One Foot Down - 2022 Notre Dame Football: Southern Cal WeekA never-ending discussion about Notre Dame and the greater CFB landscapehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52610/ofd_fav.png2022-12-01T02:38:13-05:00http://www.onefootdown.com/rss/stream/232367832022-12-01T02:38:13-05:002022-12-01T02:38:13-05:00OFD Podcast: Moving on from Notre Dame’s loss to USC - HOLDING!
<figure>
<img alt="ofd podcast" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H7WMqOey8n_giMNgI6meDa_6XNM=/47x0:3266x2146/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71695073/Screen_Shot_2020_01_21_at_1.03.43_AM.0.png" />
<figcaption>Brendan McAlinden</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We have some things to discuss</p> <p id="2XWCaV">Joshua, Jude, and Brendan crawl out from underneath the pod bunker to talk about <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a>’s loss to the <a href="https://www.conquestchronicles.com">USC Trojans</a>, and all of the wild stuff since then - and down the road. In this episode:</p>
<ul>
<li id="P0Iicy">HELLO!</li>
<li id="Pxsv4O">The warmth of a rivalry trophy was still felt in the Vowles household.</li>
<li id="RKv1iJ">REVIEWS!</li>
<li id="wj7026">Jumping right into the game against USC and it was like a race to get out the hottest of hot takes in style.</li>
<li id="RQEV2S">HOLDING! HOLDING!! HOLDING!!!</li>
<li id="KBkpXk">Caleb Williams is really good and we can admit that.</li>
<li id="qGAQV9">The disrespect of Drew Pyne.</li>
<li id="luBp1W">The real MVP.</li>
<li id="DkeWZK">USC did to Notre Dame what Notre Dame does to others... and it felt terrible.</li>
<li id="NwDb9Z">ABC’s broadcast was absolutely criminal.</li>
<li id="PdHbTT">The transfer portal is coming.</li>
<li id="RnBBFf">The CFB Playoff is coming sooner than we thought.</li>
<li id="QIFEPz">Notre Dame’s path to play the <a href="https://www.andthevalleyshook.com">LSU Tigers</a> in a bowl game.</li>
<li id="8OkwAA">Pod picks for conference championship weekend.</li>
</ul>
<p id="ELFkdv">And plenty more weaved in and out of the show - like a lot more.</p>
<p id="6nxq02">Please RATE and REVIEW! All reviews left on Apple Podcasts will be rad on the next OFD Podcast.</p>
<div id="iN9EKH"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" scrolling="no" src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=VMP6740682962" width="100%"></iframe></div>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/12/1/23487660/ofd-podcast-moving-on-from-notre-dames-loss-to-usc-holding-college-football-nd-news-irish-sc-bowlsJoshua VowlesndjrsBrendan McAlinden2022-11-29T23:08:07-05:002022-11-29T23:08:07-05:00Notre Dame ranked #21 in latest set of CFB Playoff rankings
<figure>
<img alt="Notre Dame v Navy" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pd1fcBY5O6MJLcLIlXjWXngVUN4=/0x0:6170x4113/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71689984/1443751414.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It’s enough to make you puke</p> <p id="pEQEpD">On Tuesday, the College Football Playoff committee released its latest set of rankings, and the <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> dropped six spots after its loss to the <a href="https://www.conquestchronicles.com">USC Trojans</a>, from #15 to #21. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gIKpxd7F9HHCpazCtP3MXnWxWYg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24242688/FixWOB9XkAQH3tI.jpeg">
</figure>
<p id="JmzHmc">The top four is a pretty brutal sight for Irish fans as the <a href="https://www.maizenbrew.com">Michigan Wolverines</a> and USC Trojans are in the playoff as of right now. While Michigan can probably lose in the Big Ten Championship game to the <a href="https://www.hammerandrails.com">Purdue Boilermakers</a> and still make the playoff, Southern Cal is likely out if they lose to the <a href="https://www.blocku.com">Utah Utes</a> (again) in the PAC 12 Championship game. If the <a href="https://www.frogsowar.com">TCU Horned Frogs</a> lose to the <a href="https://www.bringonthecats.com">Kansas State Wildcats</a> in the Big 12 Championship game, they too are likely out of the playoff. </p>
<p id="1WVOuz">So... the opportunity for one or both of <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a> and the <a href="https://www.rollbamaroll.com">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> to backdoor into the playoff is right there and could very well happen. </p>
