No. 5 Notre Dame punched their ticket to hosting a College Football Playoff game with an emphatic 49-35 win over arch rival USC.
Photo by Notre Dame Athletics
LOS ANGELES -- Notre Dame did it. After an inexcusable loss to Northern Illinois in Week Two, Marcus Freeman showcased his growth as a third-year head coach. He redirected the trajectory of the 2024 Notre Dame football team. While the Irish are still far from a finished product, ending the regular season at 11-1, while presumably being ranked within the top 4 teams this upcoming Tuesday night is an outcome all Irish fans would've been delighted to hear at the beginning of the season. Even though the Irish took quite an unconventional route, Notre Dame is all but secured a home playoff game in this expanded 12-team playoff. Yet, none of this would've happened if the Irish fell to the Trojans in the Coliseum. With that being said, here are the key takeaways from Notre Dame's playoff-sealing victory.
"Win the Interval"
A sentiment that Marcus Freeman has preached to his players since he stepped foot on campus as the defensive coordinator. This sentiment echoes the 'goldfish mindset' cliché. Freeman emphasizes focusing on each play with undivided attention rather than getting distracted by the bigger picture.
This also goes hand-in-hand when you get beat on a play. Sometimes you get beat. Flush it, reload, and focus on winning the next rep. This was embodied by Christian Gray. Gray was being targeted heavily after Lincoln Riley was forced to throw the ball 49 times after his star running back, Woody Marks, left the game due to injury.
The talented Trojan wide receivers were having their way on the outside, and Riley was specifically looking to target whoever Gray was covering. While Gray was continuously being beat, he reset his mind, and was thinking of Freeman's season-long mantra: "Win the interval."
With Notre Dame's back to the wall, only up seven with the Trojans' driving, Gray's 99-yard interception wiped away the Trojans' upset bid. With an already depleted cornerback room due to injury, there was no other option than to ride with Gray for the rest of the game, but Freeman's confidence never wavered.
"Christian Gray's a great player, but he had to get back into that moment, [where] nothing else matters but doing your job." said Freeman postgame.
Offense's Ebbs and Flows
For most of the game, Notre Dame's offense was rolling. The Fighting Irish didn't have to punt until the fourth quarter, albeit a fake punt on one of Notre Dame's drives along with two turnovers ended others.
Riley Leonard played a sound game for the most part as he threw for 155 yards with two throwing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. The main cause for concern was Leonard's interception to which he and Kris Mitchell were on opposite pages.
It seemed as though Leonard thought Mitchell was going to run a 25-yard stop route, and Mitchell thought he was on a go-route. It was a terrible miscommunication that could've cost the Irish if not for a four-and-out by the defense.
Aside from Leonard's interception, he commanded the game well. While the defense struggled, the offense consistently scored—until the fourth quarter. If I were to assign blame for the fourth-quarter inefficiency, it would go to Mike Denbrock for playing too conservatively instead of sticking with the successful offensive strategy of the first three quarters. On the other hand, if I too were calling the plays after Leonard's horrendous interception, I wouldn't leave much to fate either.
When the offense was rolling, Leonard was feeding the ball to either Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price. Love's gravity-defying feats grow grander each week, and Price continues to deliver with lengthy touchdown runs.
Price got the majority of the touches in the second half due to lower right leg injury to Love. Sources close to The Irish Tribune have spoken about Love returning for the playoff game, but nothing will be confirmed until Marcus Freeman's weekly presser. For what it's worth, Love was on the exercise bike after the injury and was running up-and-down the sidelines during the fourth quarter trying to warm up his leg. Thankfully, the Irish didn't need him, and he will be able to rest for two weeks before the start of the CFP.
The offensive line also played a complete game and allowed for the Irish to have 260 rushing yards in this one. The unity of the offensive line play anchored the Irish's performance, and will be imperative as Notre Dame faces better athletes along the defensive line in the playoffs.
Polarization Within Special Teams
I find it a bit difficult in rating Marty Biagi's work as the Special Teams coordinator because the level of play within his different units is so drastic.
Notre Dame was able to steal yet another possession in this week's game with former starting quarterback turned national champion lacrosse player turned walk-on wide receiver, Tyler Buchner, connecting with Mitchell Evans for a first down on a fake punt pass.
Then, there's James Rendell who had woes punting the ball earlier in the season but has come into his own later in the year and executed a 60-yard bomb that flipped the field late in the fourth quarter.
With his creativeness in the fake punt game and the ability to raise Rendell's confidence throughout the year, it is so baffling to understand the complications within the place kicking for Notre Dame.
Mitch Jeter missed another chip shot, a 27-yard field goal, early in the second quarter. When USC was driving only down by one score before Christian Gray's incredible pick six, how much more comfortable would you feel if Notre Dame was up by 10 points instead of 7? That could be the difference in these upcoming college football playoff games.
I'm just unsure of the answer to the question. Should Notre Dame consider moving on from Jeter, who is now 6-for-12 in field goals this year after an impressive 23-for-25 at South Carolina? Do you simply never kick a field goal again?
I'm not sure how much Jeter's physical injury is still limiting him, or if he is within his own head at this point.
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Xavier Watts: The USC Killer
Last year in South Bend, Watts' break out game was against former Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams, in which Watts totaled 2 interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
In this year's installment against the arch-rival Trojans, Watts proved to be the steady presence in a secondary that was getting shredded for most of the game.
Watts led the team in total tackles (9), had one pass breakup, and returned an interception for a 102-yard touchdown, all the while staring down the USC bench.
On a rivalry week where chaos ensued all around the country, the motto of "letting your play do the talking" was seen through Notre Dame's All-American safety.
After winning the Bronco Nagurski award last year, then returning to college and having a better statistical year, and then getting snubbed from all major awards is simply mind-boggling. The Irish are lucky to have the best safety in the country.
Hosting a Home Playoff Game
With Ohio State's loss to Michigan, Notre Dame is all-but confirmed to be hosting a home playoff game this December in South Bend.
There is still too much in the air to predict who the Irish will play. If Penn State gets blown out by Oregon in the Big 10 championship, could the Irish slip into the coveted No. 5 seed in which they would play the lowest conference champion and then the second lowest conference champion in back-to-back weeks? Who knows. But what is known is that Notre Dame has two weeks to recover, start to gameplan, and then host a team in their house during the heart of Winter in South Bend. If that doesn't get you pumped up, I don't know what will.
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