SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 20 USC found out what it was up against from Jeremiyah Love’s first carry Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.
Love shot through a hole on the left side of the Irish offensive line and charged forward, arms pumping furiously for a 63-yard gain. Two plays later, he somehow barreled through a crowd of players to score on a 12-yard touchdown run.
Love’s career night was off to a roaring start, and it didn’t stop until the Notre Dame junior running back had racked up 228 rushing yards on 24 carries and five catches for 37 yards to drive the 13th-ranked Irish to a 34-24 victory.
With rain falling in droves over poncho-wearing fans for much of the night, Love delivered his own riveting chapter to the USC rivalry, looking very much like the All-America candidate that every outlet predicted he would be in the process.
“I love being physical, going out there and trying to run somebody over,” Love said.
His performance, coupled with a 100-yard kickoff return from backfield mate Jadarian Price, lifted Notre Dame (5-2) to its fifth straight victory and biggest win this season as it tries to rebuild its College Football Playoff case after an 0-2 start. It was the first game against a ranked team for the Irish since their one-point loss to then-No. 16 Texas A&M, a wild shootout in South Bend.
This one, in the midst of talks about whether the longstanding rivalry between Notre Dame and USC will continue, was just as exhilarating, even on a night when Irish quarterback CJ Carr wasn’t at his best.
That was in large part because of Love, who totaled more rushing yards in a single game than any Irish player ever at Notre Dame Stadium.
“I’m super proud of that guy,” Price said. “We’ve been trying all year to get him over 200, and I’m proud he finally got over that mark. There’s plenty more to come for sure. … He’s a special human being, a special player.”
Notre Dame’s big night on the ground came without starting center Ashton Craig, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury last week. Sophomore Joe Otting started in his place. Freeman said Otting “was ready for his opportunity because he worked every day in practice.”
Just in case anybody had forgotten about him on Love’s big night, Price ripped off one of the game’s biggest plays.
After USC (5-2) took a 24-21 lead in the third quarter, Price fielded the kickoff in the end zone, broke two tackles, ran diagonally across the field from right to left and scored on a 100-yard kick-return touchdown. Notre Dame missed the extra point and led 27-24.
“I didn’t do the right thing — I kind of went outside the block,” Price said. “But it worked out. After I broke the first tackle, I knew I was going to the house. … It was just me trusting myself, but also trusting my teammates to finish the play. Kickoff returns can be a long play, so you’ve just got to trust yourself.”
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Price, who would be a No. 1 running back in many other programs, had 13 carries for 87 yards and a rushing touchdown. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman has spoken before about the unselfishness of Love and Price to share their workload, and he added to that Saturday night.
“It’s not very common in college football — not very common in life — to see two guys that are so talented that deserve the ball in their hand every snap, but choose to put the team in front of themselves and then make the most of their opportunities,” Freeman said. “They’re not pouting. They’re each other’s biggest supporter.”
It wasn’t all offense. Notre Dame lengthened its lead after Price’s return thanks in part to two takeaways on consecutive USC drives.
Christian Gray came up with an interception against USC quarterback Jayden Maiava late in the third quarter, but Notre Dame’s ensuing drive ended with kicker Noah Burnette missing a 31-yard field-goal attempt wide left.
But when USC wide receiver Makai Lemon looked to pass on a trick play on the next drive, Adon Shuler ripped at his arm and forced a fumble. Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa recovered it. Seven plays later, Carr scored on a 1-yard run for a 34-24 lead.
Luke Talich added a game-sealing interception of Maiava late in the fourth.
Maiava threw for 328 yards and two touchdowns. That included a 10-yard TD pass to Lake McRee on USC’s opening drive and a 59-yard scoring pass to Ja’Kobi Lane in the third quarter that briefly gave the Trojans the lead before Price’s return.
Carr completed 16 of 26 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 1-yard run that put the Irish up 34-24 with 7 minutes, 16 seconds to play. He also threw an interception.
Storms looked like they might be a problem for the game for a while. Fans were temporarily held out of the stands when the stadium gates opened because of lightning in the area. Though the rain continued later, the lightning cleared up for the 96th entry into the rivalry.
The future of the game is up in the air as the administrations from both schools are talking through a new contract. Both Freeman and USC coach Lincoln Riley said during the week leading up to the game that they are hopeful it will be extended.
Freeman’s comments after the game only added to that plea.
“You remember rivalry games,” Freeman said. “I remember my rivalry games from peewee to high school to college and the ones I’ve been a part of as a coach. Those are games that mean more. You remember obviously the outcomes, but remember some things you did in that game that led to the outcome. And so they mean just a little bit more because of what it represents for the university, what it represents for your fans, the players before us and the players to come.
“And I reminded our guys of the responsibility we have to go perform the way we did.”