<p id="W0HoUr">As far as Notre Dame is concerned, me shouting about the chances of the Irish playing in a New Years Six game if they finished 9-3 seems right on point — even Pete Sampson is backing down from that hill he died on for about a month.</p>
<div id="hjTZ4a">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Notre Dame is No. 21 in the new CFP rankings. I was skeptical the Irish would have made the New Year’s Six with a win at USC, but it would have been very close. <br><br>Irish might have got as high as No. 8 this week based on other results.</p>— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1597749375941300224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="yyEc5s">With the chances of Notre Dame playing the #19 <a href="https://www.garnetandblackattack.com">South Carolina Gamecocks</a> in the Gator Bowl becoming more and more a reality, these rankings really are unimportant to Notre Dame’s finish this year — which will be decided with the final AP Poll.</p>
<p id="QR3wkK">Still... you look at these rankings and its hard to not imagine what could have been for Notre Dame this year. Three of Notre Dame’s opponents are ranked inside the top 10 which is more than any other school.</p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/11/29/23485481/college-football-playoff-notre-dame-ranked-21-in-latest-set-of-rankings-michigan-usc-ohio-state-ndJoshua Vowles2022-11-27T22:05:14-05:002022-11-27T22:05:14-05:00Notre Dame drops to #19 in both the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll
<figure>
<img alt="Notre Dame v USC" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oguozgmFRBZZptYkg7N0SpZAp0Q=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71680731/1444853137.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It is what it is</p> <p id="uWMRx5">The AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll releases their latest set of rankings on Sunday, and the <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> came in ranked #19 in both of them.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bbgS2fb1n2m5A7M-5JL3rBw3f7Q=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24232695/Screen_Shot_2022_11_27_at_7.56.10_PM.png">
</figure>
<p id="yDAqnL">The Irish are the highest ranked four-loss team in the top 25 — so that’s something to celebrate [ducks]. There were six voters that didn’t even have the Irish ranked — which is a choice, I guess.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nlHNrKlpwAt_IkccpuY9SBzC22U=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24232770/Screen_Shot_2022_11_27_at_10.00.07_PM.png">
</figure>
<p id="X3E76s">Before you go screaming about “meaningless polls” these polls are actually the ones that matter to Notre Dame right now. The college football playoff rankings are only there to set the playoff and the bowl landscape — and we will get to that on Tuesday.</p>
<p id="AwBY0s">The final finish in the AP poll is what interests me the most. I was really hoping for a top 10 finish for the Irish this year, but that finish needed a win over USC and a bowl win (regardless of bowl and opponent). A top 15 finish is well within reach and if Notre Dame wins the bowl game they will be in that group, but still likely outside of the top 10 — which is a nice thing to have in your pocket for recruiting and other reasons. </p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/11/27/23481364/notre-dame-football-irish-drop-to-19-in-both-the-ap-top-25-and-coaches-poll-cfb-news-notes-bowlsJoshua Vowles2022-11-27T17:42:35-05:002022-11-27T17:42:35-05:00Three Things We Saw in a Loss to Southern Cal
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4huVrmcgYheCVunVmihZopIxC9E=/0x0:4173x2782/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71679909/usa_today_19512076.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Outgunned in L.A.</p> <p id="0DM1u8">Your <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> ended the season on a sour note with a tough 38-27 road loss to the <a href="https://www.conquestchronicles.com">USC Trojans</a>. The big storylines coming out of this game have a lot of negativity and this is the last one of these I’m doing for a while, so I want to quickly list off a few positives from this game:</p>
<ul>
<li id="HRSQ9A">A Notre Dame-USC game with major stakes for the first time in five years.</li>
<li id="e3rnqS">One last night of Michael Mayer doing Michael Mayer things. Best of luck in the pros, Big Mike.</li>
<li id="OuZber">Notre Dame receivers not named Michael Mayer also making plays downfield.</li>
<li id="UyroBY">Absolutely no quit even as the game’s circumstances gradually declined.</li>
