SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Jadarian Price’s electrifying 100-yard kickoff return and Jeremiyah Love’s career-best rushing performance lifted No. 13 Notre Dame to a 34–24 victory over No. 20 USC on Saturday night, keeping the Fighting Irish’s postseason hopes alive and extending their recent dominance in the storied rivalry.
Love gashed the Trojans defense for 228 yards and a touchdown, shattering his previous career high of 157 yards set earlier this season against Purdue. His relentless running and Price’s momentum-swinging return helped Notre Dame (5–2) rally from a second-half deficit with 13 unanswered points.
USC (5–2) briefly grabbed the lead midway through the third quarter when quarterback Jordan Maiava connected with Ja’Kobi Lane on a 59-yard touchdown strike, then hit him again for a two-point conversion to go up 24–21. But the advantage lasted less than 15 seconds.
On the ensuing kickoff, Price broke two tackles, cut through a crease in the coverage, and sprinted 100 yards untouched to reclaim the lead for Notre Dame — sending the home crowd at Notre Dame Stadium into a frenzy.
“That play flipped the entire game,” head coach Marcus Freeman said. “Momentum is everything in college football, and Jadarian gave us all of it in one snap.”
Quarterback C.J. Carr managed the offense efficiently, completing 16 of 26 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown, while also scoring on a 1-yard keeper in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Notre Dame’s defense stiffened after halftime, delivering several key stops to close out the Trojans. Cornerback Christian Gray redeemed himself after a rough first half — in which he gave up a touchdown and two penalties — by intercepting a pass near midfield following Price’s kickoff return.
Later, with USC threatening again in the fourth quarter, safety Adon Shuler forced a fumble that Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa recovered to halt another drive. The Irish defense added two more big plays down the stretch — a fourth-and-1 stop at their own 38-yard line with six minutes to go, and a game-clinching interception by Luke Talich with 1:06 remaining.
USC struggled to find offensive balance without injured running backs Eli Sanders and Waymond Jordan, managing just 68 rushing yards. Maiava shouldered the load, completing 22 of 42 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two costly interceptions.
“We didn’t execute in key moments,” Trojans interim coach Dennis Simmons said. “Notre Dame made plays when it mattered, and we didn’t.”
The win bolsters Notre Dame’s push for a New Year’s Six bowl — or potentially more — after rebounding from a midseason loss.
“This team’s belief is growing,” Freeman said. “We’ve faced adversity, and tonight we responded the right way.”
Up Next:
Notre Dame: Bye week before visiting Boston College on Nov. 1.
USC: Bye week before traveling to Nebraska on Nov. 1.
