USC
Notre Dame
No. 20 USC Football Goes To No. 13 Notre Dame In 96th Meeting Of Renowned Rivalry
October 14, 2025 | Football
THE GREATEST INTERSECTIONAL RIVALRY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
*USC and Notre Dame...two renowned brands...two iconic football programs...it doesn't get any better.
*USC travels to South Bend to challenge the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 96th meeting of the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football. It will be shown live nationally on NBC.
*The game is a battle between schools with glorious gridiron heritages. The winner gets year-long possession of the jeweled Shillelagh.
WINNING TRADITIONS
*USC and Notre Dame have two of the top gridiron heritages in the country.
*The schools have both won 11 national titles (USC in 1928-31-32-39-62-67-72-74-78-2003-04 and Notre Dame in 1924-29-30-43-46-47-49-66-73-77-88).
*Notre Dame is fourth in all-time victories among Division I-A schools and USC is tenth.
*USC has played in 56 bowls (with 36 wins, not including 1 win and 2 appearances vacated due to NCAA penalty), while Notre Dame has been in 44 bowls (with 23 wins).
*Both schools have produced Heisman Trophy winners (USC has 8 [the most of any college football program], Notre Dame 7). USC's Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, Caleb Williams and Notre Dame's Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, Leon Hart, John Lattner, Paul Hornung, John Huarte, Tim Brown.
*Notre Dame has had 204 All-American first teamers, while USC claims 177.
*USC holds the record for most players (6) selected as the top pick of the NFL Draft, while Notre Dame has had 5 players drafted at the No. 1 spot.
*Both schools are well-represented in the various halls of fame: USC has 47 inductees in the College Football Hall of Fame (including 36 players) and Notre Dame has 56 (including 50 players), and in the Pro Football Hall of Fame USC holds 18 members (including a record 14 players) and 14 from Notre Dame (13 players).
*Both programs have had legendary coaches (USC's Gloomy Gus Henderson, Howard Jones, John McKay, John Robinson and Pete Carroll, and Notre Dame's Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy and Ara Parseghian).
USC AND NOTRE DAME BOTH RANKED
*In USC-Notre Dame games in which both teams are ranked by AP, Notre Dame holds a 18-14-2 edge(not including 1 USC win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 18-15-2).
*The last time the teams met when both were ranked was in 2023, a 48-20 victory by No. 21 Notre Dame over No. 10 USC in South Bend.
SERIES
*Notre Dame leads the series with USC, which began in 1926, 52-37-5 (not including Troy's 2005 victory that was later vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 52-38-5).
*Including that 2005 vacated game, USC has won 12 of the last 22 meetings and 15 of the last 28 (including 8 in a row from 2002 to 2009).
*Since 1967, USC has gone 26-27-3 (not including the 2005 vacated game; original record: 27-27-3).
*In South Bend, USC is 13-29-1 (not including the 2005 vacated game; original record: 14-29-1), with 2 other USC losses in Chicago.
*USC has lost in its last 6 trips to South Bend (its longest streak since dropping 7 consecutive there from 1983 to 1995), but Troy had won the previous 5 times there and 6 of the previous 8.
*In its last 13 games against the Irish, USC is 4-9. SHILLELAGH
*The winner of the USC-Notre Dame game gets year-long possession of the jeweled Shillelagh.
*The foot-long shillelagh—a Gaelic war club made of oak or blackthorn saplings from Ireland—has ruby-adorned Trojan heads with the year and game score representing USC victories, while emerald-studded shamrocks stand for Notre Dame wins. For tie games, a combined Trojan head/shamrock medallion was used.
*The first Shillelagh was retired after the 1989 game when it ran out of space for the medallions and a second one is now in use.
*There are now 52 shamrocks, 38 Trojan heads and 5 combined medallions on the shillelaghs (1 USC win was later vacated due to NCAA penalty).
A WIVES TALE
*If it had not been for the persuasiveness of a young bride in 1925, the Trojan-Irish series may never have been established. The series came about because of a discussion between two wives. USC's graduate manager, Gwynn Wilson was a forerunner to the modern-day athletic director. He and his bride, Marion, got on the Sunset Limited train to Lincoln, Nebraska where Notre Dame was going to play the Cornhuskers. Mission: a USC-Notre Dame home-and-home series. Wilson didn't get to meet with Rockne though, until after the game when they all got on a train to Chicago. "He told me that he couldn't meet USC because Notre Dame was traveling too much," Wilson said. "I thought the whole thing was off but as Rock and I talked, Marion was with Mrs. Rockne, Bonnie, in her compartment. Marion told Bonnie how nice Southern California was and how hospitable the people were." "Well, when Rock went back to the compartment, Bonnie talked him into the game. But if it hadn't been for Mrs. Wilson talking to Mrs. Rockne, there wouldn't have been a series."