</ul>
<p id="j6glSK">This was a game where the Irish had to have some serious offensive efficiency in order to win, and while they showed that at times they were unable to do it enough to hang with the high-flying Trojans. We’ll take a closer look at why that was the case in this regular season’s final three things.</p>
<h1 id="1NS2CC">Schematic Sclerosis</h1>
<p id="oyJ0Yd">The Irish fell behind by two possessions in the first quarter of this game and while it wasn’t over then, it was really something they couldn’t afford to have happen against a USC offense we all knew would be difficult to slow down even in optimistic scenarios. This was a game where Notre Dame needed to possess the ball for long periods of time not only to score, but to keep Caleb Williams and co. off the field and out of sync as much as possible. We expected the Irish to do this primarily with the run game, but so did the Trojans, who effectively stacked the box early to keep the Irish from moving the chains on the ground.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Shugc9RLB3OUSuLGmYgIHJNqY1M=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230819/usa_today_19511894.jpg">
<cite>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="0WDEdI">Unfortunately - and in a continuation of a trend we have seen throughout this season - Tommy Rees was too slow to make adjustments in response, and the Irish did not open up the passing and outside running games until the Irish were already playing catch-up in the second quarter. Once the Irish did adjust, these options were open and effective, but it was too little and too late. What we saw on Saturday was an offensive coaching staff that was playing one step behind its opponents, and that mismatch enabled a vulnerable USC defense to get enough early stops for its offense to carry the rest of the game.</p>
<h1 id="gxc3Bi">Trench Warfare</h1>
<p id="O4lVIh">The Irish possessed major physical advantages in the trenches on both sides of the ball heading into this game, but unfortunately both units underperformed as they encountered a combination of transcendent playmaking and wily coaching. The offensive line for the Irish mostly did a good job in pass protection and cleared some good running lanes, but effective movement by the USC defensive line - in particular slants and stunts in short-yardage situations - combined with some...questionable play-calling by the Irish helped the undersized Trojans front get key stops in third- and fourth-down situations where the Irish usually convert effortlessly. With the Irish slow to adjust in their offensive scheme to account for this, the Trojans were able to get out to a lead that forced the Irish to mostly abandon the run in the second half.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DAJG5_JrGA92khXjKFX1eHZS4Ac=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231805/usa_today_19512367.jpg">
<cite>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="GD7llp">Meanwhile, the physical edge the Irish defensive line possessed was neutralized not by the Trojans’ front but by Caleb Williams, who escaped from one caved-in pocket after another and perfectly read and executed the read option to open up the run game for USC. Much has been made by the media and pundits of the supposed improvement of the Trojans’ offensive line, but in truth the Irish were more than a match for them. This was a game where an ordinary quarterback would have been sacked at least seven times and far slower to get the run game going. Unfortunately, Williams was the furthest thing from ordinary. Could the Irish have tackled Williams and Austin Jones better and created a few more negative plays? Absolutely, but when it happens time after time the way it did Saturday, you have to simply tip your cap to the other guy.</p>
<h1 id="GRNaCt">Drew Pyne’s Ceiling</h1>
<p id="Q8R8Y8">In most areas of the game, the respective edges for these teams were relatively small. There was only one truly gaping chasm between the Irish and Trojans, and unfortunately it was at the most important position in the game.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RDTfGpueoD98ISWulVnb9jakmps=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231556/usa_today_19512397.jpg">
