FINAL - USC 20, Notre Dame 48
Keep up with No. 10 USC taking on No. 21 Notre Dame with these running updates from WeAreSC as the Trojans battle the Fighting Irish. The undefeated Trojans are looking to keep their top-10 ranking and win in Notre Dame Stadium for the first time since 2011.
Pregame Videos
USC’s pregame hype video ahead of this one came with some help from a couple of pretty good running backs who had plenty of success in these rivalry games, Reggie Bush and LenDale White.
Here’s a look at WeAreSC’s Four Downs, previewing this edition of the USC – Notre Dame rivalry.
And be sure to join your fellow Trojan fans in the WeAreSC Game Thread throughout this one.
Pregame – USC at Notre Dame
* Jacobe Covington is not out for the very early warmups with the cornerbacks. He started the game against Arizona last week but was not able to finish. Christian Roland-Wallace, Ceyair Wright, Domani Jackson, Prophet Brown and Tre’Quon Fegans are the corners on the field right now. No players are in uniform to this point.
* Wide receiver Zachariah Branch is out on the field going through early warmups. He’s gone through warmups for each of the past two games without playing. But he does look to be going through these with a little bit more vigor. Head coach Lincoln Riley said Thursday that Branch would have to progress rapidly over the next few days in order to play. As of this morning, Branch looked to be a gametime decision for this one. We’ll see if he comes out in full uniform for the first time since the Arizona State game.
* Branch doesn’t come out with the USC special teams returners at first, but then joins them after a bit in full uniform. He’s catching and returning punts and kickoffs. This is more than he’s done the past two weeks ahead of the game.
* Michael Tarquin looks as though he’ll get the start at right tackle for the Trojans tonight. Mason Murphy was inserted into the game early last week and stayed in. Offensive line coach Josh Henson said he made the change because Tarquin was struggling a bit and then he liked how Murphy was playing. Will be interesting to watch that rotation because Murphy will almost certainly be brought in at some point as he has all season.
* Tackett Curtis and Raesjon Davis are the first inside linebackers up as the Trojans go through team warmup. Looks as though they’ll get the start for USC tonight. Domani Jackson and Christian Roland-Wallace are the first cornerbacks up as the Trojans warm up.
* Notre Dame wins the coin toss and elects to defer. USC will receive the opening kick.
First Quarter
* Caleb Williams, MarShawn Lloyd, Lake McRee, Jonah Monheim, Emmanuel Pregnon, Justin Dedich, Jarrett Kingston, Michael Tarquin, Dorian Simger, Tahj Washington and Brenden Rice are the starters for USC.
* Williams has a wide-open McRee but sails it over his head and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts intercepts it and returns it all the way down to the 12-yard line.
* Notre Dame caps off the 12-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown pass from Sam Hartman to Gi’Bran Payne. It’s 7-0 Notre Dame with 11:30 remaining in the first quarter.
* USC punts after picking up one first down. Another penalty on the offensive line helps stall a drive. Notre Dame takes over at its own 14-yard line.
* Trojans stop Notre Dame and take over at their own 33-yard line after an Irish punt.
* A USC drive ends up in a 25-yard field goal by Denis Lynch. It’s 7-3 Notre Dame with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter.
Second Quarter
* Notre Dame goes 46 yards in eight plays and connects on a 36-yard field goal to push the Irish lead to 10-3.
* Another Williams interception by Watts after a tipped ball and the Irish turn it into a two-yard touchdown by Audric Estimé. It’s 17-3 USC with 4:14 remaining in the first half.
* Williams throws his third interception of the first half. This one is picked by Benjamin Morrison.
* Estimé scores his second touchdown of the game and Notre Dame has a 24-3 lead with 1:30 remaining in the half.
* Lynch hits a 48-yard field goal as the first half clock expires. Notre Dame takes a 24-6 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
* The teams trade three-and-out punts on their opening possessions. Notre Dame has the ball at its 27-yard line with 13:01 remaining in the third quarter.
* USC’s MarShawn Lloyd goes 31 yards after a pitch from Williams and USC finally gets into the endzone with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter. It’s 24-13 Notre Dame.
* Hartman hits Chris Tyree for a 46-yard touchdown to push the Notre Dame lead to 31-13 with 3:54 remaining in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
* Zachariah Branch gives USC a bit of a spark with a 44-yard punt return. The Trojans have the ball at the Notre Dame 18-yard line to start this drive with 11:13 remaining in the game.
* Williams finds Brenden Rice for a 7-yard touchdown. USC cuts the Notre Dame lead to 31-20 with 9:04 remaining in the game.
* Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price returns the kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. It’s 38-20 Notre Dame.
* The Irish tack on another field goal with 3:40 remaining. It’s 41-20.
* Notre Dame picks up a Mario Williams fumble and Watts runs it in for a score. It’s 48-20
* A fitting end to this one as USC loses another fumble and Notre Dame finishes it off in the victory formation. Final score is 48-20 Notre Dame.