SORRY BIG NOON--DAVE PORTNOY MAY CALL OUT SICK THIS WEEK...
*...because USC decisively defeated No. 15 Michigan 31-13 in front of a sold out crowd in the Coliseum.
*It was USC's first AP Top-15 win since 2024 season opener versus No. 13 LSU in Las Vegas.
*It was USC's first AP Top-15 home win since Nov. 26, 2022 versus No. 13 Notre Dame.
*It was USC's first AP Top-15 conference win since Sept. 20, 2019 versus No. 10 Utah (30-23 at the Coliseum).
*This was the largest margin of victory over a ranked team since beating No. 23 Stanford by 25 in 2019.
*The Trojans are now 7-5 all-time against the Wolverines.
*USC's 31 points were the second most the Trojans have scored in the series against Michigan.
*USC's 224 rushing yards were the most Michigan has given up since 2022 against Ohio State (252 yards).
*USC had 489 total yards of offense, the most total yards Michigan has given up this season and the most against the Wolverines since 2022 when Ohio State recorded 492 total yards of offense.
*For Michigan, it was largest margin of defeat versus an unranked opponent since losing by 25 at unranked Illinois in 2009.
*USC averaged 7.2 yards per play. Michigan hadn't allowed more than 7 yards per play in a game since its College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Georgia in December 2021.
*USC's 31 points tied for the second-most points allowed in a game under Sherrone Moore (Michigan gave up 31 points to No. 3 Texas and 38 points to No. 1 Oregon in 2024).
*It was also the most points Michigan allowed to an unranked opponent in the Moore era.
*The Trojans have led at the half in five of their six games this season. USC is 5-0 when leading at the half.
*USC had nine different receivers record catches in the game, marking the third time this season the Trojans have had catches from nine or more players.
*USC committed a season-low three penalties for 31 yards.
*USC is the only school in the Big Ten to score more than 30 points in every game this season.
*USC ranks No. 9 on the ESPN Football Power Index.
*USC leads the Big Ten in third down conversion percentage (0.552), fourth down conversion percentage (0.833), passing offense (325.8), yards per completion (14.38), scoring offense (45.5) and total offense (552.3).
MAIAVA MAGIC
*USC QB Jayden Maiava continues to be the most impressive QB in the nation thriving in head coach Lincoln Riley's offense.
*He is one of four Power Four quarterbacks averaging more than 300 yards per game.
*Maiava ranks No. 1 in ESPN's QBR (93.1), and among QBR-qualified quarterbacks.
*Maiava went 25-of-32 for 265 yards (.781) with 2 TDs and 1 INT.
*This marked the fifth time in six games Maiava has had at least 200 yards and 2 TDs.
*Maiava's 78% completion rate was his second best of the season. His best completion rate was his 83.3% against Missouri State in the first game of the season.
MAIAVA METRICS
*Maiava leads the nation in yards per pass attempt (10.83).
*He also leads the Big Ten in passing yards (1,852), passing yards per game (308.7) and passing yards per completion (15.06).
*Maiava is No. 2 in the Big Ten in big time throws with 13 and leads the conference in big time throw rate (the percentage of attempts that are big time throws) with 7.2.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MAIAVA
*Matt Leinart, USC Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Keep an eye on Jayden Maiava and the Heisman race. It's early but bookmark this...."
*Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "When you have a quarterback like Jayden Maiava who is a dual threat, you always have to pay attention. Don't go to sleep, otherwise his feet will eat!"
*Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Analyst - "USC QB Jayden Maiava is cooking! He just keeps getting better and better. Lincoln Riley knows how to develop QBs."
POLYNESIAN TRADITION AND APPLE TV COLLAB
*Including USC QB Jayden Maiava, USC's first-ever starting quarterback of Polynesian descent, USC has a rich tradition of Polynesian players that have been integral members of the football program.