<cite>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="aqxA5G">I really don’t want to rag on Drew Pyne, who played with heart and never quit on Saturday. Comparing him to Caleb Williams isn’t fair; the goal for this game wasn’t for Pyne to be the equal of the Heisman favorite but for the Irish to scheme and execute in such a way that he didn’t have to be. Unfortunately that didn’t transpire, and Pyne was asked to do far more than anyone would have liked - and he did better with his back against the wall than most would have expected. </p>
<p id="ZxTVVB">With all of that said, Pyne’s shortcomings as a facilitator of the offense clearly drove Notre Dame’s defeat. His limitations made the Irish reluctant to mix up their play-calling early on, and his mistakes on two back-breaking turnovers - both of which were unforced - nixed an already-difficult comeback effort in the second half. If you want to know why Irish fans were/are so desperate for Tyler Buchner to plan out, so insistent on the Irish searching the transfer portal for a quarterback, and/or so excited for the arrival of Kenny Minchey - re-watch this game and witness the difference between what you can do with a playmaker under center and what you can’t do without one. Pyne is a great teammate, a fierce competitor and a more than adequate backup quarterback who I hope remains in that role for his senior year next year. But on Saturday we saw his ceiling, and it was plainly not enough to get the Irish where they want to go moving forward. </p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/11/27/23480658/notre-dame-football-three-things-we-saw-against-southern-cal-notre-dame-football-irish-nd-news-uscMatt Boomer2022-11-27T15:37:00-05:002022-11-27T15:37:00-05:00CFB Data Review: Notre Dame 27, USC 38
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Iwjuy2fzCnRcRI7apK8auZUSf3U=/0x0:3731x2487/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71679566/usa_today_19512066.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The data story coming out of Notre Dame’s Week 13 loss to USC.</p> <p id="oc66du">Even when you go into a game knowing that you’re an underdog, albeit with a real chance to win, it’s still tough to come up short. </p>
<p id="eWqk55"></p>
<p id="1JeLST">There was a lot of momentum going into <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a>’s 2022 rivalry matchup with the <a href="https://www.conquestchronicles.com">USC Trojans</a>. This year’s game was played on the Trojan’s home turf and with them looking for a College Football Playoff berth and quarterback Caleb Williams on a highly touted Heisman run. In my <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/11/23/23475467/2022-college-football-data-preview-notre-dame-vs-usc-fighting-irish-trojans-nd-news-offense-defense">preview</a>, I tried to get a better sense of all the different factors going into the game but to be honest it wasn’t until the broadcast started that I realized the degree to which most eyes were trained exclusively on USC.<strong> It was a shock to the system coming off a run of games where the progress of this year’s squad and their stories had been the dominating headline. </strong></p>
<p id="jMsy5s">And I guess that aspect of everything is what made watching the game live incredibly frustrating at times and also made my initial reactions to what had actually happened on the field so dramatic. After a bit of time to sit with it all, my impressions and the data tell a much more balanced story than what I imagine we all went to bed on Saturday night thinking about. </p>
<p id="aG5QhC"></p>
<p id="tcOOE5">USC came away with a well earned 38-27 victory over Notre Dame. <strong>They were an opponent unlike any other that we’d seen in the first 12 weeks of play and it showed a lot via the final outcome and actual flow of the game. </strong>There wasn’t a remarkable amount of things to like about the game for Irish fans but in hindsight there wasn’t a ton to viscerally hate. A size-able loss like that after a roller coaster season to a rival, accompanied by some of the most lackluster play commentating and officiating Irish fans have experienced this year wasn’t how we wanted the regular season to end but it’s what we got. </p>
<p id="Nlu6iI"></p>
<p id="WvKBM2">So let’s dive into the data and see what there is to gleam about the game and potential future for the program going into the bowl season and next year.</p>
<p id="TDBV5A"></p>
<h2 id="ZJmsUd"><strong>Somewhat Close Scoring Game</strong></h2>
