Game Thread | No. 5 Notre Dame at USC

No. 5 Notre Dame (10-1) at USC (6-5)

LA Memorial Coliseum| 3:30 PM ET | CBS | Line: Notre Dame -7.5 | Total: 52.5

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Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
Love continues to make spectacular plays each week. In Notre Dame's two biggest games, he delivered fourth quarter touchdowns against Texas A&M and Louisville. He's 150 yards away from a 1,000 yard season and it's possibly he could reach that against the Trojans.

USC RB Woody Marks
USC's top running back is already over 1,000 yards. Marks has been highly productive and leads the team in receptions as well. Notre Dame has to win at the line of scrimmage and stop Marks from having a big day.

Notre Dame Nickel Jordan Clark
Clark has been one of the top nickel defenders in the country and he's going to be challenged against a pair of explosive slot receivers for the Trojans. Zachariah Branch is always dangerous because of his speed and Makai Lemon has emerged as a big play threat. 

USC DE Kameryn Fountain
Much like Notre Dame's Bryce Young, Fountain is a freaky athletic freshman who looks like a future star. He's started the last two games and he has had some impressive flashes. He'll be tested in this game by the Notre Dame offensive line, who is coming off the best game of the season.

Notre Dame DT Donovan Hinish
Hinish has stepped up in a big way in the absence of Howard Cross. We don't know if Cross will be available in this game yet, but Hinish has earned opportunities whether Cross is healthy or not. He's been a disruptive presence who has shined when running stunts.

Quotes of the Week

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman:
”Our guys will understand the challenge we have ahead of us. You don’t have to play in close games to feel the pressure of performing on this play. That’s why we coach the way we coach. There has to be a pressure to execute on this play. Close games are won by executing on that play when it matters the most. We try to create that type of mindset in practice and in the game, no matter what the score is or who is in there, you have to get your job done on that play.” 

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock: 
“I hope two things. I hope that we're giving them the right schemes where they feel like they can cut it loose. Right, number one. And number two, having talented players that are doing it. And we've got hopefully a good mix of both of those things. And the schemes not always perfect, but I know for a fact that the kids really believe in what we do in the run game and how we do it. They know we're going to work really hard to make sure we don't get outnumbered and we put 'em in really as much of an advantageous position as we can so that they can tear off and get after people.” 

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden:
”We’ve never talked about playing any other way, so I’m glad that’s how they want to play. Every defense has its own DNA. If that’s what ours is becoming, then that’s great. But that’s completely up to the players. I know what the standard is, I know what the coaches are teaching and what we want it to look like on tape. I really believe that none of that comes to fruition without the guys downstairs.

“Right now we’re getting leadership and guys running to the ball and guys finishing. Sometimes the window to your soul on defense is how well your defensive backs tackle. And right now, whether it’s corners or nickels or safeties, they’re leading by example. They’re not afraid to throw it in there. They’re using great form, great technique, and that sets a high bar for your defense.”

Notre Dame DE Junior Tuihalamaka:
“It means a lot, especially playing in an environment with a lot of family members out there and growing up around a lot of people who love USC, especially my family,” said Tuihalamaka. “But we don’t like those guys over there.” 

For Your Nerves 

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