*USC currently boasts 15 players of Polynesian decent on the roster: OL Micah Banuelos, OL Ratumana Bulabalavu, WR Makai Lemon, QB Jayden Maiava, OL Alani Noa, DT Kobe Pepe, OL Makai Saina, LB Matai Tagoa'i, OL Erwin Taomi, OL Justin Tauanuu, LB AJ Tuitele, TE Taniela Tupou, OL Elijah Vaikona, OL Willi Wascher and WR Zacharyus Williams.
*On Saturday, Aug. 30, Apple TV debuted a promo video collaboration with USC Football for its hit streaming series Chief of War starring Jason Momoa.
*In the video, centered around USC's Polynesian heritage, Momoa addresses QB Jayden Maiava and the Trojan football team.
#GOODFOR6
*Biletnikoff contender USC WR Makai Lemon continues to display why he is the nation's best receiver.
*Every game, he continues to show to the nation why he is #GoodFor6.
*Against Michigan, Lemon led the Trojans with 9 receptions for 93 yards and 1 TD.
*He made an unbelieve TD catch at the end of the first half that defied physics as he leapt in the air backwards, caught the ball behind his head and fell into the end zone to push the Trojans ahead 14-7.
*Lemon is No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in receiving yards (682) and receiving yards per game (113.7).
*He also leads the Big Ten in receptions per game (7.33).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT LEMON
*Matt Leinart, USC Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst- "I think Makai Lemon is the best receiver in CFB."
*Kyle Ford, Former USC Wide Receiver - "Lem is the best receiver in the country..."
*David Cone, Host of Sports Podcast Crain & Company - "Throw the ball anywhere near Makai Lemon and he'll catch it."
*Kendell Hollowell, USC Trojans on SI - "Makai Lemon is making himself a lot of money today. There's not a WR in next year's draft I would take over Lemon."
*Kendell Hollowell, Reporter, USC Trojans on SI - "Just put the ball in Makai Lemon's hands and let him do the rest."
*Matt Leinart, USC Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Lane and Lemon remind me of some guys I used to play with."
*Brad Nessler, CBS Sports Analyst – "Makai Lemon after the catch is so dangerous!"
*Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Makai Lemon is a game- breaker. I call him 'Quick-6' because he can score from anywhere on the field – inside or out."
*Matt Leinart, USC Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Whoever drafts Makai Lemon is going to get an absolute star!!!"
*RJ Abeytia, USCFootball.com – "Makai Lemon is just that dude."
*Jeff Dubrof, Sports Anchor KCCI-TV (Des Moines, Iowa) - "Makai Lemon is the best draft eligible receiver in the entire country. Unreal."
*Liam Blutman, Barstool Sports – "There aren't many kids in football better than Makai Lemon."
*Greg Biggins, National Recruiting Analyst for 247Sports – "Makai Lemon makes more contested catches than any other sub 6-0 WR I've seen in a long time, just incredible hand/eye coordination, body control and compete level."
TROJAN BACKFIELD: BUILT DIFFERENT, BUILT DEEP
*The depth of the USC running back room was on full display against the Wolverines.
*Running back coach Anthony Jones Jr. on the depth of his room: "One of the good things about this room is that they all have different strengths. And another good thing is that they're all really good football players. All of those guys can be every-down backs. All of those guys can catch the ball out of the backfield, which is a plus. They've done a great job in pass protection as well. We think the world of all of those guys!
*In a freak situation, USC RBs Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders both went down in the game versus Michigan, but by looking at the box score, you'd never tell...
KING TAKES THE THRONE
*Although the Trojans started the season with three players on the Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch list...it's looking like there should have been four!
*RB King Miler, America's best walk-on, stepped in to lead the Trojans to a 31-13 victory over No. 15 Michigan.
*Miller recorded a career-high 158 rushing yards on 18 attempts (8.8 avg.) with 1 TD.
*Miller's 158 rushing yards were more than any team has rushed against Michigan all year. (Oklahoma recorded a total of 138 rushing yards against the Wolverines.)
*Additionally, his 158 rushing yards are believed to be the most rushing yards by a Trojan walk-on since at least the 1970s.
*In Week 7, he led the Big Ten in yards per attempt (8.8) and yards after contact (98).
*Miller, who was given his name "King" because he was born on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is the first USC walk-on to score a TD since TB Jess Holguin scored on a 7-yard run versus Cal in 1994 (61-0 win).
*He has scored a rushing TD in 3 of the 5 games he has played this season.
*His 49-yard third quarter run was a career-long and his third career run of 40+ yards.