<p id="gqTlTK">The Trojans walked away with an 11-point victory, which given the style and strategy matchups could’ve been a lot worse. The lack of Irish points in the first quarter played a big role in the final outcome. <strong>It was well known going into the game that ND couldn’t spare possessions if they planned on getting a victory and USC’s 10-0 run in the 1</strong><sup><strong>st</strong></sup><strong> quarter demonstrated how true that was.</strong> In terms of raw scoring, it was a deviation from the trend we’d gotten used to seeing in Week 8-12.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ElZB6iaRaKhKazpjsTEiJFWFLn8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231821/Trend___Points_by_Quarter.png">
<figcaption>Scoring summary from the Notre Dame - USC game.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AbVb0vrmLJw8gqiLcp6jM7tmRkM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231823/Drive_Summary___Marshall__2_.png">
<figcaption>Drive summary from the Notre Dame - USC game.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="zBWAOS"></p>
<h2 id="TMiioD"><strong>A Sound Overall Offensive Outing for Notre Dame</strong></h2>
<p id="Gj7U7c">USC bested Notre Dame in total yards, 436-408. Compared with the rest of the season’s stats, <strong>it was a middle of the pack performance and definitely not as bad as it seemed in the moment. </strong></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TnrO1Arou23A_uSD_414KqLPixY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231824/Trend___Tot_Yard.png">
<figcaption>Total yards trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h95o-eizfsNznr1FqnGV8JGFoCo=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231826/Pass_and_Rush.png">
<figcaption>Key data points from the Notre Dame - USC game.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="ZtFLIW"></p>
<h2 id="QJZdbE"><strong>Unexpected Production from the Irish Passing Unit</strong></h2>
<p id="x5HeGk">One of the biggest surprises of the night was the level at which the Irish passing game was able to produce, even if that output didn’t always translate into points on the scoreboard. <strong>Notre Dame beat out USC in terms of total passing yards, 318-232. In this metric category it was ND’s best game of the season. </strong></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-TZxFW-bZjzoRzuGh_W3nnvDfvQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231829/Trend___Pass_Yard.png">
<figcaption>Passing yards trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="TWlGdc">Irish QB Drew Pyne had a very accurate night throwing the ball overall. <strong>He completed 88% of his 26 attempts and proved to be the game’s more dominant passer.</strong> Caleb Williams wasn’t that far behind in terms of accuracy but their game plan called for the passing attack to play a secondary role in the Trojan’s offensive strategy.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/miM0WaFUyEG6J8GRaoRGQOufzS0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231834/Passing.png">
<figcaption>Passer comparisons from the Notre Dame - USC game.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="bV1JVL"></p>
<h2 id="lpPU1k"><strong>Slow Night for Notre Dame’s Rushing Group</strong></h2>
<p id="5vG3pQ"><strong>There were a lot of big surprises throughout the course of the game but if there was a #1 ranking it’d have to be that USC would out rush ND 204-90. </strong>It wasn’t for a lack of effort by the Irish rushing collective that we’ve all come to admire so much. The Irish running backs scraped and clawed for each of the yards they got. But with only 26 attempts, a season low, the rushing attack was just never able to get going. <strong>It was reminiscent of what transpired in the Week 1 loss to </strong><a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com"><strong>Ohio State</strong></a><strong> and the Navy matchup in Week 11. </strong></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oxQWiEJgv9mPMb6T5FwcnhRpwKE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231838/Trend___Rush_Tot.png">
<figcaption>Rushing yards trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/g2BPLZglAk1nDjyENRpR3bHTo5I=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231841/Trend___Rush_Att.png">
<figcaption>Rushing attempts trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ad_-NZyilYkMpSbGESGKSlXUMWI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231842/Trend___Rush_Avg.png">
<figcaption>Avg. yards per rush attempt trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="opnafr">Logan Diggs ended up leading the team’s ground efforts. He averaged 2.8 yards on 12 carries and tallied up the bulk of the team’s overall rushing yards. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QHkHCFUZdxCZwsa5rdQci0uL5hY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231846/Rushing.png">
