USC pushes No. 5 Notre Dame, but fall to Irish after disastrous fourth quarter
The tape played on loop all week in Notre Dame’s facility, a sobering reminder for the Irish two years later of what USC, under Lincoln Riley, could be when everything was working in concert. A superhero at quarterback. A rolling run game. A ferocious front. That dominant win over Notre Dame, in the final week of the 2022 season, had in many ways been the high-water mark of the coach’s Trojan tenure, the sort of major moment that would seemingly propel a program to new heights.
The two years since have been spent chasing that feeling to no avail, with one frustrating season bled into another. The star quarterback left, his backup was benched. The run game was neglected. The front was never quite as fearsome again. But Riley continued reassuring the moment and its magic would return, pointing to the program’s progress and defending its direction at all costs.
Notre Dame runs out the clock
No. 5 Notre Dame 49, USC 35, end of game
Notre Dame started on its 25 after the USC touchback.
The Irish took a knee, running out the clock and sealing the win.
USC scores, but Notre Dame still holds commanding lead
No. 5 Notre Dame 49, USC 35, 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter
USC started on its 25.
Bryan Jackson ran for 12 yards.
Jackson then ran for 11 yards.
Jackson carried the ball again for 23 yards, moving to the Notre Dame 29.
Jackson ran for 21 yards to the Notre Dame 8 and USC called timeout with 17 seconds left.
Jayden Maiava passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for an eight yard touchdown and Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
Jayden Maiava tosses another pick six
No. 5 Notre Dame 49, USC 28, 1:18 left in the fourth quarter
USC started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Jayden Maiava passed to Makai Lemon for 34 yards.
Maiava passed to Kyle Ford for eight yards. Quinten Joyner ran for five yards.
Maiava passed to Lemon for 11 yards, moving the ball to the Notre Dame 20 as the two-minute timeout was triggered.
Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava passed to Kyle Ford for four yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. On fourth-and-six at the Notre Dame 13, Maiava’s pass was intercepted by Xavier Watts and returned 100 yards for a touchdown.
Notre Dame hit the extra point.
Jayden Maiava tosses pick six to crush USC rally
No. 5 Notre Dame 42, USC 28, 3:39 left in the fourth quarter
USC started on its 16 after the punt.
Jayden Maiava passed to Makai Lemon for 16 yards.
Maiava passed to Lake McRee for two yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava passed Duce Robinson for 22 yards, moving the ball to the Notre Dame 44.
Quinten Joyner ran for 23 yards.
Maiava’s pass was intercepted by Christian Gray and returned 99 yards for a touchdown. USC was called for a penalty on the play. The Irish hit the extra point.
USC defense gets a stop, gives offense a chance to tie the game
No. 5 Notre Dame 35, USC 28, 5:47 left in the fourth quarter
Notre Dame started on its 25 after a touchback.
Riley Leonard passed to Jordan Faison for five yards. Jadarian Price ran for two yards. Leonard tossed an incomplete pass, but USC was called for holding and
Notre Dame was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
On first down at the Notre Dame 28, Price ran for five yards. Leonard was sacked for a loss of five yards. Leonard tossed an incomplete pass. Notre Dame punted and Zachariah Branch returned the kick four yards to the USC 16.
Jayden Maiava leads a touchdown drive
No. 5 Notre Dame 35, USC 28, 8:43 left in the fourth quarter
USC started on its 45.
Jayden Maiava passed to Makai Lemon for 24 yards.
Maiava passed to Kyron Hudson for 19 yards.
Quinten Joyner rank for one yard to the Notre Dame 1. USC was called for a false start.
On second-and-goal at the Notre Dame 5, Jake Jensen ran for a one-yard loss. Maiava passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for a six-yard touchdown.
Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
USC defense forces Notre Dame to go three-and-out
No. 5 Notre Dame 35, USC 21, 11:52 left in the fourth quarter
Notre Dame started on its 10.
Jadarian Price ran for three yards. Price ran for one yard. Riley Leonard wa sacked for a loss of four yards.
Notre Dame punted and Zachariah Branch returned it seven yards to the Irish 45.
USC offense stalls at start of fourth quarter
No. 5 Notre Dame 35, USC 21, 14:06 left in the fourth quarter
USC started on its 17.
Quinten Joyner ran for 11 yards.
