Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price (24) carries the ball against Southern California Trojans defensive end Braylan Shelby (34) in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Despite surrendering a season high in points, No. 5-ranked Notre Dame’s defense came through in the clutch with pick-sixes of 99 and 100 yards, and the Fighting Irish closed the regular season with their 10th consecutive win in a 49-35 defeat of host USC on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Notre Dame (11-1) pulled ahead by two touchdowns late in the third quarter when Riley Leonard connected with Mitchell Evans for a 23-yard score. It was the second of Leonard’s two touchdown passes on a 17-of-23, 155-yard day, and his third score overall after a 2-yard end-zone rush earlier in the third quarter broke a 21-21 tie.
Leonard’s scoring strike to Evans also gave the Fighting Irish the first two-possession lead of the game, but it did not last long. USC (6-6) capitalized on favorable field position when Jayden Maiava threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Kobi Lane to finish a 45-yard Trojans drive and make it 35-28 with 8:43 to play in the fourth quarter.
USC regained possession less than three minutes later after forcing a Notre Dame punt, and Maiava completed passes of 16, two and 22 yards before Quinten Joyner rushed 23 yards to position the Trojans at the Irish 21-yard line.
Maiava targeted Kyron Hudson on a pass near the pylon, but Christian Gray snagged the underthrown ball and returned it 99 yards down the sideline for a score to put the game away.
Notre Dame snuffed out any hope of a last-ditch USC comeback effort when, on the next Trojans possession, Xavier Watts intercepted Maiava and went 100 yards to make it 49-28 with 1:18 to play.
With the win, the Fighting Irish likely sewed up a berth in the College Football Playoff. Coupled with Ohio State’s loss earlier in the day, Notre Dame is in position to move into one of four first-round byes.
Jadarian Price led Notre Dame’s 258-yard rushing attack with 111 yards on 12 carries. Jeremiyah Love ran for 99 yards on 13 carries, and Leonard carried for 50 yards on 12 attempts. All three scored a touchdown.
Evans led the Irish with five receptions for 59 yards, and Eli Raridon caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Leonard in the second quarter.
Maiava went 27-for-49 for 360 yards with three touchdown passes, all of which went to Lane. Maiava also rushed for a pair of touchdowns.
Makai Lemon caught nine passes for 133 yards and Joyner rushed for 83 yards on 10 carries in the loss.
–Field Level Media
