Coming into this game, there was so much talk surrounding the rivalry between Notre Dame and USC. Would this be the last face-off between the two storied historic programs for the foreseeable future? With no contract extension agreed upon by either team, we may have seen the final game between these two, which would be awful in my opinion, as this is truly one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports, dating back to 1926. I don't care what they have to do, but something has to be done to continue this rivalry forever. If that worry wasn't enough, reports kept swirling that come game time, there was a possibility for major rainfall, and if that wasn't bad enough, lightning was being forecasted as a major part of the storm. Many started to worry. Would the game be delayed for a significant period of time, or would the game even happen at all and be cancelled? But as luck would have it, the storm seemed to be pushed back farther and farther into the night. In fact, it didn't really start to rain heavily until later into the fourth quarter. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! USC received the ball to start the game and immediately went to work and marched down the field on 10 plays for 75 yards, which was capped off by a 10-yard pass from Jayden Maiava to Lake McRee. USC immediately took Notre Dame into deep water, and they weren't up to the task. Notre Dame's defense once again started the game slowly, with poor tackling, and looked lost and unsure in what they were doing. It started to feel like if Notre Dame was going to win this game; it would have to be in a shootout situation. The Notre Dame offense on its first series had no problem getting going after the second play when Jeremiyah Love busted loose for a 63-yard run down to the USC 12, where he capped off the drive on a 12-yard run for a touchdown. Carr completed this drive with two underwhelming passes for incompletions, something that would linger with him as the game went on. This was by far his worst performance of the season and his third week in a row where, at times, he lacked accuracy and just looked overall uncomfortable. Carr made one of the worst decisions you'll ever see when he scrambled around with no one open, and instead of throwing it away and living to see another down, he panicked and threw it right to two defenders, resulting in an interception in Notre Dame's own red zone. Which begs the question, is Carr regressing? Or is this just freshman growing pains that were likely to happen all along? I'd tend to believe it's the latter. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were an absolute force to be reckoned with Saturday night, and USC had no answer for the two-headed monster. Love rushed for a career high of 228 yards and a touchdown, while Jadarian Price rushed for 87 yards on 13 carries and lit the stadium up with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Love and Price continue to be one of the most dynamic RB tandems in the country, and their 1-2 punch seems to be too much for any opposing team to deal with. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Special teams was once again an absolute nightmare last night, with a missed field goal, a missed extra point, and if that wasn't bad enough, kicking the ball out of bounds on kickoffs, resulting in a penalty. I don't know what's going on with the kicking game at Notre Dame, but Marcus Freeman and special teams Coach Marty Biagi better figure it out and fast. These types of kicking debacles can and will eventually cost you a game, and if they do make the College Football Playoff, they are most certainly gonna need a serviceable FG kicker. I don't care what they do to fix it, but it has to be fixed and fast. Maybe they should take a peek at the soccer team and possibly strike gold like the Dallas Cowboys did when they landed Brandon Aubrey. The defense as bad as they started this game; they really have to be credited for helping this team beat their longtime rival in USC. They settled down, especially in the second half, and dominated the USC offense, especially in the 4th quarter, when they shut down the high-powered USC offense and held them to zero points. Chris Ash, like him or not, deserves a lot of credit for the 2nd half adjustments of the defensive side of the ball and their continuing progress from week to week. With that being said, he still has work to do with this defense when it comes to starting the game slowly and the poor tackling that shows itself at times every week. There were certainly quite a few negatives coming out of this game, but even with Notre Dame playing as rough as they did at times, they still managed to dominate their longtime rival in USC, and at the end of the day, that's all that truly matters. If this truly is the last time that the Irish will play SoCal for the foreseeable future, what a way to go out on top and secure the jeweled shillelagh trophy, where it may now possibly live forever in South Bend. On to the next one... Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. 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Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame put on a show for the Irish fans at Compton Ice Arena in a sweep of the St. Lawrence Saints. The Irish outscored the Saints 11-2 in the two games, with newcomers leading the way offensively and solid performances from sophomore goalie Nicholas Kempf. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! The Irish gave a warm welcome to first-year Head Coach Brock Sheahan on Thursday when they routed St. Lawrence 8-2. Six Notre Dame skaters recorded multiple points in the game, with Michigan transfer Evan Werner leading the way with four points (1 goal, 3 assists).  After allowing two of the first three shots he faced behind him, Kempf had a clean rest of the game thanks to good defensive play, finishing with 19 saves. The Irish’s second line got the scoring started with under five minutes remaining in the first when Cole Knuble found the back of the net for his first goal of the season off of a pass left behind by Brennan Ali. Linemate Pano Fimis was also credited with an assist on the score that brought the Irish within one nearing the end of the period. The rest of the game was pure domination from the Irish as they outshot the Saints 34-10 in the second and third frames. In the second, Werner and defenseman Axel Kumlin each tallied a goal and an assist, leading Notre Dame to a 4-0 period that put them ahead 5-2. RPI transfer Sutter Muzzatti has made his impact felt early in his Irish tenure, as he added his team-leading third goal of the season with under a minute remaining in the period.  Notre Dame’s top power play unit put on a clinic in the third period, adding two goals on three man-advantage opportunities. Knuble added his second goal of the game 3:46 into the frame off assists from Paul Fischer and Werner. Then, with under three minutes left in the game, Fischer and Knuble assisted on Henry Nelson’s PPG, his second of the season. Freshman Cole Brown notched his first goal of the year midway through the third after finishing his own rebound. Some keys to the Irish victory on Thursday included a strong penalty kill unit and dominance at the dot. Notre Dame successfully killed ten penalty minutes, again, thanks to good defensive play from the likes of Fischer and Kumlin. The Irish finished the game with a 35-20 advantage in faceoffs, led by Fimis who went 13-1. