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Notre Dame vs USC Preview, Prediction: Win One and CFP Done for the Irish

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Nov 27, 2024 5:02 AM ET

Through all the changes in college football, and all the realignment, and all the rapidly different things happening, USC and Notre Dame steamrolls on.

This wonderful rivalry that started in 1926 and is now being played for the 95th time has created dynasties, Heisman winners, national champions, and legends.

Do something big in this game, and you’re doing something that might define a sliver college football history.

And that’s certainly the case in this.

USC is struggling in its first year in the Big Ten. However, it won three of its last four games, took down UCLA and essentially ended the Bruin season, and got bowl eligible.

For all the problems, all five losses were this close to being winnable - all were by one score and most on one play.

The team really is closer to being, say, 9-2 right now than many might think, but none of that matters. Lose this, and head coach Lincoln Riley is on the hottest of hot seats. Win, and the program starts rolling for 2025.

For Notre Dame, win, and realistically, it’s locked into the College Football Playoff as likely a 6 or 7 seed. Lose, and it’ll be a massive disappointment if it’s enough to be knocked out of the CFP altogether.

It’s Notre Dame vs USC. Again.

Notre Dame vs USC: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET
How To Watch: CBS
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Teams: USC (6-5), Notre Dame (10-1)
CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB
- Week 14 Schedule, Predictions

Why Notre Dame Will Win

How many more teams does Notre Dame have to steamroll before people believe that this might actually be the best team in college football?

Put that Northern Illinois thing out of your mind. It was the flukiest of losses - it’s on the coaching staff for only running an inexcusable 28 times - and other than that it’s crushing everyone.

Oh, you want to talk schedule? It didn’t play an SEC slate? It went into Texas A&M’s house in gajillion-degree heat and unrelenting humidity and won by ten. It owned Georgia Tech, toyed with the other ACC teams on the slate, and try this one ...

No chance this all turns up on the right side, but there’s an infinitesimal chance that the Irish beat three conference champions - Texas A&M, Miami University, and Army. At least those three are still alive for their respective title as of this exact moment.

The Irish have the most efficient pass defense in America, the ground game is averaging 222 yards per game, and takeaways will matter. Be stunned if the Irish aren’t +2 in this.

Why USC Will Win

The USC run defense is holding up.

But let’s start with this. Yes, there’s suffocating pressure on Riley to get this win, but getting by UCLA was the big one. If all is right and he’s still around, that’s the one game he really couldn’t lose.

The team will at least get through this weird season and go to a bowl game - and it beat the team up the road.

For all of the various problems, the USC defense has held up a wee bit better than it gets credit for. It’s not great defenseless, but so far it only allowed more than 121 yards twice.

The offense should mix it up a bit, there’s a different feel now with Jayden Maiava under center, and there’s a decent consistency to the attack.

USC’s O line is holding up, the team is great on third downs on both sides of the ball, and …

Notre Dame vs USC: Who Will Win?

Notre Dame is just that good.

It has a formula that’s working. Run, keep running, rely on the defense come through with a third down stop time and again, and keep the pressure on by battering away on the lines.

USC doesn’t have the flash of past Lincoln Riley teams, and it doesn’t have the defensive front to bother the Irish backfield.

Notre Dame will have to fight into the fourth quarter, but soon after it’ll get everything ready for its seventh home game of the season as it hosts a College Football Playoff game.