Jayden Maiava tossed two incomplete passes. Maiava passed to Kyle Ford for 29 yards as time expired in the third quarter.
Maiava passed to Makai Lemon for a three-yard loss. Maiava tossed two incomplete passes and USC punted to the Notre Dame 10.
Notre Dame scores three plays after fourth-down stop
No. 5 Notre Dame 35, USC 21, 1:04 left in the third quarter
Notre Dame started on its 38 after the Irish defense’s fourth-down stop.
Jadarian Price ran for four yards. Price ran for another 35 yards.
Riley Leonard passed to Mitchell Evans for a 23-yard touchodwn. The Irish hit the extra point.
USC defense forces interception, but Trojans can’t convert on fourth down
No. 5 Notre Dame 28, USC 21, 2:17 left in the third quarter
Notre Dame started on its 20.
Jadarian Price ran for 16 yards. Riley Leonard’s pass was intercepted by USC’s John Humphrey and returned 16 yards to Notre Dame 45.
Jayden Maiava passed to Kyron Hudson for seven yards. Maiava tossed two incomplete passes. On fourth-and-three at the Notre Dame 38, Maiava’s pass intended for Makai Lemon was broken up and there was a turnover on downs.
Notre Dame forces a USC punt
No. 5 Notre Dame 28, USC 21, 3:59 left in the third quarter
USC started on its 36 after Makai Lemon returned the kickoff for 35 yards.
Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava ran for eight yards. Quinten Joyner ran for four yards.
Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass and USC for penalty that was declined by Notre Dame. Bryan Jackson ran for two yards. Eddie Czaplicki punted the ball for a rare touchback.
Notre Dame gashes USC defense during another scoring drive
No. 5 Notre Dame 28, USC 21, 6:27 left in the third quarter
Notre Dame started on its 25 after the touchback.
Riley Leonard passed to Jeremiya Love for 17 yards.
Leonard ran for nine yards. Jadarian Price ran for six yards. Leonard ran for 24 yards.
Price ran for two yards. Leonard ran for a two-yard touchdown and Notre Dame hit the extra point.
Jayden Maiava challenges Notre Dame defense, leads touchdown drive
No. 5 Notre Dame 21, USC 21, 9:06 left in the third quarter
USC started on its 23 after a 20-yard Makai Lemon kickoff return.
Jayden Maiava’s deep pass intended for Lake McRee was incomplete. Maiava passed to Duce Robinson for 30 yards.
Bryan Jackson ran for one yard. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava tossed another deep incomplete pass and Notre Dame was called for pass interference.
On first down at the Notre Dame 30, Maiava passed to Walker Lyons for 11 yards.
Notre Dame overpowers USC defense, quickly scores to open third quarter
No. 5 Notre Dame 21, USC 14, 12:38 left in the third quarter
Notre Dame started on its 25 after a touchback.
Jeremiyah Love ran for 10 yards.
Riley Leonard tossed an incomplete pass. Love ran for six yards. Leonard passed to Kris Mitchell for 19 yards.
Love ran for four yards. Jadarian Price ran for a 36-yard touchdown and Notre Dame hit the extra point.
Notre Dame runs out clock in second quarter
USC 14, No. 5 Notre Dame 14, end of second quarter
Notre Dame started on its 25 following a touchback.
Jeremiyah Love ran for eight yards and time expired in the second quarter.
USC scores touchdown, ties game
USC 14, No. 5 Notre Dame 14, 24 seconds left in the second quarter
USC started on its 22 after a 15-yard Makai Lemon kickoff return.
Jayden Maiava passed to Zachariah Brnach for seven yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava passed to Lemon for nine yards.
USC called timeout.
Maiava passed to Lemon for 35 yards, moving the ball to the Notre Dame 27.
Maiava tossed an incomplete pass, but Notre Dame was called for pass interference, moving the ball to the Irish 12 with 27 seconds left.
Maiava passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for a 12-yard touchdown. Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
USC penalty extends Notre Dame’s scoring drive
No. 5 Notre Dame 14, USC 7, 59 seconds left in the second quarter
Notre Dame started on its 35.
Jeremiyah Love ran for three yards. Riley Leonard passed to Eli Raridon for four yards. Love rushed for two yards. On fourth-and-one at the Notre Dame 44, Leonard ran for one yard.