*His 158 rushing yards were the most rushing yards by a USC running back versus a ranked opponent since 2017 (Ronald Jones II, 194 versus No. 23 Arizona).
*Per PFF, Miller is second in the Big Ten in yards after contact per attempt with 7.97.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT KING MILLER
*Gary Danielson, CBS Sports Analyst - "This guy (Miller) has made big plays. He's demanded and earned carries on this football team."
*Brad Nessler, CBS Sports Analyst - "King Miller has been sensational so far this year."
*John Fanta, NBC Sports Broadcaster - "That's Lincoln Riley football. USC controlling the trenches and King Miller is running wild."
*Su'a Cravens, Former USC & NFL Safety and current ESPNLA and Big Ten Network Analyst - "KING MILLER NEEDS TO BE ON SCHOLARSHIP!!!!!"
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT WAYMO
*Matt Leinart, USC Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Been hearing great things about Waymond Jordan all offseason. This kid is going to be special this year."
*Antonio Morales, The Athletic National Writer - "One of the things USC has done consistently well under Lincoln Riley is identify transfer running backs: Waymond Jordan is the latest gem. He just rushed for a 36-yard TD and is up to 132 yards today. Trojans lead 38-13 early in the third."
*Jeff Dubrof, Sports Anchor KCCI-TV (Des Moines, Iowa) - "Learn the name Waymond Jordan folks. He's gonna be one of the best running backs in America this year."
THE WALL OF TROY
*The Trojan offensive line's versatility and depth has been showcased this season.
*Being down essentially three starters, the USC offensive line has not missed a beat and has been extremely productive.
*With only two players who bring extensive game experience, the USC offensive line is continuing to grow game-by-game and displaying their great potential.
*In Lincoln Riley's electric offense, the USC offensive line has helped the Trojans average 325.8 passing yards per game, while averaging 226.5 yards on the ground.
*USC is ranked No. 3 in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 45.5 points per game.
*The O-Line's pass blocking has allowed USC QB Jayden Maiava to go 123-for-171 (.719) for 1,852 yards and 13 TDs.
*Maiava leads the nation in yards per pass attempt (10.83). He also leads the Big Ten in passing yards (1,852), passing yards per game (308.7) and passing yards per completion (15.06).
*The line's run blocking has allowed seven different Trojans to score a total of 19 rushing touchdowns so far this season.
*The line has protected Maiava well considering he has been sacked just 3 times all season.
*Maiava is tied for the least sacked QB in the Big Ten and is the second least sacked QB in the Power Four.
*Against Michigan, the Trojan offensive line dominated the trenches.
*It was USC's fourth starting offensive line combination in six games.
*OL Tobias Raymond has started at 3 different spots on the line for the Trojans this season (LG 4x, LT and RT).
*USC gained 489 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per play. Michigan hadn't allowed more than 7 yards per play in a game since its College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Georgia in December 2021.
*USC's run blocking allowed redshirt freshman RB King Miller to collect 158 rushing yards on 18 attempts (8.8 avg.).
*The line's pass blocking allowed QB Jayden Maiava to go 25-of-32 for 265 yards (.781) with 2 TDs.
*The quick-passing attack didn't let Michigan get near Maiava. The Wolverines never sacked the Trojan signal caller and hit him only twice.
*USC head coach Lincoln Riley on USC's offensive line development and performance: "It says we're a tough-ass, physical program. That defensive line (Michigan) has a lot of really good players out there. To have the performance that they did minus three starters, I don't think many offensive lines in the country would have been able to do that minus three starters."
D'ANTON'S DEFENSE
*USC's defense held Michigan to 13 points. It was the fewest points allowed versus a ranked opponent since Nov. 12, 2016 at No. 4 Washington (13).
*Michigan's 316 yards were the fewest total yards allowed versus a ranked opponent since Oct. 21, 2023 at No. 21 Notre Dame (251).
*The Trojan defense held Michigan to a season-low 109 rushing yards (less than half of its usual total).
*USC had 3 sacks in the game, marking the third time in six games USC has had 3 or more sacks.
*USC ranks No. 2 in the nation in red zone defense (0.600).
*LB Eric Gentry led the Trojans with 6 tackles and 1 PBU.
*Gentry is No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in forced fumbles (0.50).
*Gentry is also No. 3 in the nation and No. 2 in the conference in solo tackles (5.83).
