the Wolverines in the 4th quarter.
Defensively, the Trojans have shown real progress in D’Anton Lynn’s second season as coordinator. After years of inconsistency, this group has tightened up against the run and is allowing just 21.3 points per game. They are 29th nationally in yards allowed on the ground (108.5 ypg.), but 100th in yards allowed passing (243.7 ypg.). Edge rusher Braylan Shelby leads the charge up front with 3.5 sacks, while linebacker Eric Gentry remains the tone-setter in the middle. In the secondary, safety Bishop Fitzgerald has been a standout, leading the nation with 5 interceptions, accounting for half of USC’s 10 team interceptions. The defense was particularly strong against Michigan, limiting explosive plays and generating key stops in the red zone.
USC showed some pretty good defensive chops against Michigan last week, but with the 100th ranked pass defense, the Trojans do not have the defensive balance to match the Irish offense. The key to this one will lay in ND finding a way to keep USC’s explosive plays out of the endzone, because ND, with that great offensive balance, is going to find a way to score points of their own.
Notre Dame is an 8.5 favorite and the over/under is 61.5
The Fighting Irish Preview Pick: Notre Dame 35 USC 31