Category: Notre Dame

Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Xavier Watts seals the deal at USC with record-setting pick-six

Notre Dame seals the win thanks to Xavier Watts going 100 yards.

Although [autotag]Christian Gray’s[/autotag] 99-yard pick-six appeared to seal the deal for No. 5 Notre Dame against the USC Trojans, there was still enough time left that it was possible, if not likely, that the Trojans could get two scores and tie the ball game.

Fighting Irish safety [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] said “nah” to all that.

Watts stepped in front of a [autotag]Jayden Maiava[/autotag] pass in the end zone and took it the entire 100 yards for a pick-six touchdown — the second one of that length in Notre Dame history.

It was one drive after Gray’s 99-yard pick-six.

Notre Dame will likely be headed to the College Football Playoff after the second pick-six all but snuffed out a USC comeback.

The Irish did concede another USC touchdown by playing soft in the final minute, but USC didn’t have enough time to get another two scores — which it would need just to tie.

Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (0) celebrates picking up a Virginia fumble during a NCAA college football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame football fends off USC, finishes regular season with 10-game win streak

Two handfuls of wins in-a-row for the Irish

Notre Dame football was in a dog fight with the USC Trojans all game, but did enough to come out victorious 49-35, in the highest scoring game in series history.

The win was the Irish’s 10th in-a-row, as they finish the regular season with a 11-1 record and await their seeding in the College Football Playoff. The loss for the Trojans puts their record at 6-6, a very disappointing season in their first year in the Big Ten.

Notre Dame jumped out to a first quarter 7-0 lead before the Trojans tied the game early in the second quarter. The Irish and USC would exchange touchdowns as the game was tied 14-14 heading into the half.

A monster third quarter from the Irish would see them score three touchdowns to USC one, as they’d take a 35-21 lead into the fourth quarter. The Trojans would make it interesting, scoring early in the final stanza to cut the lead to just 7-points.

The Irish defense then took over, as both Christian Gray and Xavier Watts returned long interceptions for touchdowns. Gray tied the school record with 99-yards on his, only to be bested by Watts and his 100-yard pick-6.

Notre Dame has now finished its regular season portion of the schedule, as they will find out in a little over a week who they’ll play in the CFP.

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates his touchdown scored against the Southern California Trojans during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Christian Gray’s pick-six at USC spells redemption

Notre Dame’s Christian Gray may have redeemed himself after a tough day in Southern California.

Notre Dame cornerback [autotag]Christian Gray[/autotag] has been picked on by the USC Trojans all day.

Now he may have saved a playoff berth for the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a 99-yard pick-six.

The Trojans have had success with long passes all day and they were in the midst of a possible game-tying drive when the intended receiver fell down and Gray plucked the pass out of the air.

Gray managed to keep his knee off the ground and weaved his way to the end zone. There was a penalty on the play but it was assessed to USC.

If Notre Dame holds on for the win, Gray’s play will obviously be huge.

Notre Dame defensive lineman Donovan Hinish (41) and cornerback Christian Gray (29) celebrate Louisville coming up short on a fourth down during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Louisville at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Riley Leonard finds Mitchell Evans for key TD

Notre Dame got a key TD catch from Mitchell Evans.

Notre Dame and USC are engaged in a shootout in Los Angeles, but the No. 5 Fighting Irish have given themselves a little bit of separation after quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] found tight end [autotag]Mitchell Evans[/autotag] for a 23-yard touchdown reception.

The score, and the preceding drive, followed a stand by the Irish defense after Leonard tossed an ill-advised interception. USC had a shot to tie the game, but failed to convert on fourth down.

Notre Dame responded with a 3-play, 62-yard drive that burned 1:06 off the clock and ended in the Leonard-to-Mitchell connection.

The pass followed a 35-yard run by [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag].

Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans (88) jumps up to make a catch that would later be ruled incomplete during a NCAA college football game against Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend.

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Riley Leonard’s legs carry Irish into end zone at USC

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard has another rushing touchdown.

Notre Dame quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] is as much of a running threat as the running backs he shares a backfield with.

Leonard gave the lead back to the No. 5 Fighting Irish as they take on the USC Trojans on the road.

He did it with a 2-yard touchdown run that ended a 6-play, 75-yard drive that took 2:39 off the clock. He also had a 24-yard scamper on the drive.

Notre Dame is in a back-and-forth battle with USC in Los Angeles.

Nov 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quaterback Riley Leonard (13) throws a pass against the Army Black Knights during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Jadarian Price gives Jeremiyah Love a break, races to the house

Notre Dame gets an early second-half touchdown from Jadarian Price.