<figcaption>Notre Dame’s rushing details from the USC game.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="rNjG4O"></p>
<h2 id="ml2EYj"><strong>Bright Spot: More Demonstrated Depth at Receiver</strong></h2>
<p id="fMSCbh">Throughout the season, the up and down production of Notre Dame’s receiving corps has been a point of frustration. <strong>While Michael Mayer once again proved to be the team’s most reliable ball catcher, there were a lot more folks that got in on the action.</strong> Mayer averaged 12.3 yards on 8 receptions and tallied up 31% (98) of the team’s total receiving yards. Deion Colzie also had a good night in terms of overall output, accounting for 24% (75) of the Irish’s yards through the air. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_bH5f75NcgkckHUjugBxKddFRiM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231850/Receiving.png">
<figcaption>Notre Dame’s receiving details from the USC game.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="hqeGzI"></p>
<h2 id="o9qezp"><strong>Crippling Turnovers</strong></h2>
<p id="gfngVd">Throughout the season, turnovers have been a relatively benign problem for Notre Dame. Even against USC, there weren’t that many <strong>but the 1 lost fumble and 1 interception came at points which kept the Irish off the scoreboard in a game where there just wasn’t any room for them.</strong></p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ow9dRWWtEKFbFlUaslUvT_LOcOU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231851/Trend___Fumble___Opp.png">
<figcaption>Notre Dame’s lost fumble trend through Week 13.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0--ShRlZAGWVdIOxY8aiR_gJV4k=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231853/Trend___Interception.png">
<figcaption>Notre Dame’s interception trend through Week 13.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="AVdhLj"></p>
<h2 id="J9u7tJ"><strong>Overall Success with Ball Movement</strong></h2>
<p id="W2H3G6">While it was beyond frustrating in the moment, <strong>there wasn’t as big of a chasm between the two teams in terms of moving the ball.</strong> When it was all said and done, USC had the slight edge, 23-22 in terms of first downs. The Irish edged out the Trojans, 71%-67% when it came to 3<sup>rd</sup> down conversion rates. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FAi90m6q3_x60hQrGstFdGPlOFg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231856/Trend___1st_Down_.png">
<figcaption>First down trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zW8px2mpikRfhDA0knF_AJscaiM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231857/Trend___3rd_Down_Conv.png">
<figcaption>Third down conversion (%) trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="6cAOmr"></p>
<h2 id="9454TZ"><strong>Tricky Defensive Performance</strong></h2>
<p id="bbCabs">The performance of Notre Dame’s defense will likely be the most difficult thing to assess coming out of the loss. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ciFk7_aF2Iwx64QmMNKilvpYS2g=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231859/Trend___DefTotYrd__2_.png">
<figcaption>Defense (total yards allowed) trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="UJbgSk">If you were watching the game, it didn’t look good from pretty much start to finish. </p>
<p id="0Ba6RB">For me, it’s really hard to separate out my frustrations with the commentators’ love affair with Caleb Williams’ backfield theatrics, the lack of offensive holding calls and what was really poor execution by the defense. </p>
<p id="H4wOmU">Probably the most annoying part about it all was that the unit allowed USC to put up over 200 yards on the ground. <strong>It wasn’t what anyone expected. Especially the part where USC’s Austin Jones tallied up 154 yards and Williams only accounted for a net of 35 yards.</strong> I want to be more critical of it, but there were so many confounding factors that I struggle with pointing fingers.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/K-ZXVnOKbY_CbdlhwObkRbV7d5E=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231862/Trend___DefPassYrd__2_.png">
<figcaption>Defense (passing yards allowed) trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VoCtwXDLni4VQPSBaKsZnQRnGvc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231863/Trend___DefRushYrd__2_.png">
