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Notre Dame Football

GAME THREAD | No. 15 Notre Dame at No. 6 USC

November 26, 2022
214,165

No. 15 Notre Dame (8-3) at No. 6 USC (10-1)

LA Memorial Coliseum | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC | USC -4.5 | O/U: 63

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RIVAL 

Notre Dame at USC.

All that needs to be said. 

Notre Dame must find a way to slow down USC quarterback and Heisman frontrunner Caleb Williams on Saturday night as he’s the key to the show. Williams hasn’t faced a defense anywhere close to as stout as Notre Dame this season, but it’s also game 12, so none of that matters. 

What can you expect Notre Dame to do on offense? Run the ball. If the Irish show out like they did against Boston College and Clemson, then game on. If they have a Navy performance, it could be a long day for the blue and gold. 


Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison
Morrison has been outstanding in the second half of the season and he'll be tested again this week going up against a group of receivers that are as good as any the Irish have faced. His matchups with WR Jordan Addison will be must-watch.

USC QB Caleb Williams
Win the game and put up the numbers he's used to and he'll reserve a spot in New York for the Heisman ceremony and set USC up to make the College Football Playoff. He's a dynamic presence with his ability to escape the rush and the Irish will have to play at a high-level to limit their offense.

Notre Dame RB Logan Diggs 
Notre Dame is going to do as much as they can to dominate the time of possession and keep this potent USC offense off the field. That means Diggs and Audric Estime need to have another big day on the ground and that's likely to happen against a USC run defense that has struggled.

USC DE Tuli Tuipulotu
One of the top pass rushers in college football this season, he's their only true game-wrecker on defense. Notre Dame's offensive line has to be great for the Irish to win and it starts with doing their job against Tuipulotu.

Notre Dame DE Isaiah Foskey
He has the Notre Dame sack record, but the Irish need him for one last ride to slow down USC's passing game. He had six forced fumbles last season, but has zero in 2022 despite having 9.5 sacks. He's due to force one soon.


QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman:
"There's a different feeling about this one and I can feel it amongst our program and our players. I knew it last year, but this year being at the end of the year at USC, you can really feel it."

Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees:
"It's huge, right? I don't know if our guys fully know that. It just seems weird we haven't played there since 2018. When you're there — you have a home game and you have a game there — OK, this is what the rivalry really means. 

"I grew up in a household where UCLA-SC was a big day every year. So I kind of knew what SC was about at an early age. Then you come here, and you still have that same feeling that you had as my brother had, my mom had, my dad had at UCLA. Maybe even more so with just football. Like every year, this was the one you circled.” 

Notre Dame DC Al Golden:
"It's great to be a part of it now. Again, a lot of respect for SC and what they represent and what we represent. It's going to be a great game to be a part of."

Notre Dame QB Drew Pyne:
“As far as the stadium goes, we’ve played in a lot of cool stadiums since we’ve been here. I have a routine that I do. We’ll visit the stadium probably on Friday and I’ll get accustomed to the stadium. It’s a great game, it’s a great tradition.

“However, I’m going to approach it the same way I’ve approached every game since I’ve been here.”

Notre Dame CB TaRiq Bracy:
“We’re a confident group. We know being able to play teams like that and have that under our belt definitely brings some confidence, but I feel like our confidence is internal. I think we’ll be fine against USC.” 

For Your Nerves 

TEAM STATS NOTRE DAME USC
Points Per Game 31.0 42.9
Points Allowed Per Game 20.3 26.3
Total Yards 380.4 513.0
Yards Passing 189.2 330.8
Yards Rushing 191.2 182.2
Yards Allowed 317.2 405.0
Pass Yards Allowed 186.8 257.8
Rush Yards Allowed  130.4 147.2

Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7' Inflatable Santa

GAME THREAD | No. 15 Notre Dame at No. 6 USC

214,152 Views | 1190 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by pjcaulfield
Original Bubs
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Caleb Williams is frustratingly good.
Robert Morris
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Williams won't finish this game!!
irishtank6900
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This isn't on Golden, lol. You have a defense who is out matched by an unbelievable QB.
Brucealeg
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irishtank6900 said:

It's amazing what an elite QB can do for a team.
It's amazing what the transfer portal has done for everyone not named ND.
Joe1976
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This is what happens when you get whipped up front on defense on top of dealing with some qb running around like he's on crack..
ndrockland
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I'm sorry, this defense did not show up tonight. Forget Williams. They have run it down our throat all night. Obviously they have picked something out on film to take advantage of. I just can't believe this team is able to push us around without some sort of schematic advantage. Would love ex-players and coaches on our board to analyze and explain this.
This is the way!
domer92
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Beyond disappointing to see d line being out physicalled.
phm195
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But isn't their o line really good? I feel like I've heard it is several times this week
Senator#99
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ndsean44 said:

This fan base deserves better. Period.