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Notre Dame debuted their new “Hockey Leprechaun” alternates on Friday in a feisty game featuring 19 penalties totaling 38 minutes. This did lead to a more tame result compared to the night prior, with Kempf posting a 26-save shutout in a 3-0 Irish win, marking his first collegiate career shutout. Coach Sheahan and Defenseman Captain Michael Mastrodomenico sang Kempf's praises postgame, acknowledging his development and status as one of the best goalies at his age in the country. Brown led the offensive attack with assists on all three goals, bringing him to four points on the year.  Mastrodomenico knocked in his first goal of the season in front of the net on the power play 8:52 into the game with assists from Brown and Kumlin. Kempf finished the first period with 12 saves, as the Irish held on to the early 1-0 lead. Irish freshman Will Belle and a Saints defenseman got into it as the period ended, resulting in matching minor penalties. Just over seven minutes into the second, Fischer tallied his second goal of the season on a coast-to-coast rush with assists being awarded to Brown and the rare goalie point for Kempf. Saints Goalie Mason Kucenski had an otherwise strong period, coming up with 17 saves against the Irish during the frame. Notre Dame outshot the Saints 18-9 in a period that featured eight combined penalties, including an unsportsmanlike conduct against Henry Nelson as the period buzzer sounded. The third period was more of the same with Notre Dame outshooting the Saints 12-5. With about eight minutes left in the game, Fimis found a trailing Werner on a breakaway opportunity and he was able to bury his second goal of the season. Brown was also awarded an assist on the score that put the Irish up 3-0. Danny Nelson picked up two minor penalties in the frame, but the Irish PK was too strong for St. Lawrence as Notre Dame completed the sweep of the Saints. Stars of the Series: F Evan Werner - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists), 10 shots, +4 ice rating F Cole Brown - 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists), 5 shots, 1 blocked shot, +3 ice rating D Axel Kumlin - 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists), 3 shots, 2 blocked shots, +4 ice rating D Paul Fischer - 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists), 4 shots, 3 blocked shots, +2 ice rating G Nicholas Kempf - 2-0-0, 45 saves, 2 goals allowed, 1 assist Notre Dame will look to continue their roll at home next week against Robert Morris. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. 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Notre Dame is preparing to have one of the biggest recruiting weekends of Marcus Freeman's career thus far. The "who's who" of top-tier talent from across the country will be in attendance on Saturday when the Irish take on the USC Trojans. This weekend may prove to be huge for the future of the program. The Notre Dame staff will be sure to roll out the red carpet in an attempt to impress as many elite prospects as they can. Art by The Irish Tribune One of the biggest names in attendance this weekend is C/O 2027 5-star Elite RB Kemon Spell (recently decommitted from PSU). Spell is a 5'10", 205lbs RB out of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and is ranked by 247Sports as the #1 RB in the country for the class of 2027. Notre Dame will do all it can to try and convince the talented running back that South Bend is where he should call home for his collegiate career, and a win against USC (a historic rival) would certainly work in Notre Dame's favor. But Kemon Spell will not be the only 5-star elite talent visiting Notre Dame this weekend. As of right now, at least seven more who aren't committed to the Irish are scheduled to be in attendance this Saturday. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Those are as follows: C/O 2028 DL Asher Ghioto (16 Natl. 3 Pos.) C/O 2028 DL Marcus Fakatou (3 Natl. 1 Pos.) C/O 2028 RB Zaiden Jernigan (27 Natl. 1 Pos.) C/O 2027 WR Jamier Brown (5 Natl. 1 Pos.) C/O 2027 Edge David Jacobs Jr. (10 Natl. 2 Pos.) C/O 2027 WR Monshun Sales (12 Natl. 3 Pos.) C/O 2027 Edge Chris Whithead (24 Natl. 4 Pos.) Notre Dame will also be welcoming back a multitude of Irish commits, and they are as follows: C/O 2026 CB Khary Adams C/O 2026 Edge Ebenezer Ewetade C/O 2026 WR Kaydon Finley C/O 2026 WR Bubba Frazier C/O 2026 TE Preston Fryzel C/O 2026 OL Sullivan Garvin C/O 2026 QB Noah Grubbs C/O 2026 OT Grayson McKeogh C/O 2026 OL Tyler Merrill C/O 2026 OL Ben Nichols C/O 2026 ATH Joey O'Brien C/O 2026 RB Javian Osborne C/O 2026 S Ayden Pouncey C/O 2026 S Nick Reddish C/O 2026 WR Brayden Robinson C/O 2026 CB Chaston Smith C/O 2026 OT Charlie Thom C/O 2026 RB Jonaz Walton C/O 2027 DL Richie Flanagan C/O 2027 QB Teddy Jarrard C/O 2027 LS Sean Kraf t As you can see, there will be a star-studded cast visiting campus this weekend for the USC game, and all eyes will be on the Irish as they take on the Trojans in what could be the last game between the long-time rivals, which would make a win that much more important for Notre Dame. Marcus Freeman and the staff have a very unique opportunity here, not only to continue their playoff hopes, but also to impress some of the best talent from coast to coast with a victory against a Top 25 team in primetime at Notre Dame Stadium. Stay tuned, Irish Fans, as this weekend is huge for the future of this program. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

It's rivalry weekend in South Bend, and the stakes couldn't be higher. The staff at The Irish Tribune are back to drop predictions heading into a game that has serious playoff implications on both sides. Let's get into it! Photo via USC Athletics Liam Gaudet - Senior Editor: 28-24 Notre Dame Buckle those seatbelts, because this has the potential to be one of the greatest matchups in the history of this rivalry. With both teams vying for a playoff spot, and the future of this great rivalry in question, this almost feels like a "winner takes all" game given the circumstances. Notre Dame finds themselves in a bit of a weird position ahead of Saturday's game. CJ Carr has come every bit as advertised for the Fighting Irish, and is currently changing the narrative surrounding ND quarterback play. Gone are the days of the game manager in South Bend, the Irish have a true gunslinger, which is usually the calling card of their opponent. Carr boasts an incredible efficiency rating, and runs one of the most prolific offenses in the sport. Pair that with a tandem of backs that include Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, and I don't see too many defenses capable of slowing this group down. But with rain in the forecast, we could definitely see a lower point total in this game. Still, expect to see another solid outing, but with a greater emphasis on the run game for the Irish. USC will need to be stout up front to have a chance in this game, and the results hinge on whether they will be able to slow Price and Love down. On the other side, USC once again returns one of the B1G's best duos in Makai Lemon and Jayden Maiava. Lemon gave Christian Gray all he could handle last year, so expect them to try and work a favorable matchup through the air. With Leonard Moore in the mix, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Irish try and neutralize the playmaking abilities of Lemon by shadowing him with the best DB in the country. Even if that is the case, USC proved they could win a game on the ground, as they did last week with King Miller who averaged nearly nine yards a carry against a stingy Michigan defense. With Gabriel Rubio ruled out for this game, USC might try and grind this thing out similar to last week. The Trojan's aren't just an air-raid squad, they'll take what they can get on the ground no problem, which means Notre Dame will need to play extremely well up front. The defenses are also much improved on either side of this matchup. After some early struggles, Chris Ash has really picked things up after an incredibly sloppy start. The Irish have seven interceptions in their last two games, a testament to the talent and scheme this defense has put forth. USC also has proven athletes on the other side of the ball as well, namely Bishop Fitzgerald, who is the highest graded safety per Pro Football Focus this season. One mistake on offense could very well be the difference in this game. I like the Irish to win a sloppy game, similar to Miami but with different results. It might be a game that sees a few drives before the offenses really open things up in the second half. Both teams will try and run the ball, with the trenches making the difference in this one - mainly the Irish offensive line, even without Ashton Craig. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Clayton Stohler - Podcast Host: 38-13 Notre Dame This is the first time since 2017 that USC comes to town, and both teams still have playoff hopes on the line. Lincoln Riley and USC love to run 12 personnel, and that means Notre Dame has a third linebacker on the field - this bodes well for the Irish. Look for Auberry, Bowen,  and KVA to have big days in coverage. In fact, I expect KVA to have a big day in general after he was unable to play in this game last season due to a leg injury.    While Ashton Craig is out, and USC will surely do what they have to do to stop the run, Love will hit his first big one of the year. USC's secondary struggles over time and the aerial attack takes over for the Irish- regardless of weather. And it's all on the backs of an offensive line that needs to have their best overall game of the season thus far.    KK Smith may just have a coming out party given the absence of Micah Gilbert. Malachi Fields will remind viewers of who he is. Pauling and Faison will be who they've been all season...really good.    Notre Dame Stadium is just different when USC comes to town. Especially at night. And if this is truly the last time they come to South Bend, this rivalry will go out in style.  Liam Farrell - Senior Sports Writer/Editor: 38-24 Notre Dame The potential last game of the storied rivalry will look to be a shootout early on. Notre Dame and USC will both have tremendous success moving the ball through the air despite the wet and rainy conditions.   However, in the second half, Chris Ash and Notre Dame's defense, which has been stellar after halftime, will force Jayden Maiava into difficult situations. The talented USC quarterback will throw two second half interceptions and drown the Trojans upset bid.   With an injured center and USC's commitment to stopping the run, CJ Carr will put together a legacy-defining game. Fighting Irish wide receivers Malachi Fields and Jordan Faison will feast on one of the worst passing defenses in Power Four football and lead Notre Dame to victory.  Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Noah Wehby - Sports Writer: 34-31 Notre Dame Notre Dame finally gets another chance to add a strong win to a resume that needs it.    In a game where it isn't hard to imagine both teams nearing the 40's, the wet conditions will somewhat dampen the scoring. Notre Dame will find success in the run game, using their tandem of elite running backs to hit on big plays and keep the offense on schedule.    Defensively, Notre Dame is going to have a tough time stopping this USC offense. The Irish have had problems guarding slot wide receivers, and now they will be going up against maybe the best in the entire country. The weather may prove to be a friend for the Irish, as USC is the team that really wants to air the ball out.    Overall, this is going to be a great back and forth game where both teams display their elite offenses. If this is the last game in the series, it will surely go out in style.  Max Uretsky - Sports Writer/Recruiting Analyst: 35-32 Notre Dame I think the 2025 version of the Notre Dame - USC rivalry has the makings of a potential classic. Defenses for both teams will get their biggest tests of the year to this point so it will be about who can bow up in key moments.   Notre Dame's defense has come a long way since the week 2 debacle against Texas A&M, but for me, not all of the concerns in the secondary have been erased. USC's 1-2 punch at WR with Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane present legitimate match up issues, and Lemon in particular gave the Irish fits a season ago when these teams faced off. Christian Gray will be targeted as he was last year, and will need to perform much better for ND to have a chance.   The potential for some bad weather does make things interesting, but it may hurt the Irish as much as it would USC. CJ Carr is turning Into a budding star, and his ability to push the ball downfield has really allowed Notre Dame to be a potent and balanced offense. USC showed a week ago vs Michigan that they are much improved in the trenches, only allowing 3.5 yards a carry to one of the better rushing attacks in the country. If ND were forced to go more conservative, will they be able to get enough push against a stout USC front to let the likes of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price take over? They have been inconsistent at best thus far, allowing RBs to be hit in the backfield on too many occasions. For USC, their ground game has kept pace with what they do in the air, averaging almost 6.5 yards a carry. Gabe Rubio being out won't make things any easier for the Irish in the run defense department, and I expect to see a healthy mix of run blitzing from the LB group to prevent offensive linemen from getting up to the second level.   Notre Dame ultimately dominated their last two games vs Boise State and NC State respectively, but they were sleeping walking at times, shooting themselves in the foot via penalties, and getting off to very slow starts. Not coming out firing on all cylinders against USC would spell disaster as they are too talented for ND to overcome too many self inflicted wounds.    Marcus Freeman has a great opportunity to get ND squarely back in the playoff mix with a win Saturday, and I'm excited to see how it all plays out. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

No. 13 Notre Dame has passed all of their weekly assignments after beginning the season 0-2, but the Irish must succeed in this midterm exam against the No. 20 USC Trojans. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame's back has been against the wall since the Irish sank to 0-2 to start the season, but since then, Marcus Freeman's team has risen to the occasion. Specifically, defensive coordinator Chris Ash has excelled in the last three weeks, in containing Arkansas, Boise State, and NC State's explosive offenses to 27 total points. After the 41-point performance against the Aggies, Notre Dame's personnel changes, specifically inserting Tae Johnson and Dallas Golden into the lineup, have made the Irish more athletic. While the athleticism came at a cost of inexperience, these athletes have now been fully acquainted into Ash's scheme and have played enough downs to understand the concepts their defensive coordinator has drawn up. Notre Dame's defense has also gotten much better performances from their defensive line, which has had a complementary effect on the backend of the unit as well. Boubacar Traore has cemented himself as one of the most explosive edges in the country, especially when rushing the quarterback, while Gabriel Rubio and Jared Dawson have been anchors in the middle of the field in the running game. It was announced earlier this week that Rubio will be OUT for the USC game due to an elbow injury, so Dawson's performance in the middle of the defense will be even more paramount. Leonard Moore's re-entry into the lineup after the Texas A&M game has made an enormous difference, and has also allowed safeties to help Golden against skilled slot receivers. Christian Gray has also bounced back after rough performances to start the year, and has done a great job as the field corner. With that being said, the Irish defense will have their toughest matchup of the season. Let's breakdown three keys to the Irish bout against the USC Trojans. