Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman Outcoaches USC’s Riley in Rivalry Win

Saturday night may have been the last of the Notre Dame and USC rivalry for the forseeable future, but it offered us another look at what currently makes the two programs so much different.

Fresh off a big home win over Michigan, this was finally going to the time USC turned its luck against Notre Dame. The funny thing is, it actually appeared to be heading that way into the fourth quarter, as Notre Dame led, but USC was driving to possibly retake the lead.

That's when a difference in coaching between the two showed up, and it wouldn't be the last time on the night it did.

Lincoln Riley Blinked Against Notre Dame

Fresh off a massive third down conversion that saw USC quarterback Jayden Maiava connect with star receiver Makai Lemon for 42 yards, Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley got cute. For those that have watched USC under his direction for the last three-and-a-half years, this is nothing new.

I don't know if its to be chucked up to ego, fear, or just a flat-out dumb decision, but what Riley called next essentially ended USC's chance of getting the road win.

In the middle of a Midwest rainstorm that had restarted, Riley called for a trick play, an end around pass from Lemon. Notre Dame sniffed out the play, forcing Lemon to retreat quicker than he wanted. Instead of throwing the ball away or even sliding down to prevent further issue, Lemon fumbled and Notre Dame recovered at midfield.

Just a few plays later Notre Dame stretched the lead to 34-24, which wound up being the final score. As poorly as Lemon executed the play, make no mistake: that one is one the USC head coach.

Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame Never Panicked:

Despite having plenty of issues throughout the night, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman never made a panicky coaching decision.

After CJ Carr threw an awful interception just before halftime, Freeman didn't go scorched earth on his signal caller.

After Christian Gray got burnt multiple times en-route to a USC touchdown, Freeman told him that "noody feels bad for you". Shortly after, Gray picked off a Trojans pass in a game-changing play.

Add in a few of the brutal penalties that could have made other coaches blow a gasket and create a negative vibe, Freeman again opted for the high road, as Notre Dame walked away with the win.

Lincoln Riley's Other Playcalling Blunder