BLESSED BY BISHOP
*USC S Bishop Fitzgerald decorated his stat sheet with 5 tackles, including his first career sack for minus 11 yards and 2 INTs in USC's 31-13 victory over Michigan.
*He leads the nation in total INTs (5) and INTs per game (0.83).
*This was his second game this seaosn with 2 INTs (the other was at Purdue).
*Of his 5 INTs this season, 3 of them have occurred with the Trojans backed up in the red zone.
*Fitzgerald's 5 INTs are the most by a Trojan defender since Calen Bullock (5) in 2022.
*The last USC defender with more than 5 INTs in a season was Will Poole (7) in 2003.
*With Michigan on the USC-32, Fitzgerald registered a third-down sack for minus 11-yards in the second quarter to knock Michigan out of field goal range and force a punt at a crucial point in the game.
*Through Week 7 per PFF, Fitzgerald ranks No. 2 in the Power Four among all defensive backs with a 91.5 defensive grade. He is also No. 2 in the Big Ten among all defensive backs with a 91.5 defensive grade, a 89.8 tackling grade and a 90.9 coverage grade.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE DEFENSIVE LINE
*Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst – "The bodies they have up front – these are the type of players that can help them compete for national championships the next few years."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT GENTRY
*Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "This guy is playing linebacker better than anyone else in the country right now."
*Devin Jackson, Philadelphia Enquirer Sports Editor - "USC LB Eric Gentry is a versatile weapon on defense, can rush the passer and is physical enough to play inside the box. Has been a consistent force over the last couple of seasons but is playing on another level this season."
*Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times - "Imagine trying to throw a pass while Eric Gentry's 7-foot wingspan is bearing down on you."
KICKIN' IT WITH SAYERI
*USC K Ryon Sayeri scored 7 points last night for the Trojans, including a 54-yard field goal in USC's 31-13 victory over No. 15 Michigan.
*His 54-yard field goal put the Trojans up 24-7 over the Wolverines in the fourth quarter.
*The 54-yarder matched the second longest field goal by a Trojan in program history.
RANKINGS
*USC is ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll and No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. Notre Dame is No. 13 in the AP Poll and No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll.
IN OCTOBER
*USC has a 320-130-19 (.703) all-time record while playing in the month of October (not including 5 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; revised record: 325-130-19, .706).
RAIN
*Saturday's weather report in South Bend shows a possible chance of rain.
*USC has a 24-24-2 record in games in which it rained during a major portion of the contest.
*USC's last rain game was at Washington in 2024 (USC lost, 21-26).
ARTIFICIAL TURF
*USC is 52-41-1 in its last 94 games on artificial turf (not including 3 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 55-41-1).
TV OUTLETS
*USC has appeared live on 35 different television broadcasting outlets. The Trojans have won on the air on all but 3 of those outlets (KTLA, Innovative and a local Memphis station). USC has appeared on live national, regional or local telecasts 598 times.
USC • NOTRE DAME CONNECTIONS
*USC has 0 players from the state of Indiana, while Notre Dame has 8 players from the state of California.
*Notre Dame DL Elijah Hughes played at USC in 2023-24. He recorded a total of 15 games, with 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks over the two years.
*USC P Sam Johnson and Notre Dame CB DeVonta Smith played at Alabama together in 2021, the year the program won the national championship.
*USC TE Lake McRee and Notre Dame WR Jaden Greathouse are both from Austin, Texas.
*USC DT Kash Amos, Notre Dame WR Will Pauling and Notre Dame DL Christopher Burgess Jr. are all from Chicago, Ill.
*USC WR Corey Simms, Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame CB Christian Gray and Notre Dame DL Gabriel Rubio are all from Saint Louis, Mo.
*USC WR Corey Simms and Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love prepped together at Christian Brothers College.
*USC CB DJ Harvey and Notre Dame S Jalen Stroman played at Virginia Tech together in the 2021-22 seasons.
*USC LB Nick De Fina and Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner are both from San Diego, Calif.
*USC RB Eli Sanders and Notre Dame LB Madden Faraimo are both from Oceanside, Calif.
*USC OL Elijah Paige and Notre Dame CB Cree Thomas are both from Phoenix, Ariz.
*USC CB Marcelles Williams, USC DT Kobe Pepe and Notre Dame LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asu all prepped together at St. John Bosco HS in Bellflower, Calif.
*USC LB Elijah Newby and Notre Dame WR Matt Jeffrey are both from Cheshire, Conn. and prepped together at Cheshire Academy.
