Nov 274 min read

USC Seeks to Upset Irish, Inject Chaos Into CFP

USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish — © Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans (6-5, 4-5 Big Ten Conference) could simultaneously right many wrongs in their disappointing 2024-25 season and throw the College Football Playoff selection process into pandemonium if they upset the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) in the regular season finalé for both teams at 3:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 30 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Since 1926, Southern Cal and the Irish have met 93 times in their intersectional rivalry series. Notre Dame holds a 51-37-5 lead in the nearly century-long array of matchups between the two prominent programs. However, the Trojans hold a 24-20-3 edge in games against the Fighting Irish in the Coliseum.

Highly-ranked Notre Dame is favored by 7.5 over unranked USC.

High Stakes

The stakes are always high when these two programs meet on the gridiron. The upcoming clash is no exception. The Irish have a spot in the CFP on the line. Win and they're in; lose and they are in serious jeopardy of exclusion. A loss to USC would be Notre Dame's second loss of the season to an unranked team. They fell to Northern Illinois (6-5, 3-4 Mid-Atlantic Conference) in Week 2.

The success of USC football is largely measured by the outcomes of its annual rivalry games against ND and the UCLA Bruins (4-7, 3-6 B1G). The Trojans defeated the Bruins on Nov. 23. Many of the disappointments of this season's mediocrity could be overcome with a win over the Irish. Furthermore, USC needs to win this game to avoid overall regression for a second straight year in the third year of the Lincoln Riley era. In 2022 (Riley's initial season with USC), the Trojans were 11-3. In 2023, Southern Cal tailed off, finishing 8-5. And, as noted above, USC has already dropped five games in the current campaign.

Historic Programs

No schools have more players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame than the USC Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Fourteen Trojans and 13 Golden Domers are in the Hall of Fame. (Another Notre Dame alumnus, Edward DeBartolo Jr., was inducted into the Hall of Fame for front-office contributions.)

Beginning with their inaugural season in 1887, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has had 22 undefeated seasons, 12 of which were perfect. The Fighting Irish have claimed 11 national championships. As an independent program, the Fighting Irish do not compete in a conference. Notre Dame has produced 109 consensus All-Americans and 7 Heisman Trophy winners. The NFL has drafted 495 Notre Dame players.

From its first season in 1888, the USC Trojans football team has achieved 13 undefeated seasons, including 8 perfect seasons. The Trojans have won 11 national championships and 37 conference championships. USC has produced 8 Heisman Trophy winners, the most of any college football program. They have produced 84 first-team consensus All-Americans. Additionally, USC has produced 524 NFL draft picks, the most all-time by any university.

Great Rivalry

The Los Angeles Times characterizes the USC-Notre Dame rivalry as "the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football." The teams have squared off nearly every year since they began playing in 1926. Although some have questioned whether the rivalry will continue now that USC has transitioned into the Big Ten Conference, ESPN reports that it will persist: "The storied football rivalry began in 1926 and will continue with USC in the Big Ten. A lot will obviously change with USC leaving the Pac-12 [Conference] but the Trojans will still play UCLA and Notre Dame every season."

The enduring rivalry has featured memorable and dramatic moments, such as the famous "Bush push," where Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush pushed Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart into the end zone as time expired. It propelled the No. 1 Trojans to a 34-31 victory over the Fighting Irish on Oct. 15, 2005, in South Bend, Ind.

Key Players: USC, Irish

Notre Dame's prolific offense is averaging 40.1 points per game, featuring a balanced attack with 2,440 rushing yards and 2,179 yards through the air. Running back Jeremiyah Love and dual-threat quarterback Riley Leonard spearhead the potent ground attack with 850 and 671 rushing yards, respectively. Additionally, the duo has accounted for 27 rushing touchdowns.

Defensive leaders for the Irish include safety Xavier Watts and linebacker Jack Kiser. Watts, a unanimous All-American last year, leads the team with 4 interceptions, while Kiser is tops on the team in tackles with 56.

The USC defense faces a stiff challenge, seeking to contain Notre Dame's offense. In a significant improvement over last year, when opponents averaged 34.48 points per game, the 2024 Trojans have held opponents to an average of 21.18 PPG. To succeed against the Irish, the Trojans will need continued strong play from senior LBs Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Mason Cobb, who lead the team with 88 and 68 tackles, respectively. Both also have 2 INTs. Furthermore, 6-foot-6 true freshman defensive end Kameryn Fountain is emerging as a star for defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn.

USC's wide receiver corps is one of the most talented in the country, and one of the most talented of the group is Zachariach Branch. Although he earned All-American honors as a kick returner during his freshman season in 2023, Branch has not been featured prominently by the Trojans' offense this year, with only 458 receiving yards and 1 TD. a breakout game by Branch could be what the Trojans need to pull off the upset.