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Finish in the Red Zone Even in Notre Dame's 36-7 victory over NC State, the Irish left much to be desired from the offensive side of the ball. Yes, redshirt freshman CJ Carr delivered a 342-yard, two touchdown performance, but the Irish had three drives in which they made it to the red zone and ended with zero points. Much is to be made about the short-yardage problem Notre Dame has had this season. With such a skilled offense, it's baffling that the Irish cannot figure out what to do on 3rd and 2, let alone 4th and inches. The wildcat has struggled, along with passing in this situation, but this is a main cause of concern for Mike Denbrock and the Notre Dame offense. Last season, Freeman reveled in the fact that he could be an aggressive football team that went for any 4th down, but the reason he was able to be so aggressive in nature was because of the success he had in these situations. For everything Riley Leonard wasn't in the passing department, he was as surefire of an option in short yardage situations. This season, the Irish don't have the easy solution to pick up two or three yards a piece. In this case, and especially this week, Notre Dame cannot afford to leave any points on the field. Knowing that, the Irish must be successful on 3rd down, OR Freeman has to adapt to this year's team and swallow the pill of taking the three points instead of leaving empty handed. Disguising Coverages Last season, Notre Dame and Al Golden got exposed a bit against the USC Trojans. The Trojans were able to move the ball up and down the field with ease against the Irish, as they ended the game with 557 yards, which actually out gained Notre Dame by 121 yards. Jayden Maiava finished the game with 360 yards, and the one-two punch of Makai Lemon and Jakobi Lane combined for 159 yards and three touchdowns. The memory of that game will be the two pick six's from Christian Gray and Xavier Watts, but the Trojans were pushing the ball down the field to tie it up when Gray recorded his 99-yard interception return. The reason why the Trojans were able to have so much success through the air last year was because of the Irish's dimensionality on defense. Golden and Notre Dame were going to play man coverage and blitz the quarterback. While this was a recipe for success against most teams last year, USC has one of the best playcallers in the country in Lincoln Riley. Riley was exceptional drawing up and calling man coverage beaters last year, and forced Notre Dame to be on their toes. This season, Notre Dame has played around with more zone coverage under Ash, and the Irish took some time to understand the concepts, but are finally getting the hang of it. Actually, Notre Dame has been disguising coverages extremely well in the past two weeks against the Broncos and the Wolfpack. With younger players getting more comfortable in Ash's scheme, the savvy defensive coordinator can implement more complicated concepts to confuse the opposing quarterbacks. While Maiava has been significantly better taking care of the football this season, he still makes some mistakes. If the Irish can confuse Maiava and force him into tough situations, a couple turnovers could be instrumental in a game of this magnitude. Embrace the Energy This is Notre Dame's Super Bowl. Look, every week has been a must-win week for the Irish after they dropped their first two games of the year, but this is the time for Notre Dame to make a statement. It is a ranked matchup under the lights against their biggest rival. A rival that doesn't want to play them anymore. Freeman even said it was going to be a bloody game this week. Notre Dame in the past ten years has made a living off being the more physical team in the rivalry and it has treated them well, winning six of the last seven. If the Irish can continue being the more physical team and winning in the trenches, then Freeman's team will re-insert themselves into the CFP discussions. However, it's always a week-by-week mindset, in which each game is taken one at a time. But, this game is different. This game is one that players circle on their calendars and is one where they want to make a statement and display their dominance. Notre Dame just needs to play their own game, which is a violent defense effort, coupled with a balanced offensive attack. If the Irish can do that, they will enter the BYE week 5-2. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

This season’s edition of the Notre Dame-USC rivalry will pit two top-25-ranked teams against each other in a game featuring legitimate College Football Playoff implications. Redshirt freshman CJ Carr has the Irish offense playing at a top-25 level with help from the RB duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price and the receiving threats of Jordan Faison, Eli Raridon, and Malachi Fields. USC was able to put its last-second loss at Illinois behind them last week when it handled a ranked Michigan team at the LA Coliseum. The Trojans have consistently relied on an elite offense to lead them to victory, as the defense has been fairly average for the most part.  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) On defense, USC is led by second-year Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn, the former UCLA DC and son of former Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach Anthony. Lynn’s defense has had its share of struggles this year, but last week was an impressive showing. Throughout this year, the Trojans’ front seven has been solid, but the secondary, minus S Bishop Fitzgerald, is where USC is getting burned consistently. Here is where the Trojans' defense ranks nationally: 21.3 points per game allowed (tied-51st) 3 rush touchdowns allowed (tied-10th) 13 pass touchdowns allowed (tied-122nd) 352.2 total yards per game allowed (62nd) 108.5 rush yards per game allowed (29th) 0 rushes of 40-plus yards allowed (tied-1st) 243.7 pass yards per game allowed (tied-101st) 4 completions of 60-plus yards allowed (tied-134th) 8 interceptions (tied-12th) 3.33 sacks per game (20 total) (tied-7th) 7.5 tackles for loss per game (45 total) (tied-12th) 60% (9/15) opponent red zone conversion percentage (2nd) Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Personnel: Interior Linemen: Devan Thompkins - The first of two 6-5, 290-plus pound DTs is the redshirt junior. Thompkins has 19 tackles, four for a loss, three sacks, one pass breakup, and a forced fumble this season. His 0.5 sacks per game are tied-77th among FBS defenders. The junior has at least one tackle in each game, including a season-high of six against Michigan State. Thompkins recorded a season-high two sacks and a forced fumble in the win over Michigan. The all-around good DT has tallied a combined 14 tackles across the past three games. He can usually be found on the left side of the line. An impressive pass rusher, Thompkins has 15 pressures, including seven at Purdue, across 146 attempts. Against the run, he has come up with nine stops, and one of his two missed tackles came here. Jide Abasiri - This 295-pound sophomore DT has seven tackles, 1.5 for a loss, and one sack this season. Abasiri has at least one tackle in five games, including a season-high of two against Michigan State and Michigan. The sophomore recorded his sack against Missouri State and has just one missed tackle on the year. Abasiri has seven pressures across 91 pass rushes and has been solid against