No. 13 Notre Dame defeats No. 20 USC 34-24 in pivotal College Football Playoff boost

In a highly anticipated college football game, the No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the No. 20 USC Trojans 34-24 at Notre Dame Stadium, improving Notre Dame's record to 5-2 and boosting their College Football Playoff hopes. Junior running back Jeremiyah Love delivered a standout performance with a career-high 228 rushing yards and a touchdown, the most ever by a Notre Dame player at their home stadium. Jadarian Price contributed significantly with an 87-yard rushing effort and a pivotal 100-yard kickoff return touchdown in the third quarter that helped swing momentum in Notre Dame's favor. USC struggled with injuries, missing key running backs, and their offense was limited to 68 rushing yards, although quarterback Jordan Maiava threw for 328 yards and two touchdowns. Notre Dame's defense made crucial plays in the second half, including interceptions and key stops, thwarting USC's attempts to reclaim the lead. This victory marked Notre Dame's fifth straight win and their first against a ranked opponent this season, while USC's playoff prospects dimmed, likely causing them to drop out of the Top 25.