PHOTO STORY: Notre Dame defeats USC 34-24

Published 12:31 pm Monday, October 20, 2025

By Max Harden

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the No. 20 Southern California Trojans 34-24 on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Notre Dame Stadium. 

The Irish’s rushing attack and a momentum-shifting kickoff return made the difference in the victory. 

The third quarter featured three scoring plays in under four minutes, highlighted by a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown by Jadarian Price for the Irish. This immediately followed a 59-yard touchdown pass by USC, which had temporarily given the Trojans a 24-21 lead. The Irish secured the win in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback CJ Carr.

“I’m just exhausted and I know these guys that actually were on the field are,” said Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman. “And I appreciate, I told them in the locker room, the effort they give to this football program to give them a chance to have that type of outcome. That’s what it’s about. It’s about sacrificing for the man next to you because they need you to.

“That was the challenge, and they did. And then, you know, it wasn’t an easy win. It was a struggle, as I told them it would be versus a good opponent. But they continued to be resilient, continued to run the football, be opportunistic on defense and create some turnovers in the second half, and the result is the result.

“So proud of this team. Big victory over a really good program? Going to enjoy it.”

In the first quarter, USC took an early lead on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Maiava to Lake McRee. Notre Dame responded to tie it with a 12-yard touchdown run by Jeremiyah Love. USC responded with a 42-yard field goal. The Fighting Irish took the lead in the second quarter on a 16-yard touchdown run by J. Price before USC cut the lead with a 24-yard field goal to make it a 14-13 game at halftime.

In the third quarter, Notre Dame’s Will Pauling caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Carr to make it a 21-13 game. USC kicked a 43-yard field goal, followed by a 59-yard touchdown pass from Maiava to Ja’Kobi Lane – plus a successful two-point conversion – to take a 24-21 lead. Price’s 100-yard kickoff return put the Irish back ahead for good, with Carr’s 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth sealing the 34-24 win.

“It was huge,” Freeman said. “We were down; they converted a two-point conversion. They got all the momentum. They are up three points. For JD to — I mean, it’s another version of déjà from two years ago. I am sitting there like, God, I get you, man. You know? Notre Dame, you know, there is something that this — so I mean, that moment I’m like what it going on.

“For him to take that touchdown back, Christian to really reciprocate kind of what happened last year, man, sometimes you go there is a higher calling in all this, man. I’m just proud of them. I really am. And that was a huge play for this team.”

Notre Dame dominated the ground game, recording 306 net rushing yards on 44 attempts – good for 7 yards per rush – and scoring three rushing touchdowns. Love led all rushers with 228 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries, including a long run of 63 yards. Price added 87 yards and a touchdown. Love’s 228 rushing yards are a record for a Notre Dame player in Notre Dame Stadium.

USC outgained the Irish through the air, recording 328 passing yards. Maiava completed 22 of 42 passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions. Carr completed 16 of 26 passes for 136 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Lane was USC’s top receiver with 6 receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown.

The Irish defense tallied two sacks and two interceptions. Adon Shuler and Tae Johnson led the defense with 10 and eight total tackles respectively.

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