the run with two stops and no misses. The DT is typically lined up on the right side, opposite of Thompkins. Others to watch: Jahkeem Stewart, Keeshawn Silver Edge Rushers: Anthony Lucas - The first of three edge rushers to highlight is the 6-5, 285-pound OLB, typically found on the right side of the defense. Lucas has 13 tackles and two sacks this season. He has at least one tackle in five games, including a season-high of four last week against Michigan. The senior tallied both of his sacks against Missouri State and has just two missed tackles on the year. Lucas has been productive as a pass rusher with a team-high 16 pressures and eight QB hits on 159 tries. He notched a season-high seven pressures against Michigan State. The senior has also been good against the run with five stops and no misses. While rare, Lucas has struggled on his 17 coverage snaps with two catches for 25 yards allowed on two targets. Braylan Shelby - This 6-5, 265-pound junior earned his first start last week after serving as a key backup in the first five games, and for good reason. Shelby leads USC with 3.5 sacks, in addition to 14 tackles, including five for a loss. The junior edge rusher’s 0.58 sacks per game are tied-67th among all FBS defenders. Shelby has at least one tackle in each game. He recorded a season-high four tackles and two sacks against Missouri State. Also, he had a nice performance against Michigan State when he finished with two tackles and 1.5 sacks. Obviously, Shelby is a good pass rusher with 15 pressures on 99 attempts. He has been solid against the run with four stops. Like Lucas, the junior has struggled in his rare coverage snaps, with two catches allowed for 33 yards on two targets. Kameryn Crawford - The third edge rusher the Trojans will rotate in is a 6-5, 265-pound sophomore. Crawford has 16 tackles, six for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and no missed tackles this season. His one tackle for loss per game is tied 62nd among FBS defenders. The sophomore has at least one tackle in each game, including a season-high of four against Michigan State and Michigan. Crawford recorded a sack against Missouri State and Georgia Southern. The versatile OLB is a good all-around defender who started the first five games of the season before coming off the bench last week. He has been good as a pass rusher with 13 pressures on 143 attempts and against the run with eight stops. Crawford allowed a three-yard touchdown reception on his lone target of the season in coverage, but he will not drop back often. Linebackers: Eric Gentry - USC’s leading tackler is the 6-6, 225-pound redshirt senior. Gentry leads the Trojans with 41 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. He has also added three sacks and a pass breakup. The senior’s 1.17 tackles for loss per game are tied-32nd among FBS defenders, and his 0.5 forced fumbles per game are tied-2nd nationally. Gentry has at least three tackles in each game. He posted a season-high 10 tackles against Georgia Southern and also added a sack. His best game came at Purdue when he finished with eight tackles and a season-high two sacks and two forced fumbles. The versatile LB also leads the team with five missed tackles. Gentry can play ILB or OLB and took a decent chunk of snaps at slot corner last week. The senior has been solid in coverage with 11 catches allowed for 89 yards on 15 targets. Against the run, the LB leads the team with 14 stops, but three of his missed tackles have occurred here. Gentry rushes the passer on about 18% of pass plays, totaling six pressures, including the three sacks, on just 32 attempts. Desman Stephens II - The next linebacker to highlight is the all-around solid 6-3, 235-pound sophomore. Stephens has 30 tackles this season, including at least two in each game. He recorded a season-high nine tackles in the loss at Illinois. The sophomore has combined for 24 tackles across the past four games. In coverage, the interior backer has allowed seven catches for 67 yards across 10 targets. He has come up with eight stops against the run; however, all three of his missed tackles have occurred here. Stephens can be found rushing the passer on about 12% of pass plays, with two pressures across 21 attempts. Jadyn Walker - Last week, this redshirt freshman earned his first start of the season. Walker, standing at 6-2 and 235 pounds, has 12 tackles, including two for a loss this year. The freshman has at least two tackles in four games, including a season-high of five last week against Michigan. The young LB has been pretty good all-around. In coverage, he has allowed two receptions for just two yards on three targets. He has been solid against the run with seven stops, and one of his two missed tackles has come here. Walker has recorded two pressures on 11 pass rushes while rushing the passer about 18% of pass plays. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Defensive Backs: Bishop Fitzgerald - USC’s premier ball-hawking DB is the 5-11 NC State redshirt senior transfer. Fitzgerald has racked up 30 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, one sack, a team-high five interceptions, and one pass breakup this year. The transfer’s 0.83 interceptions per game are tied for the most among FBS defenders. He has at least four tackles in each game, including a season-high of six against Georgia Southern and at Illinois. Fitzgerald had a nice performance against Missouri State when he finished with four tackles, a pass breakup, and a 39-yard pick-six. At Purdue and then last week against Michigan, the senior recorded matching five tackle, two interception games. The talented safety can play some slot corner and has just one missed tackle this year. He has allowed nine receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 14 targets. Fitzgerald has two stops against the run with no stops and two pressures on just eight pass rushes. Kamari Ramsey - Another safety who can play some slot corner, this redshirt junior has nine tackles with no misses and one pass breakup in five games played. Ramsey missed the Trojans’ loss at Illinois due to food poisoning. The six-foot DB has at least one tackle in each game played and recorded a season-high three tackles and a pass breakup against Michigan State. Ramsey has been solid in coverage, having allowed 12 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown on 17 targets. The junior has one come up with one run stop. Marcelles Williams - USC’s starting left-side CB is the 5-11 redshirt freshman. Williams has 18 tackles this season, including at least two tackles in five games. He racked up a season-high five tackles at Purdue and Illinois. He does have two missed tackles on the year. The solid DB has allowed 15 receptions for 186 yards on 22 targets in coverage. Williams has also come up with one stop against the run with no misses. DeCarlos Nicholson - Opposite of Williams is the 6-3 redshirt senior CB. Nicholson has 12 tackles, one sack, an interception, and a pass breakup this season. He has at least one tackle in each game and just one miss. The senior has combined for nine tackles across the past three games, with three tackles and a sack at Illinois, followed by three tackles and a pass breakup against Michigan. Nicholson came up with his interception against Georgia Southern. The right side CB has allowed 192 yards and four touchdowns on 13 receptions across 21 targets. He has had a limited impact against the run with no stops or misses. The Notre Dame offense should scheme a few shot plays against this struggling CB. Others to watch: Christian Pierce Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame is set to face off against their bitter rival, the USC Trojans, this week. In a game that could be the season-defining win or loss for