Love ran for eight yards. Leonard tossed an incomplete pass, but USC was called for a tripping penalty.
On first down at the USC 32, Leonard passed to Love for 20 yards.
Notre Dame called timeout with 1:03 left in the second quarter.
Leonard then passed to Eli Raridon for a 12-yard touchdown. Notre Dame hit the extra point.
USC goes three-and-out
No. 5 Notre Dame 7, USC 7, 3:26 left in the second quarter
USC started on its 20.
Jayden Maiava was sacked for a loss of five yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava passed to Zachariah Brnach for 11 yards.
On fourth-and-four at the USC 26, Eddie Czaplicki punted 74 yards to the Notre Dame end zone, but USC was called for an illegal shift. Czaplicki punted again and Notre Dame returned it seven yards to its 35.
Notre Dame misses a field goal
No. 5 Notre Dame 7, USC 7, 5:13 left in the second quarter
Notre Dame started on its 25.
Jadarian Price ran for no gain. Riley Leonard ran for one yard. Leonard tossed an incomplete pass. On fourth-and-nine at the Notre Dame 26, Leonard passed to Mitchell Evans for 18 yards.
Leonard passed to Price for four yards. Price ran for one yard. Leonard passed to Evans nine yards. On fourth-and-one at the USC 42, Leonard passed to Jordan Faison for eight yards.
Jeremiyah Love ran for 19 yards.
Leonard tossed an incomplete pass. Love ran for three yards. Leonard ran for three yards. Mitch Jeter missed a 27-yard field goal.
USC forces turnover that sets up touchdown run
No. 5 Notre Dame 7, USC 7, 12:07 left in the second quarter
Riley Leonard passed to Jayden Thomas for 14 yards. Jacobe Covington forced a fumble and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold recovered the ball at the Notre Dame 37.
Jayden Maiava passed to Duce Robinson for 11 yards.
Maiava ran for six yards. Maiava passed to Quinten Joyner for 13 yards.
Quinten Joyner for ran six yards to the Notre Dame 1. Maiava ran for a one-yard touchdown. The play was reviewed and upheld. Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
Notre Dame driving as time expires in first quarter
No. 5 Notre Dame 7, USC 0, end of first quarter
Notre Dame started on its 15 after the USC punt.
Riley Leonard passed to Jayden Thomas for eight yards as time expired at the end of the first quarter.
USC drive stalls
No. 5 Notre Dame 7, USC 0, 19 seconds left in the first quarter
Makai Lemon returned the Notre Dame kickoff 20 yards to the Trojans’ 20.
Woody Marks ran for nine yards and was injured on the play. USC was called for a flase start on the next snap. Quinten Joyner ran for 12 yards.
Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass under pressure. Joyner ran for three yards. Maiava tossed another incomplete pass.
Eddie Czaplicki punted 46 yards to the Notre Dame 15.
Notre Dame gashes USC defense, scores touchdown on first drive
No. 5 Notre Dame 7, USC 0, 2:28 left in the first quarter
Notre Dame started on its 28. Jeremiyah Love ran for 19 yards.
Riley Leonard passed to Love for one yard. Leonard ran for five yards. Riley passed to Kris Mitchell for six yards.
Leonard passed to Jaden Greathouse for six yards. Leonard ran for six yards.
Love ran for nine yards. Leonard passed to Mitchell Evans for three yards to the USC 17.
Leonard passed to Mitchell Evans for one yard. Love ran for seven yards. Leonard ran for five yards.
On first-and-goal at the USC 4, Leonard ran for three yards. Love then ran for the one-yard touchdown. Notre Dame hit the extra point.
USC fails to convert on fourth down at Notre Dame 28
USC 0, No. 5 Notre Dame 0, 9:41 left in the first quarter
USC started on the Trojans’ 14. Jayden Maiava passed to Makai Lemon for 10 yards.
Maiava passed to Lemon for a three-yard loss. Woody Marks ran for 14 yards.
Marks ran for no gain. Maiava passed to Zacharia Brnach for 26 yards.
Marks ran for one yard to the Notre Dame 36. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Marks ran for seven yards. On fourth-and-two, Maiava passed to Branch for one yard and USC turned the ball over at the Notre Dame 28.
USC wins coin toss, receives opening kickoff
USC 0, No. 5 Notre Dame 0, 14:57 left in the first quarter
USC won the toss and received the opening kickoff.
