Notre Dame's Revived Defense Set For Test Against Electric USC Offense: Breaking Down the Trojans' Top-3 Unit
- Brenden Duffy
- Oct 14
- 8 min read
Photo via Notre Dame Athletics
There is no other time suitable when a top-25 Jeweled Shillelagh trophy game is on tap other than primetime. That is this Saturday, when No. 13 Notre Dame (4-2) looks to extend its win streak over No. 20 USC (5-1) to three games in front of an Irish crowd.
The Irish enter this weekend’s matchup winners of four straight, outscoring opponents 176-57 in that span. Chris Ash’s defense has appeared to turn a corner, holding opponents to just 27 combined points over the past three games. Keys to this success have come via improved play against the pass, including eight sacks and seven interceptions across the past two weeks.
This week should provide a test for the seemingly improved Notre Dame defense against an electric USC offense. Offensively, the Trojans are led by Head Coach and playcaller Lincoln Riley. The former Oklahoma HC has compiled a 31-15 record at USC since taking over in 2022, with no conference titles or playoff appearances on his resume. For these reasons, Riley entered this season in a bit of a hot seat. However, a 5-1 start and top-25 ranking have quieted his critics for now.
USC Results (5-1):
73-13 vs Missouri State (W)
59-20 vs Georgia Southern (W)
33-17 at Purdue (W)
45-31 vs Michigan State (W)
32-34 at Illinois (L)
31-13 vs Michigan (W)
The Trojans have maintained their high-powered offense despite injuries in the RB and OL rooms and five fumbles lost, tied for the 107th-most among FBS teams. Last week, USC lost RB1 Waymond Jordan and RB2 Eli Sanders early due to injuries and are not expected to play this week. However, they may have found something special in former walk-on King Miller. Additionally, USC’s starting C Kilian O’Conor is expected to miss Saturday’s game, and LT Elijah Paige, the former Notre Dame commit, will likely be questionable.
The returning playmakers from last year have continued their individual success, led by QB Jayden Maiava, WRs Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, and TE Lake McRee. Here is where the USC offense ranks nationally among FBS teams:
45.5 points per game (3rd)
552.3 total yards per game (2nd)
8.31 yards per play (1st)
325.8 pass yards per game (2nd)
226.5 rush yards per game (16th)
6.38 yards per carry (4th)
55.22% 3rd-down conversion rate (tied-5th)
83.33% (10/12) 4th-down conversion rate (tied-4th)
Offensive Personnel:
Quarterback:
Jayden Maiava - Year two starting under Lincoln Riley has gone well so far for the redshirt junior. Maiava is completing 71.9% of his attempts for 1,852 yards and 13 touchdowns with just two interceptions. Here is where the 6-4, 230-pound QB ranks nationally:
317 total yards per game (tied-6th among all FBS players)
308.7 pass yards per game (3rd)
7 completions of 50-plus yards (1st)
185.65 passer rating (3rd)
71.9% completion percentage (10th)
Maiava’s best passing performance this season came against Georgia Southern when he threw for a season-high 412 yards and four touchdowns while completing 16/24 attempts with no turnovers. Along with being a great passer, the former UNLV transfer is complemented by an elite supporting cast that has just five dropped passes through six games. Maiava has an elite deep ball, where he has completed 17/25 throws over 20 yards for 608 yards and four touchdowns.
In the loss at Illinois, the Fighting Illini were able to pressure the veteran QB 17 times; for reference, the second-most pressures Maiava faced in one game this season is eight. Notre Dame’s pass rush has to maintain its level of play from the past few weeks to be successful in this facet. Additionally, the junior is completing just 45% of his throws with no touchdowns and one interception when under pressure. Another interesting note is that Maiava has been inconsistent on throws between 10-19 yards, completing 48.9% of these throws with three touchdowns, and both of his interceptions have come in this range.
On the ground, Maiava has rushed for 50 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries. He rushed for a season-high 30 yards and two scores against Michigan State on just four attempts. With pretty good size, the QB is a solid runner when needed, but likely will not be running through any defenders. Designed QB keepers to the outside have been pretty successful for the junior, but he suffered his first fumble of the season last week against Michigan.
Running Backs:
King Miller - When both the starting and backup RBs left last week’s contest against Michigan with injuries, the six-foot, 210-pound redshirt freshman stepped up. Miller, a former walk-on, rushed for 151 yards and five touchdowns on 18 carries, his first game with more than four attempts. In total, this week’s starting RB has rushed for 310 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries with no fumbles. Miller’s 10.69 yards per carry ranked 2nd among qualifying FBS rushers, and his four carries of 40 or more yards are tied for the 3rd-most. The freshman is a good, tough runner, averaging 7.76 yards after contact per carry. Last week, he tallied 98 yards after contact and three carries of 10-plus yards. Miller can beat opposing defenses up the middle or outside the tackles.