the Irish, who are the players Notre Dame needs to look out for on both sides of the ball? We take a look at a few of the Trojan's biggest threats. Photo by USC Athletics Makai Lemon - Wide Receiver To put it simply, Makai Lemon is one of the best receivers in all of college football. So far this season, there has not been a defense that has been able to contain Lemon for very long. To this point, he has already racked up 44 receptions for 682 yards and six touchdowns. To put that into perspective, that puts him atop the Big Ten, a conference with Jeremiah Smith, in both yards and receptions. Production wise, there really has not been anyone better than Lemon. This will probably be the toughest test for the Notre Dame defense all season long, save for Mario Craver and Malachi Toney. The Irish secondary has shown that it is susceptible to giving up large chunks of yards through the air, something that Lemon will take advantage of in a big way if Notre Dame's defensive scheme fails them in this game. Last year's installment of this game saw Lemon haul in nine passes for 133 yards, so he is already a proven threat to a defense that has a lost a ton of talent. Marcus Freeman has thrown around the idea of moving superstar cornerback Leonard Moore around the field, allowing him to be where he can make the largest impact. Against a player of Lemon's caliber, this could be the perfect time to enact that strategy. Although Moore is not a slot corner, it is unclear if anyone else in the Irish secondary is capable of slowing down Lemon. Lemon presents a matchup problem for any defense, but Notre Dame may have the answer with Moore. Either way, Lemon will have to be accounted for on every snap, or Notre Dame will have a very long night trying to slow down this explosive USC offense. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! King Miller - Running Back Although he may not be the most talented player on USC's offense, he did show an impressive ability to impact the game during the Trojan's matchup against Michigan. In that game, USC lost their top two leading rushers due to injury before calling on redshirt freshman walk-on King Miller to finish the game. Surprisingly, Miller took over the game, leading a dominant USC rushing attack. In total, Miller rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown on 18 touches, good for nearly nine yards per carry. Miller was able to hit on a few explosive plays against Michigan, which was enough to give USC the lead they needed to secure the win. Notre Dame's rushing defense has been strong to start the year, but they will be tested against this Trojan rushing attack. Although the title of walk-on is next to Miller's name, he has shown more than enough to prove that he can become a game-changer if Notre Dame is not careful. Bishop Fitzgerald - Safety On the defensive side of the ball, Fitzgerald has been one of the most impressive defensive backs in the country this season. At the safety position, Fitzgerald is an instinctive, athletic player with great ball skills, as he always seems to be around the ball. With that skillset, Fitzgerald has emerged as one of the best ball hawks in college football. With five picks on the year, he has proven that it might not be wise to look towards his side of the field when looking to push the ball down field. CJ Carr and this Notre Dame offense like to do just that, so Carr will have to be careful and accurate when testing Fitzgerald in coverage. A player of Fitzgerald's caliber can easily sway this game in USC's favor if Carr is not careful with the ball. Think back to how Xavier Watts did this for Notre Dame in 2023 against Caleb Williams. That's the takeaway ability that Fitzgerald brings to USC. In the Trojan's game against Michigan, the Wolverines didn't respect the abilities of this talented athlete in the secondary, and Fitzgerald took advantage, finishing with two picks on the day. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

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) Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! 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 Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle 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. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? 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Any time a team at kickoff is a 22.5-point favorite (like Notre Dame was on Saturday), you expect that team to have no problem dominating both sides of the ball and scoring at will against its opponent. That looked like it would be the case on Saturday when, on the second play of the game, Boubacar Traore got home for a sack, and the defense made easy work of NC State’s offense on the opening series of the game. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame’s offense mirrored the defense’s dominant play by marching down the field on 6 plays for 58 yards, where once again, WR Will Pauling just seems to always find a way to get open. Jeremiyah Love capped off the drive with a 2-yard run for a touchdown, and it appeared it was going to be a flawless afternoon for the Irish.   Notre Dame’s defense came out for its second defensive series of the game and again made short work of NC State’s offense with a quick 3-and-out and a punt. CJ Carr and the offense rolled right down the field with ease until they got deep inside the red zone, when Jeremiyah Love was stuffed for no gain on a 3 rd  and 1 on NC State’s 7-yard line. This has been a problem all season long for the Irish. They just can’t seem to find an answer for short-yardage situations when they’re needed to extend a drive.   Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! This is just as much on the players as it is on coaching, and Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock hasn’t exactly done the offense justice in a lot of these situations. Case in point, on the following play, the Irish chose to go for it on 4 th  and 1 at the 7-yard line in NC State’s territory. Instead of getting under center (using their north and south runner in Jadarian Price) and just pounding the rock for one yard, OC Mike Denbrock decided to get cute with the play call. CJ Carr rolled out to the right with nowhere to go and just threw it in the back of the end zone on a prayer. Instead, it was intercepted for a touchback, which wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but it cost the team points, and even worse, killed the momentum. Speaking of killing momentum, it's hard to ever get anything going when you have to face not only your opponent, but also the officiating crew as well. This marks three weeks in a row that Notre Dame has had awful calls go against them, and Saturday's example was one of the absolute worst I've ever seen. NC State's receiver clearly did not have possession of the ball, as it hit the ground, and not only was it obvious, but it took the officiating crew what seemed like an eternity to review it and still get it wrong. Something has to be done when it comes to the officiating crews at Notre Dame games. It just seems to get worse and worse every week and is never addressed by the NCAA. From here on out, it looked like it was going to be a dogfight against a 22.5-point underdog, a position you never want to find yourself in as a player, coach, or even a fan. The defense as a whole, as flawed at times as they were, held their own all day. However, they continue to look lost at times and allow mismatches, most notably having a true freshman cornerback, Dallas Golden, left one-on-one with no safety help over the top. Even more alarming was allowing linebacker Drayk Bowen to cover a speedster wide receiver downfield for 30 yards or more. Bowen did a great job in doing so, but he should never have been asked to do so in the first place. Notre Dame got lucky on that play, and in most cases, that LB gets beat and it's a touchdown. Head Coach Marcus Freeman looked relieved to even get a FG going into the half and be up 10-7 against a team like NC State. When a coach looks relieved in that situation, it's alarming and shows how the day is really going. At the half, it's all about adjustments, and it was with great hope that this break would be a way for Notre Dame to reset and come out dominating the way you expect them to. That wasn't the case as the Irish came out for their first offensive series of the second half with a quick 3-and-out. At that point, it just had the vibe of it being a dogfight to the end, and you'd be lucky to come away with a win. It felt very much like a Brian Kelly game of the past, where they played down to their competition and considered themselves lucky if they just came away with the victory. