Notre Dame Beats USC 34-24 in South Bend

On Oct. 18, No. 13 Notre Dame defeated No. 20 USC 34-24 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. The Irish leaned on the run — Jerimiyah Love rushed for a career-high 228 yards as Notre Dame finished with 308 rushing yards — while their defense pressured USC and forced turnovers. USC committed three second-half turnovers (two Jayden Maiava interceptions and a Makai Lemon fumble) that coach Lincoln Riley blamed for the loss. The night was rain-soaked and included a lightning delay that disrupted entry and play. The result damaged USC’s College Football Playoff hopes and underscored Notre Dame’s recent home dominance in the rivalry, with the scheduled meeting possibly the last in the series adding historical weight to the outcome.