*USC LB Ta'Mere Robinson and Notre Dame DL Donavan Hinish are both from Pittsburgh, Pa.
*USC QB Dylan Gebbia and Notre Dame DL Junior Tuihalamaka prepped together at Bishop Alemany HS. in Los Angeles, Calif.
*USC CB Kevin Longstreet and Notre Dame DL Jared Dawson both previously played at Louisville in 2023.
*USC DT Keshawn Silver and Notre Dame Noah Burnette both previously played at North Carolina in 2022.
*Notre Dame LB Madden Faraimo's brother, Matt, was a setter on the USC men's volleyball team from 2017-20.
*USC General Manager Chad Bowden served as Notre Dame's general manager from 2021-24. While there, Bowden was named the 2024 FootballScoop Player Personnel Director of the Year. Bowden's transfer portal efforts helped Notre Dame land the No. 15 class in the On3 2024 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings.
*USC Assistant General Manager Dre Brown worked for Notre Dame's recruiting office in many roles from 2021-2023. The Irish recruited the No. 6 class in the nation in 2022 according to On3 and Rivals.
*USC Assistant Athletic Director of Recruiting Operations Zaire Turner served as Notre Dame's Director of Player Personnel from 2022-24. While there, Turner helped construct three unanimously ranked Top 12 recruiting classes from 2023-2025. In 2024, she was named a 247Sports 30 Under 30 for advancing Notre Dame's recruiting efforts. She was the second-ever female to hold a Director of Player Personnel role in college football.
*USC Director of Recruiting Weston Zernechel was a team manager and received his bachelor's degree in sport industry from Ohio State in 2015, the same year that current Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator, Chris Ash, held the role of Ohio State Co-Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach.
*USC Recruiting Analyst Logan Snead previously worked as a recruiting intern at Notre Dame in 2024.
*USC Assistant Director of Clinical and Sport Psychological Service Dr. Niki Sims served in a similar role at Notre Dame from 2017-20.
*USC Senior Associate Athletic Director Lindsay Jaffe served as assistant athletic director for sport services at Cincinnati while Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman served as defensive coordinator / linebackers coach at Cincinnati from 2019-20.
*USC Senior Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communication and Brand Advancement Cody Worsham served as associate athletic director / chief brand officer at LSU while Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends Coach Mike Denbrock served in a similar position at LSU from 2022- 23.
*USC Senior Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communication and Brand Advancement Cody Worsham served as associate athletic director / chief brand officer at LSU while Notre Dame Associate Athletic Director, Revenue Generation & Fan Experience Kevin Cassidy served as senior director of digital marketing at LSU from 2019-2023.
*Notre Dame rowing Assistant Coach Dori Bene rowed at USC from 2014-19. After her collegiate career, Bene became an assistant coach at USC from 2019-2024.
INDIANA TROJANS
*In USC's history, just 3 football lettermen claim Indiana as their hometown and attended school in the state before coming to Troy: LT Max Belko, 1934-69 (Gary, IN/Froebel); G Charles F. Boren, 1925,27-28 (Evansville, IN/Princeton) and Jerry Gracin (Gary, Ind./Froebel).
NOTRE DAME SCOUTING REPORT
*No. 16 Notre Dame football didn't attain a two-score lead over NC State until midway through the third quarter, but the Irish pulled away with a 36-7 victory in Notre Dame Stadium.
*QB CJ Carr finished 19-of-31 passing (61.3%) for 342 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT.
*TE Eli Raridon (7 catches for 109 yards) and WR Will Pauling (4 catches for 105 yards) became the first Notre Dame duo to surpass 100 receiving yards since a Fiesta Bowl loss on Jan. 1, 2022.
*The Irish rushed for a total of 11 yards in the first quarter and just 59 yards in the first half.
*Notre Dame ended the game with 143 yards on 39 carries for an average of 3.7 yards per carry — the worst average for the Irish since 3.5 yards per carry against Texas A&M on Sept. 13.
*RB Jeremiyah Love led the Irish in rushing with 18 carries for 86 yards and 2 TDs with 54 of those yards coming in the second half.
*RB Jadarian Price finished with 15 carries for 66 yards.
*Notre Dame sacked NC State QB CJ Bailey 4 times and intercepted him 3 times.
*The Wolfpack rushed 28 times for 51 yards. That's the fewest rushing yards Notre Dame has allowed in a game since Purdue totaled 38 on Sept. 14 of last season.