Miller is not much of a threat through the air with just four catches for 27 yards this season. He recorded a season-high two catches and 14 yards last week. The RB has no drops across four targets.
Others to watch: Bryan Jackson
Receivers:
Makai Lemon - USC’s starting slot-man and Maiava’s favorite target is one of the top receivers in the country and, if he decides to enter, possibly the top WR taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. Lemon has 44 receptions for 682 yards and six touchdowns this season. Here is where the 5-11 junior ranks among the FBS’s top pass-catchers:
113.7 receiving yards per game (2nd)
27 receptions of 10-plus yards (tied-1st)
7.3 receptions per game (6th)
6 receiving touchdowns (tied-7th)
Through six games, Lemon has at least four receptions and 63 yards in each game. He has had three real standout performances, though. First, the junior went for a season-high 158 yards against Georgia Southern on just four catches, including two touchdowns. Then against Michigan State, the slot-man racked up 127 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions while adding two carries for 11 yards and another score on the ground. Lastly, Lemon recorded a season-high 11 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the loss at Illinois.
The elite receiver shifts out wide on about 32% of his snaps. Lemon has just one drop across 56 targets and has shown his elusiveness with 15 missed tackles forced. The nightmare cover for DBs can beat defenses over the top or behind the line of scrimmage. Lemon struggles as a run blocker, but his receiving abilities more than make up for this issue.
Ja’Kobi Lane - Starting out wide on the left is the 6-4, 200-pound junior. Lane has 18 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns in five games played after missing the Michigan State contest with an undisclosed injury. The WR’s 17.39 yards per reception rank 52nd among FBS pass-catchers, while his 62.6 receiving yards per game are 82nd. Lane has tallied at least three catches and 33 yards in each game played. He recorded a season-high five receptions last week against Michigan for 35 yards, including a touchdown. In the rainy game at Purdue, the wideout went for a season-high 115 yards on just three receptions. Lane is a good WR with just one drop across 24 targets who can beat defenses over the top. I assume Christian Gray will be Lane’s primary matchup, so the Irish CB will need another solid performance like he had against NC State and Arkansas. The junior wideout struggles as a run blocker.
Tanook Hines - USC’s emerging target is the six-foot true freshman. The former Notre Dame recruit had the Irish in his top six schools before deciding on rival USC. Hines has 10 catches for 103 yards and one touchdown this season. He has had at least one reception in each game, including a season-high of three against Georgia Southern for 21 yards. The 195-pounder tallied a season-high 33 yards at Illinois on two catches. After beginning the year as a backup, Hines has started the past three games at right-side WR. Some development is needed, but the young wideout has great potential. He has one drop across 13 targets, serving mostly as a short-yardage option. Hines’s run-blocking has been solid, given his age and somewhat slender frame.
Others to watch: Jaden Richardson, Jay Fair
Tight Ends:
Lake McRee - The Trojans’ receiving threat at TE is the 6-4, 250-pound redshirt senior. McRee has 289 yards and a touchdown on 14 receptions this season. His 20.64 yards per reception ranks 13th among qualifying FBS pass-catchers. The senior has at least two catches in each game, including a season-high of three at Purdue and Illinois. McRee went for a season-high 72 yards against Missouri State on just two receptions, including a 64-yard score. The receiving threat kicks out to the slot about 33% of pass plays. He has shown strong hands, like his receiving counterparts, with no drops across 21 targets, and he is 5/6 on contested catch attempts. The TE did lose a fumble last week against Michigan. McRee does most of his work between the numbers but can sneak past secondaries if not careful. The 250-pounder is a good blocker who is better with the run.
Others to watch: Walker Lyons
Offensive Line:
LT Tobias Raymond, LG Micah Banuelos, C J’Onre Reed, RG Alani Noa, RT Justin Tauanuu - This group has played relatively well, given multiple injuries that have shaken things up for this front. Starting LT Elijah Paige may return this week, while starting C Kilian O’Conor is expected to be out. Still, this unit is allowing 0.67 sacks per game, tied for the 8th-fewest among FBS teams. In the middle, USC was able to snag Reed as a senior transfer from Syracuse, and he has played well all-around. I would consider the left side of this line weaker with the run compared to the pass, and vice versa for the right side. Raymond has now started at three different positions this season (LG → RT → LT), but has consistently performed as a pass-blocker. Banuelos, who started the year as a backup, has really struggled all-around in the block game. However, if Paige does return, Banuelos may be back to his reserve role. On the right side, Noa is a solid all-around blocker, but it is Tauanuu who has allowed a team-high 13 pressures, including six at Illinois, across 187 pass-block snaps. Notre Dame will need to get to the QB if it wants to have any defensive success this week.
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