Cameras Catch Notre Dame Player Punching USC Player During Saturday's Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Nov 30, 2024 4:52 PM ET

Well, Week 14 is already off to a very interesting start. As is tradition with rivalry week, anything can happen—and we're certainly seeing that unfold. After a massive brawl broke out following the Michigan-Ohio State game, another incident took place during the Notre Dame-USC game.

In a fiery moment following USC's first touchdown of the game, Notre Dame's Rylie Mills was caught on camera punching USC left guard Emmanuel Pregnon directly in the face mask. This altercation occurred after Pregnon appeared to tug on Mills' leg following the touchdown run. Surprisingly, no penalty was called on the play, despite the clear altercation between the two players.

The lack of a flag raised eyebrows, as tensions continued to rise between the two teams. It’s been a weekend of intense rivalry clashes, and this incident only added fuel to the fire.

Check it out:

Notre Dame’s Rylie Mills punches #USC LG Emmanuel Pregnon as he’s on the ground here tugging on Mills’ leg on Jayden Maiava’s TD keeper.

@Rivals_Jeff pic.twitter.com/nKRoqTwOCC
— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) November 30, 2024

Definitely an intriguing play that none of the refs seemed to catch, but the cameras were quick to pick it up. The incident has garnered plenty of attention across the college football world, as fans and analysts alike are questioning how such a clear altercation went unnoticed by the officials.

The No. 5 ranked Fighting Irish are playing for their College Football Playoff lives, and a loss would be a devastating blow to their hopes. With a second defeat, Notre Dame's playoff chances would be hanging by a thread, especially given the lack of a truly impressive résumé in terms of quality wins.

However, a win in this game, coupled with Ohio State's loss, could shift the tides in Notre Dame's favor. If the Irish can pull off the victory, they would likely earn a home playoff game in the first round—an enormous advantage for them heading into postseason play. The stakes couldn't be higher, and all eyes will be on how Notre Dame handles the pressure as they battle for a spot in the playoff.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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