Notre Dame Running Game Steamrolls USC In Rainy South Bend Classic
Saturday night in South Bend felt like watching a heavyweight boxer work the heavy bag. Except the heavy bag was USC’s defense, and Notre Dame’s one-two punch of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price absolutely pummeled it for 60 minutes of pure football brutality.
The Fighting Irish demolished the Trojans 34-24, but that score doesn’t tell the whole story of just how thoroughly Notre Dame dominated this rivalry matchup. This was old-school, ground-and-pound football at its finest – the kind that makes coaches from the 1970s shed a single tear of pride.
Love Turns USC Defense Into Swiss Cheese
Jeremiyah Love didn’t just run wild on USC – he practically filed a missing persons report on their entire defensive unit. The sophomore sensation carved up the Trojans for 228 rushing yards on 24 carries, averaging an absolutely bonkers 9.5 yards per attempt.
Love’s night started with the kind of run that makes defensive coordinators consider early retirement. On his very first carry, he burst through the middle for 63 yards, running through a seam so massive you could’ve driven a Zamboni through it. Two plays later, he was dancing in the end zone after a 12-yard touchdown scamper.
“That first run set the tone for everything,” said one Notre Dame fan who probably needed a cardiologist after watching Love’s performance. And honestly, who could blame them? Watching Love run was like watching a master class in how to make 11 grown men look absolutely foolish.
Price Delivers the Knockout Punch
Just when USC thought they had figured out how to slow down Love, Jadarian Price decided to crash the party in the most spectacular fashion possible. The junior running back not only added 87 yards on 13 carries but delivered the single most devastating play of the entire game.
After USC had clawed its way to a 24-21 lead on a gorgeous 59-yard touchdown connection between Jayden Maiava and Ja’Kobi Lane, Price took the ensuing kickoff and turned it into pure magic. He bounced off two would-be tacklers like they were traffic cones, then outran the entire USC special teams unit for a 100-yard touchdown that had Notre Dame Stadium absolutely losing its collective mind. The lead lasted all of 15 seconds. That’s got to hurt worse than stepping on a LEGO barefoot at 3 AM.
USC’s Defensive Nightmare Continues
For USC, this game was like watching a horror movie sequel – you know exactly what’s coming, but you’re powerless to stop it. The Trojans got absolutely gashed for 306 rushing yards, which is the kind of number that makes defensive coordinators update their LinkedIn profiles.
This wasn’t just bad defense; this was historically awful. Notre Dame averaged 7.2 yards per carry as a team, and honestly looked like they could’ve run for 400 yards if they really wanted to embarrass somebody. USC’s inability to stop the run has become its calling card this season, and not in a good way. They gave up 258 rushing yards to Notre Dame last year, so you’d think they might have learned something. Apparently not.
Fourth Quarter Drama and Costly Mistakes
The game took a wild turn in the fourth quarter when USC tried to get cute with a trick play. With the Trojans driving and trailing 27-24, Head Coach Lincoln Riley dialed up a reverse to Makai Lemon with the option to throw.
It went about as well as you’d expect. Lemon got stripped by Notre Dame Safety Adon Shuler, and the Irish recovered at midfield. Seven plays later, Quarterback CJ Carr punched in a one-yard touchdown that effectively ended USC’s hopes of breaking their six-game losing streak in South Bend.
Notre Dame’s Ground Game Dominance
Notre Dame’s offensive line deserves a standing ovation for its performance. Led by Center Joe Otting in his first career start, the Irish created running lanes so wide that Love and Price probably could’ve walked through them while reading a newspaper.
The Irish ran the ball 44 times for 306 yards, which is the kind of old-school football that Notre Dame fans absolutely live for. When you can run third-and-6 and third-and-7 on the same possession and pick up first downs both times, you know you’ve got something special going.
College Football Playoff Implications
This victory keeps Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff hopes very much alive. At 5-2, the Irish have positioned themselves nicely for a potential playoff run, especially with games against weaker opponents coming up.
For USC, this loss drops them to 5-2 and essentially eliminates any realistic playoff hopes they might have harbored. The Trojans’ defensive struggles have become a recurring theme, and until they fix that fundamental issue, they’re going to continue to struggle against quality opponents.
Looking Ahead
Notre Dame gets a well-deserved bye week to rest up and prepare for their next challenge at Boston College on November 1. USC, meanwhile, also gets a bye before traveling to Nebraska – a game that suddenly feels much more important for a team trying to salvage its season.
This game proved once again that in college football, controlling the line of scrimmage and running the football effectively can still win games. Notre Dame did both masterfully, while USC continued to show that their defensive issues aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