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle It wasn't until well into the 3rd quarter that it started to take a turn, and the Irish started to look confident and comfortable again. CJ Carr finished the day 19/31 for 342 yards for two touchdowns and an interception, which are respectable numbers. But for the second week in a row, he seemed to get rattled at times and has made some questionable throws. With that said, he threw some absolute dimes like the one he threw to KK Smith for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter. For Carr, it's understandable that off-plays will happen from time to time, but he has to find a way to be more consistent if Notre Dame wants to win out. Notre Dame found themselves yet again starting hot and then hitting a wall before finally finding their identity and pouring it on late in the game. You can't continue to do this week in and week out and expect to win. Eventually, this just won't be enough, and they will run into a buzz saw. With a team like SoCal on the horizon, the margin for error will be much thinner. This game will be a defining moment for both teams and a must-win if either wants to make it into the playoffs. For the team as a whole, consistency is key moving forward. Looking at the final score of the game and determining that everything is fine is shortsighted and often doesn't tell the whole story of just how good a team really is. Honesty is the best policy, and if this team doesn't find a way to be more consistent, figure out the short-yardage problem, and stop starting slow, then every week will be an up-and-down emotional rollercoaster. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. 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In a somewhat shocking announcement this afternoon, Penn State has fired longtime Head Coach James Franklin midway through his 11+ years of leading the program following a 22-21 loss against Northwestern yesterday. Franklin's seat had been getting increasingly hot since they suffered a loss in the CFP last season in the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame. Fast forward to this year, Penn State started as a favorite to not only get back to the playoffs, but by some, as a favorite to possibly win it all this year. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Penn State started the season as the No. 2 team overall in the preseason Top 25 AP Poll, and so came the pressure for Franklin to get his team over the hump, something he has failed to do in the past, going a dismal 4-21 against Top 10 teams during his tenure at Penn State. Franklin and Penn State started off the season winning big with ease until they faced Oregon, and after suffering a 2OT loss, their next two games ended with losses to unranked UCLA and, most recently, Northwestern. That was enough for Penn State as they realized that changes had to be made and that they had to move on without Franklin, regardless of his astronomical buyout of $49 million. One thing is for sure, and that is that Penn State, as of late, has been having no trouble landing top-tier talent, and to prove this, look no further than C/O 2027 5-Star Elite RB Kemon Spell. Spell is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the No. 1 running back in the class and the No. 8 overall recruit nationally. Spell has been committed to Penn State since August of 2024, but things seemed to be changing when it was announced that Spell would be taking visits to both Notre Dame and Georgia in the coming weeks. Rumors swirled, and many thought that was a sign that the very talented running back was looking for a way out of Happy Valley. Things turned even more interesting when Keith Barnes, @KBarnes_PG on X (a High School Sports writer for @PGSportsNow), posted a live interview with Spell following his career-high six-touchdown performance that helped his team win 56-31 against Mars Area High School. But his performance wasn't the only big news to come out of that, as Keith Barnes asked him, "Are you still 100% committed to Penn State?" to which Spell surprisingly answered, "No, I'm not. I'm not 100% with Penn State anymore. I will be taking visits, and we'll see from there." Fast forward to today's announcement coming out of Happy Valley that Head Coach James Franklin has been fired, and shortly after, it was announced that Kemon Spell was decommitting from Penn State and moving on with his recruitment. Was he already planning to bolt prior to Franklin being let go? That answer we may never get, but from the outside looking in, it appeared this was bound to happen whether Franklin retained his job or not. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Where this really gets interesting is that Spell currently has a visit scheduled for Notre Dame next weekend, when they take on their longtime rival, the University of Southern California, a big game no matter when or where it is played. Add to that Notre Dame's current RB Coach Ja'Juan Seider has always had a great relationship with Spell, as he was recruiting him when he was at Penn State before leaving for Notre Dame. Seider has remained close to Spell and has not let up on trying to get him to Notre Dame. Will they be able to pull it off? Only time will tell, but knowing the backstory on all this, I'd say Notre Dame definitely has the edge when it comes to Spell finding a new home. Next weekend will be the perfect opportunity to make their mark on Spell, as Notre Dame has already scheduled one of the biggest recruiting weekends for the SoCal game that they've had in a long time. It's a who's who of top-tier talent from around the country that will be on campus for the big weekend, and a big win followed by a successful recruiting weekend could pay dividends in the recruitment of Spell. Stay tuned for this one, Irish fans, as this story is only beginning. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