After Notre Dame running back [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] had a relatively routine 5-yard run, he was pulled from the game to get a breather. Fellow running back [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag] got the call on the next play and took it 36 yards to the house.

This all came on No. 5 Notre Dame’s first drive of the second half at USC.

The run ended a 6-play, 75-yard drive that took 2:22 off of the clock.

Love and Price have been a potent 1-2 punch in the Fighting Irish backfield all season, and once again the two have combined to do some damage.

Nov 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jadarian Price (24) scores a rushing touchdown as Army Black Knights defensive back Josiah Banks (25) and defensive lineman Cody Winokur (93) pursue during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Riley Leonard hits Eli Raridon following another Jeremiyah Love leap

Notre Dame scores after another Love leap.

Notre Dame’s final drive of the first half against USC was a bit of nail-biter.

The No. 5 Fighting Irish had to convert a fourth-and-one — just barely — before quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] found [autotag]Eli Raridon[/autotag] for a 12-yard touchdown reception. It was Leonard who just barely got the first down on a quarterback run.

The pass followed another long run by RB [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] — one that included yet another hurdle of a defender. That one was good for 20 yards.

Love’s leap will make more than a few highlight films, but Leonard’s pass to Riordan was what put points on the board.

Nov 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) leaps over Army Black Knights cornerback Donavon Platt (28) for a touchdown during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight — risky fake punt call pays off against USC

Notre Dame fakes a punt successfully at USC.

Calling a fake punt deep in your own territory, in a tie game, on the road, is a risky proposition. Heck, fake punts are almost always risky propositions.

Yet the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish pulled one off on the road against the USC Trojans in the second quarter.

Facing fourth-down-and-nine from their own 26-yard line, the Irish had [autotag]Tyler Buchner[/autotag] take the snap and pass. He found tight end [autotag]Mitchell Evans [/autotag]wide open for 18 yards and the drive stayed alive.

Unfortunately for the Irish, the drive ended with a missed chip-shot field goal from kicker [autotag]Mitch Jeter[/autotag], who has been playing hurt.

Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner enters the transfer portal with a caveat
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – APRIL 22: Tyler Buchner #12 of Notre Dame Fighting Irish passes during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring Football Game at Notre Dame Stadium on April 22, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

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Notre Dame Week 14 highlight: Jeremiyah Love opens up the scoring at USC, extends touchdown streak

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has a record-breaking TD against USC.

No. 5 Notre Dame is playing rival USC in Southern California with a playoff berth — and maybe a first-round playoff game at home — on the line.

The Fighting Irish took over after stopping a promising Trojans’ drive and put together an efficient march of their own — one that ended with running back [autotag]Jeremiyah Love[/autotag] fighting for extra yards and a touchdown.

Love had several big, punishing runs on the drive, and quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] was also effective with his legs and some quick, easy passes.

Love’s 1-yard touchdown run, which capped off a 13-play, 72-yard drive that chewed 7:13 off the clock, was a record-setter. He now has had a rushing touchdown in 12 straight games — which is a Notre Dame record.

Wayne Bullock held the previous mark, with 11.

Nov 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs the ball against the Army Black Knights during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

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Is Howard Cross III playing today? Injury updates for Notre Dame DL

Notre Dame defensive lineman Howard Cross III is dealing with an ankle injury. Here are the latest updates.

Notre Dame defensive lineman [autotag]Howard Cross III[/autotag] has been dealing with an ankle injury, and he’s questionable for today’s game at USC. Cross III has been a key part of the No. 5 Fighting Irish’s defense.

Howard Cross III injury update

Cross is questionable for today’s game. He is not listed on the two-deep depth chart. All student-athletes listed on the two-deep are available.

“Howard was close,” Notre Dame head coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] said after the Irish beat No. 25 Army last week. “He practiced some. We just didn’t feel like he could give it a go.”

How long will Howard Cross III be out?

It is unclear how long Cross will be out, or if he’ll play this afternoon at USC.

Irish linebacker [autotag]Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa[/autotag] is out with a knee sprain, and linebacker [autotag]Bodie Kahoun[/autotag] is out as well. Notre Dame wide receiver [autotag]KK Smith[/autotag] is out with a broken collarbone.

Notre Dame defensive line depth chart

[autotag]Donovan Hinish[/autotag] and [autotag]Rylie Mills[/autotag] will be expected to step up on the interior defensive line if Cross remains out.

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