USC Drops Out of Top 25 After 34-24 Loss to Notre Dame

USC, ranked No. 20, suffered a 34-24 loss to No. 13 Notre Dame in a rainy, sloppy rivalry game marked by costly errors and risky play calls. USC started strong, scoring early, but was unable to maintain momentum due to turnovers and self-inflicted mistakes, including a critical fumble on a double reverse play in the rain. Notre Dame scored 13 unanswered points in the third quarter, with standout performances including a 100-yard kickoff return by Jadarian Price and a career-high 228 rushing yards by Jeremiyah Love. USC struggled on the ground without running backs Eli Sanders and Waymond Jordan, managing only 68 rushing yards, while quarterback Jordan Maiava passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns. The loss likely knocked USC out of the Top 25 in both the AP and Coaches Polls, with the team receiving significant votes as the highest-ranked unranked team, and now facing a bye week before returning to play Nebraska. Observers noted potential recency bias in the rankings, as teams like Michigan, whom USC recently defeated, remain ranked while USC does not, and emphasized USC's opportunity to rebound with upcoming games against lower-ranked teams.