No. 5 Notre Dame defeated USC 49-35 on Saturday to place this system in prime place to succeed in the 12-team College Football Playoff subsequent month. The Fighting Irish finish the common season with an 11-1 mark and are on the verge of reaching the CFP for the third time in program historical past.
Notre Dame defensive again Christian Gray returned an interception 99 yards the opposite means for a landing with 3:39 remaining. On USC’s following drive, Irish security Xavier Watts returned an interception 101 yards the opposite means for Notre Dame’s second defensive landing to seal the win.
After dropping to Northern Illinois in Week 2, Notre Dame ended the common season on a 10-game successful streak to enhance its possibilities of internet hosting a sport within the first spherical of the CFP subsequent month.
Notre Dame racked up 260 yards of offense on the bottom. Running again Jadarian Price rushed for a team-high 111 yards, and star operating again Jeremiyah Love completed with 99. Love exited the sport within the second half with a leg damage and did not return.
Notre Dame was knotted at 14 with USC at halftime earlier than it fired off 21 factors within the third quarter to take management of the sport. Quarterback Riley Leonard linked with tight finish Mitchell Evans for a 23-yard landing with 1:11 remaining within the third quarter to increase the result in double-digits.
USC entered the weekend as one in every of six FBS groups to steer each sport within the fourth quarter. Notre Dame by no means trailed within the win over USC to snap that streak. The Trojans completed the common season with a 6-6 document and can await their bowl sport placement.
- Notre Dame scored at the least 28 factors in 10 consecutive video games, which marked the primary time this system had completed the feat.
- Notre Dame had two pick-sixes of at the least 99 yards getting into the weekend. The Fighting Irish recorded two within the ultimate three minutes in opposition to USC.
- Maiava recorded his first sport with two passing touchdowns and two dashing touchdowns. Maiava took over as USC’s beginning quarterback in opposition to Nebraska earlier this month. Saturday was his third begin in a USC uniform.
- Leonard recorded his seventh profession sport with two dashing passing touchdowns and two dashing touchdowns. Leonard has completed that feat 4 instances this season.
- USC dropped to 0-4 in opposition to AP top-10 opponents underneath HC Lincoln Riley with the loss to Notre Dame.
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