October 22, 2025 // National
Notre Dame Runs Over Rival USC
In the week leading up to Notre Dame’s rivalry game against USC, Irish coach Marcus Freeman told anyone who would listen that the Irish would have to play “a physical, bloody game” in order to beat the Trojans and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Clearly, his team got the message.
Photos by Scott Warden
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love tries to avoid the tackle by USC safety Kamari Ramsey at the end of a 63-yard run during the first quarter of the Irish’s victory over USC on Saturday, October 18. Two plays later, Love scored on a 12-yard touchdown run. He finished with a career-high 228 yards – the most ever by a Fighting Irish running back at Notre Dame Stadium.
Jeremiyah Love ran for 228 yards – the most ever by a Fighting Irish running back at Notre Dame Stadium – and Jadarian Price added 87 yards on the ground as the Irish racked up more than 300 rushing yards to help No. 13 Notre Dame run past No. 20 USC 34-24 on Saturday, October 18.
“I told them in the locker room, the effort they give to this football program … that’s what it’s about,” Freeman said following the Irish’s fifth straight victory. “It’s about sacrificing for the man next to you. … That was the challenge, and they did.”
Leading 14-13 after a back-and-forth first half, quarterback CJ Carr hit receiver Will Pauling for a 6-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter to extend the Irish’s lead to 21-13. But the Trojans rallied, scoring 11 points in less than four minutes to go ahead 24-21 and quiet the more than 76,000 fans.
Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields attempts to secure the ball while getting his feet in bounds late in the first half of the Irish’s 34-24 victory over USC at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, October 18. After video replay, officials ruled that Fields caught the ball out of bounds.
The silence didn’t last long. Price electrified the crowd by fielding the ensuing kickoff in the end zone and returning it 100 yards the other way to give Notre Dame a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Carr tacked on a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and the Irish defense forced three key turnovers in the second half to secure the win in what might be Notre Dame’s final game against the Trojans – at least in the near future as the schools have yet to reach an agreement to extend the rivalry.
“I told the guys – and I reminded myself – you remember rivalry games,” Freeman said after the game. “I remember my rivalry games from PeeWee to high school to college and the ones I’ve been a part of as a coach. They just – those are games that mean more.”
After beginning the year with back-to-back losses, the Irish have won five straight to rise to No. 12 in the latest Associated Press poll. Following a bye week, Notre Dame will look to make it six straight wins as it travels to Boston College on Saturday, November 1.
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