Makai Leon returned it 14 yards to the USC 14.
USC vs. Notre Dame: D’Anton Lynn’s improved defense faces its toughest test
When D’Anton Lynn inherited one of the worst defenses in college football, the expectation was that even a middling performance would make a major difference at USC. Especially when paired with one of the most electric offenses.
A year later, Lynn’s defense has made significant strides. USC leaped from 121st to 32nd in scoring defense, from 119th to 43rd in rush defense and from 119th to 65th in total defense, while the defense’s third-down conversion rate, red-zone conversion rate, missed tackles and explosive plays given up all went down considerably. But the Trojans (6-5, 4-5 Big Ten) still struggled en route to barely becoming bowl eligible.
‘Like a zen thing’: How USC’s Eddie Czaplicki became college football’s best punter
A light rain fell over the Rose Bowl on Saturday night as Eddie Czaplicki took his place just behind USC’s 45-yard line. He didn’t expect to be needed, not with USC driving early in the fourth quarter against UCLA. But an ill-timed, third-down sack had knocked the Trojans out of field-goal range. Now it was up to the best punter in college football to salvage the situation, like he had so often all season.
It was a critical moment in the crosstown rivalry, with the Trojans trailing 13-9, in need of a spark. But a familiar calm settled over Czaplicki. He took a deep breath, caught the snap, then sent the kick soaring toward the goal line, where it bounced once at the five-yard line, landing softly in the arms of receiver Makai Lemon at the one.
USC’s improving offensive line faces big test against Notre Dame
It was the lowest moment of the season for USC’s young offensive line, a September nadir that seemed certain to linger long after the Trojans returned from their first Big Ten trip. But two months later, as Lincoln Riley looks back to where the tide started to turn for his Trojans front, the coach points, somewhat surprisingly, to that nightmarish afternoon in Ann Arbor.
“Since then,” Riley said Tuesday, “I feel like we’ve been on a pretty steady incline the entire way.”
The secret to USC running back Woody Marks’ career-best year: acupuncture
The needles never bothered Woody Marks. Mostly because he never looks at them. All USC’s star running back knows is every Wednesday his acupuncturist will put them in whatever muscle has been aching that week.
“I just close my eyes,” Marks says, “and let him do it.”
Do front offices see USC’s Lincoln Riley as a future NFL coach?
You win some, you lose some. At USC, that’s the recipe for a terrible football season.
The 5-5 Trojans, who play UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night, have blown fourth-quarter leads in all five of their losses. It’s a dramatic departure from the promise of two years ago, when head coach Lincoln Riley went 11-3 in his debut season.
How Jayden Maiava remained ready to seize the USC quarterback job
The competition was close. Closer than anyone expected it to be in late August, at least. Close enough that Jayden Maiava, the insurgent transfer from Nevada Las Vegas, believed at the time that he’d done enough to be named USC’s starting quarterback.
The job ultimately went to Miller Moss, the redshirt junior whose six-score coronation had come months earlier at the Holiday Bowl. Maiava had understood in that case the uphill battle he faced in coming to L.A. But the decision, while no surprise to the public, was no less disappointing to Maiava.
The Times of Troy: They’re bowl eligible, but it’s still a lost season for Trojans
Hello, everyone! I’m Ryan Kartje, your USC beat writer at the L.A. Times, coming to you loaded with caffeine and running on fumes after a very late, rainy night at the Rose Bowl. This wasn’t the sort of triumphant rivalry win that will go down in the annals of great crosstown showdowns, but in escaping UCLA, the Trojans did manage to scrape out their sixth win of the season, officially guaranteeing themselves a bowl game.
Fight on! Are you a true Trojans fan?
Get our Times of Troy newsletter for USC insights, news and much more.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
Plaschke: USC rediscovers its best self while dazzling in final minutes against UCLA
As the clock ticked down on a long cold Pasadena night, a small but sturdy cheer rose from the shivering Rose Bowl masses.
“We Are … SC!”
USC vs. Notre Dame: How to watch the game, plus betting odds
USC (6-5) looks for a massive upset when it hosts No. 5 Notre Dame (10-1) at the Coliseum on Saturday. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. PST and will be shown on CBS. The radio broadcast will be available on 710 AM in the Los Angeles area.
Here’s a look at the betting odds for the game:
