LOS ANGELES, CA — Under steady rain and slippery field conditions, No. 13 Notre Dame outlasted No. 20 USC, 34–24, on Saturday night, adding another dramatic chapter to one of college football’s greatest rivalries.
The Trojans hurt themselves with costly mistakes, ultimately losing not just a hard-fought battle against their longtime rival, the Fighting Irish, but also likely ending their chances of making the College Football Playoff.
One of the night’s biggest moments came when Jadarian Price returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, immediately after USC had briefly taken the lead. Down 24–21 in the third quarter, Notre Dame (5–2) stormed back to score 13 unanswered points. Earlier, USC (5–2) had taken that 24–21 lead on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Maiava to Ja’Kobi Lane, followed by Maiava’s two-point conversion toss to Lane.
Maiava finished 22 of 42 for 328 yards and two touchdowns. After Price’s kickoff return, USC mounted another promising drive, highlighted by a 54-yard reception from standout receiver Makai Lemon.
But just as momentum swung their way, disaster struck. On first down from Notre Dame’s 37-yard line, head coach Lincoln Riley called a double reverse—a daring move considering the wet conditions. Lemon fumbled the rain-soaked ball, and the Fighting Irish recovered.
That play proved to be the turning point. Riley is known for his aggressive play-calling, but this gamble in the rain backfired badly.
Notre Dame later stopped USC on a critical fourth-and-one with 6:02 left and sealed the win when Luke Talich intercepted Maiava with 1:06 left in regulation.
USC was without running backs Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders, both missing from the lineup due to injury.
With the loss, USC will likely fall out of the Top 25. The Trojans will now enter a much-needed bye week before returning to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Coliseum on Saturday, November 1st.
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