SportsSpotlight Stories

Five instant reactions to Notre Dame football’s instant classic win over USC

October 19, 2025
0

Notre Dame football was in a back-and-forth battle with USC for three quarters, but pulled away late and came away with a 34-24 victory in front of a rowdy home crowd.

This was win No. 5 on the season, all of them coming after opening losses to start the year. This one was sweet, as the Trojans came into this game with hopes of making the College Football Playoff. While they aren’t completely gone, they’re fading unlike Notre Dame, who is seemingly surging toward being included in the 12-team field.

There are plenty of takeaways from this game, and here are my five immediate reactions to Notre Dame beating USC and retaining the Jeweled Shillelagh Trophy.

That was a fun potential final contest for Notre Dame and USC

This was an instant classic, one that many will remember for a long time. For three quarters it seemed like it would be anyone’s game, but the Irish quickly responded with two scores to take back the lead for good. This game was exactly the reason this series needs to continue. Sure it didn’t go USC’s way, but they had chances to win this game. Let’s keep this rivalry going please.

CJ Carr will have these type of games

The experience that Carr is gaining this season will go a long ways for the future seasons, and he’s clearly not a finished product. There is one clear area that he could clean up pretty quickly, and it’s the crazy scrambles trying to make plays. Sure, you’ll see a highlight like the one against Miami, but we’ll also see a disaster like tonight. The conditions weren’t great to throw the ball, so Carr did have to deal with that, but he always seems to have one or two of these kind of plays every week. Throw the ball away and move onto the next play. There is no need to be giving a team an extra possession.

Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are unfair

There is no argument anymore, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are the best running back duo in the country. They went off against USC, Love rushing for a career-high 228-yards and a score, while Price had a touchdown rushing and a kickoff return. They both played huge impacts on the outcome for the Irish, as they’ll really didn’t need Carr to be playing at an elite level. You can’t say enough about how good these two are, and it’s so fun to watch them doing this in the Blue and Gold.

Kicking is a major issue

It’s pretty clear to me that Noah Burnette is still hurt, but the Irish coaching staff does not have much confidence in the players behind him. He missed a field goal and an extra-point and late in the fourth quarter, Freeman opted to go for it on 4th down instead of attempting another.

Erik Schmidt has made 11-of-12 extra points, but has missed his only field goal attempt. He had two kickoffs go out of bounds, giving the Trojans good starting field position. Marcello Diomede made two extra points against Boise State. The wet conditions did play a factor, but not having Burnette fully healthy has hurt this team. It’s an area where they have little depth, one of very few on this team.

Christian Gray showed incredible resilience

There aren’t many corners in the county that could have a 180-turnaround in just a few plays like Gray did. After being in coverage for the Trojans go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, Price getting the lead right back, the next drive Gray picked off Trojan quarterback Jayden Maiava. That was the start, as he’d steal another one away late in the fourth. It was a quite the in-game turnaround, and it helped propel the Irish to a victory.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Five instant reactions to Notre Dame’s instant classic win over USC

Technology

Recent Posts

editors picks

Top Reviews

X-twitter

© 2024 United Cultures.