ND needs to evaluate their operation because USC went the bounty hunter approach and is taking them to the woodshed

Not the fans on this boar!
NDMATTM
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This is the same team we beat 4 out of the last 5 years. Yes, QB play is everything.
Rwolf101
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Brucealeg said:

irishtank6900 said:

It's amazing what an elite QB can do for a team.
It's amazing what the transfer portal has done for everyone not named ND.

Jon Sot was a stud find.
AZdoc
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usma95 said:

No doubt. The difference in the game is their OL whooped our DL and Williams is a magician.


This. The speed I get. But need to muscle them up and we couldn't.
IrishRob
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The transfer portal will put ND at a significant disadvantage every year.
NDmark1
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IrishRob said:

QB play is everything


Not that they are equal but how do you do better than perfect 13-13?
Joe1976
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Think the score is gonna be THAT bad...? Wouldn't surprise me.
ohara31
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Williams had 2 guys run into each other and still tried to hand the ball off. End result - 3 yard loss. Pyne tries to pull the ball for the first time all year and fumbles.
Brucealeg
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ndrockland said:

I'm sorry, this defense did not show up tonight. Forget Williams. They have run it down our throat all night. Obviously they have picked something out on film to take advantage of. I just can't believe this team is able to push us around without some sort of schematic advantage. Would love ex-players and coaches on our board to analyze and explain this.
Elite QB and they want it more makes a lot of sense.
irishbearcat09
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No surprise from Tom "Hellen Keller" Rees tonight. But Marcus Freeman, a "defensive coach" responsible for making sure we were prepared and came out ready to play? He lost all credibility tonight in my eyes.

Marshall, Stanford, and tonight. 3 strikes. The university of spoiled children literally running circles around us as our players try to remember how to tackle every play. Absolutely disgusted and embarrassed to be a Notre Dame fan tonight.
jptscott
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The fact that they are running so well on us is depressing
fenixc
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Somehow some way we have to hold them to a fg here
IrishATM
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need to pull these guys out for poor tackling

Play the freshman LB's…I know Williams is good, but this is pathetic
phm195
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NDMATTM said:

This is the same team we beat 4 out of the last 5 years. Yes, QB play is everything.


Didn't Lincoln bring in transfers all over the team?
NDMATTM
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Definitely didn't show up the 2nd half.

ndrockland said:

I'm sorry, this defense did not show up tonight. Forget Williams. They have run it down our throat all night. Obviously they have picked something out on film to take advantage of. I just can't believe this team is able to push us around without some sort of schematic advantage. Would love ex-players and coaches on our board to analyze and explain this.
Sgt Hulka
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Brucealeg said:

irishtank6900 said:

It's amazing what an elite QB can do for a team.
It's amazing what the transfer portal has done for everyone not named ND.
Easy solution: make it easier to get transfers in. Until then, we're going to get Jack Coan's as Grad Transfers (no knock on Jack, he was just an average QB.)
Wiggs4Irish
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phm195 said:

NDMATTM said:

This is the same team we beat 4 out of the last 5 years. Yes, QB play is everything.


Didn't Lincoln bring in transfers all over the team?


Only 20
irishtank6900
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Brucealeg said:

irishtank6900 said:

It's amazing what an elite QB can do for a team.
It's amazing what the transfer portal has done for everyone not named ND.

I get what you're saying. Trust me. We still have people on this site wanting to run it back with Buchner and Pyne. And they are dead serious…
IrishRob
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Do what Williams is doing
ohiondfan
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NDmark1 said:

IrishRob said:

QB play is everything


Not that they are equal but how do you do better than perfect 13-13?


Not fumble a handoff.
ohara31
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I'll try to beat Matt. Williams with a TD!!!!
tommynacc
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I've said it all week, do not let him out of the pocket and TACKLE!

With Cam Hart out didn't help. This is why you rest the defense and offense in a blowout…
tvanp63
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Among all the other short comings of the defense tonight, the lack of speed is glaring!
ohiondfan
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Williams is good but he's a punk.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Caleb Williams scores his second rushing touchdown of the night.

No. 6 USC 31
No. 15 Notre Dame 14

14:53 | 4Q

10 plays, 75 yards in 6:01

USC's touchdown drives tonight:
75
75
74
75
jptscott
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This defense is getting worked
Boss
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No cheap shot call hitting kizer after the TD 5 yards in the end zone?
 
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