No. 16 Notre Dame took control and dominated the second half to take down NC State 36-7 at Notre Dame Stadium. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame and Chris Ash's defense caught a lot of flack after the first two games of the season. Since the second half of the Purdue game, the Fighting Irish defense has been firing on all cylinders. While the game at Arkansas may have been skewed and Boise State gained 315 yards, the Fighting Irish held NC State in every which way today. The Wolfpack only totaled 233 yards, as Notre Dame held the ACC's leading rusher, Hollywood Smothers, to 45 yards. The Notre Dame secondary played phenomenally today as well, as they held the ever-dangerous CJ Bailey to 186 yards and three interceptions. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Much of the success of Notre Dame's secondary can be attributed to the pressure presented by the Notre Dame defensive line. Boubacar Traore has officially taken off and has proven to be Notre Dame's best weapon on the edge of this line. He ended the game with four tackles and two sacks. Junior Tuihalamaka played wonderfully as well, and single-handedly derailed an NC State drive. In yesterday's preview, linebacker play was one of the main keys to the game and they performed. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa recorded an interception and was tied for the lead in total tackles alongside Tae Johnson. Drayk Bowen and Jaiden Ausberry were filling run gaps perfectly, and were also showing off their athletic ability covering Smothers in open field. "Our captains like Adon [Shuler], Donnie [Donovan Hinish] and Drayk [Bowen] have done an unbelievable job continuing to make sure our guys are practicing the right way, but their mindset is right," said Marcus Freeman. Offensively, the Irish stalled again in the first half, which was attributed to two empty red zone possessions after failing to convert on 4th and short. If there was one glaring weakness to the Irish offensive attack, their inability to convert on fourth and short is an obvious answer. Without those two empty possessions, Notre Dame was moving the ball with great success. CJ Carr ended the game 19/31 for 342 yards and two touchdowns. Carr made some unbelievable throws, specifically to tight end Eli Raridon, but the young quarterback sometimes looks for the big play too often. These unnecessary deep shots on 2nd and 10 keep Notre Dame behind the sticks and make it hard to convert on fourth down, as the Irish were just 6/14 today. Raridon led Notre Dame pass catcher with 109 yards, while Will Pauling and KK Smith were the Irish's two receiving touchdown scorers. Pauling ended the game with 105 yards and Smith finished with 59 yards. "KK's been a guy that has been practicing at a high level," said Marcus Freeman. On the ground, the Notre Dame offensive line didn't give many holes for Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love, but the two superstars still found a way to make an impact. Love ended the game with 86 yards and two touchdowns, while Price added 66 yards of his own. Special teams continued to make an impact, as Noah Burnette made a clutch 48-yard field goal at the end of the 1st half to give Notre Dame a 10-7 lead. Then later in the game, Tyler Buchner converted on a fake punt that led to an Irish touchdown drive. "Shoutout coach Biagi and the special teams... to steal a possession," said Freeman. In the end, it was another game in which the Irish came out sluggish in the first half, but dominated its opponent in the 2nd. Notre Dame has still yet to play a complementary football game on all three cylinders as the matchup against USC will prove to be the perfect occasion to piece it all together. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

No. 16 Notre Dame is looking to stack their fourth consecutive victory against the young and talented NC State Wolfpack. Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame is starting to look like a more polished football team every week they hit the field. The Irish defense turned in their best performance of the season last week against Boise State, as Chris Ash's unit looks to continue their dominant effort against an explosive NC State offense. While CJ Carr sputtered in his worst game of the year, the redshirt freshman quarterback still delivered 189 yards and two touchdowns. The Irish offense was backed once again by their dynamic duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, as Notre Dame leaned on the ground to put the Broncos out of reach to the tune of a 28-7 victory. While many Irish fans would still enjoy a 28-7 win, there was much left to be desired. Notre Dame got stuffed at the one-yard line to open the game and Carr missed Will Pauling streaking wide open in the end zone on a 4th & 8. Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame are still looking to put together their most complementary performance of the year, with the opportunity to do that this Saturday. Here are three keys to victory for the Fighting Irish against NC State. Limiting CJ Bailey's Legs The first key to this game will be limited CJ Bailey's ability to keep plays alive and improvise outside the pocket. Last week against Boise State, Maddux Madsen showed an innate ability to make Notre Dame defensive lineman miss in space and turn negative plays into positive yards. This week, the Irish will be facing a significantly more dangerous athlete with 6-foot-6, 210-pound, Bailey. While Bailey is credited with 40 rushes this season, he enjoys escaping the pocket out to his right to extend plays. Knowing this, the performance of Notre Dame defensive ends will be imperative. Boubacar Traore, Jordan Botelho, and Bryce Young need to be aware of setting the edge and not allowing Bailey to get outside the pocket. If Notre Dame can force Bailey to beat them simply as a drop-back passer, then good things will be on the horizon for the Fighting Irish defense. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Putting Pressure Through the Air While Notre Dame's passing defense has been far from stellar to begin this season, the NC State Wolfpack have struggled themselves defending the pass. Notre Dame ranks 110th in CFB in passing yards allowed per game (258 yards), while the Wolfpack rank 116th (267.6 yards). While the Irish have the excuse of playing two dynamic offenses to start the season, NC State doesn't necessarily have that same easy out. Mike Denbrock and the Notre Dame offense will always be a run-centric team especially given the talent they possess in their backfield. However, Denbrock has shown great timing in mixing up the run and the pass early this season. A healthy dose of Love and Price earlier in the game can allow Carr to get one-on-ones all over the field, and the Irish will certainly need to capitalize. In addition to poor passing defense, the Wolfpack have also struggled in stopping the run, ranking 104th in average yards per rush at 4.9 yards per carry. In short, if Denbrock can mix and match the run and pass the way he's been doing through the first five games of the season, the Irish will have a field day. Exceptional Linebacker Play The last, and ultimately most important piece of the puzzle this Saturday, will be the performance of the Notre Dame linebacking unit. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa turned in his best game of the season last week against Boise State, as the talented sophomore co-led the Irish in tackles, along with another linebacker, Jaiden Ausberry. This week, the Irish linebacking crew will be tasked with three tremendously difficult assignments. CJ Bailey, which was already mentioned, in addition to running back Hollywood Smothers and tight end Justin Joly. Smothers is a physical back with a tremendous center of gravity that keeps him upright after being contacted. He is averaging 6.9 yards per carry and has already totaled five touchdowns this season. Joly is NC State's featured receiving threat, as the 6-foot-3 tight end leads the team in receptions (28) and is tied for the team lead in touchdowns (3). Containing the Wolfpack's big three will be mostly put on the shoulders of Notre Dame's talented linebacking unit. It should be interesting to monitor the percentage of snaps in this game, as the Irish could lean on Viliamu-Asa and Jaylen Sneed to counter the athleticism mismatches NC State presents. In the end, if the Irish can be sound fitting run gaps and keeping Bailey in the pocket, Notre Dame's defense could diminish another one of the nation's top offenses. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @ LiamFarrell_IT  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle   here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!