<figcaption>Defense (rushing yards allowed) trend and comparison.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="ewo3XG">It wasn’t the outcome that Irish fans were hoping for but it’s what we got. After sitting with the data for a bit, I<strong>’m coming to terms with most of my frustrations not being so much about how the squad actually played on the field but all of the things surrounding the game and season as a whole. </strong></p>
<p id="tnYGqS">I don’t think the loss is a call to question or overhaul our assessments of the program coming out of last week’s victory but it definitely provides some important lessons to keep in mind going into the bowl game and next year’s campaign. </p>
<p id="G4u9zP"></p>
<p id="0cD6fw"><strong>Cheers and Go Irish!!</strong></p>
<p id="orxl3I"></p>
<p id="TzOTkh"></p>
<p id="AIyHxs"></p>
<p id="16igAQ"></p>
<p id="fZwnnw"></p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/11/27/23480690/college-football-data-review-notre-dame-27-usc-38-advanced-stat-nd-cfb-irish-trojans-offense-defenseJoBro132022-11-27T14:39:17-05:002022-11-27T14:39:17-05:00Irish fail to keep up with Williams and the Trojans, 38-27
<figure>
<img alt="USC Trojans defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 38-27 during a NCAA football game." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LYokCx2folbFRX0xGFGdsjYIN0g=/203x0:5594x3594/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71679359/1245133399.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Was Notre Dame really that bad against USC? </p> <p id="DawD6l">And just like that, there went 12 games. Before delving into this game I just want to say it’s been a hell of a ride. While not always the result we were looking for, we were not left without excitement. Any week I can watch Irish football I am grateful for, and this season was extra special as I got to share it with you all. Thank you, to all of the readers who’ve been with us or have joined along the way this season. This was a very unique year for <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a> as a program. And while some of us may be disappointed, I think there is a reason for a lot of optimism going forward. With that being said I also want to thank the players whose last time playing in an Irish uniform was last night. You all are the groundwork for what the program goes on to be. You all survived Kelly trying to gut the program and will be a huge part of why Notre Dame (in my opinion) will ultimately reach its final goal. This program’s future looks bright and it all started here this season. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 26 Notre Dame at USC" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MZZYYCt9GG_PaBolrZiSxQ2TGHM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231210/1245132164.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="sUrge8">Now that I got that out of the way, we still do have a bowl game to play. Also, there are plenty of seasons in the MF era to come, so what did last night mean going forward? By the time the game was 24-7, I was pretty sure that my prediction of 34-28 Irish was way off. I was down about it too (almost more down than Stanford, and Marshall) because this was not a prediction I had made in homer fashion. Coming into this game I truly thought Notre Dame was the superior team. I thought they were easily the best defense USC had faced all year, and I thought that Notre Dame’s offense would be able to put a good amount of points up against this defense. So looking at 24-7, I knew my and a lot of the similar predictions had been way off. But were they? I see all the headlines “USC dominates ND”, and “USC cruises past ND”, but did they? No, we were not that far off and no I do not think USC dominated this game as much as ESPN made it sound and look. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 26 Notre Dame at USC" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uu-QOrZYxlLRsfjSym_hwIGHGek=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231215/1245134164.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Kiyoshi Mio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="ajUKt1">I’ll start with the defense. Before I say any of this, Caleb Williams IS very talented. I will take nothing away from what he is as a player. The reason Notre Dame was gashed on the ground was because of the threat he poses. We had to be mindful of him more so than almost any other QB this year and that opened up big lanes for Austin Jones out of the backfield. I think he is an extremely talented player. So when an officiating crew decides that holding is no longer a penalty in the sport of American Football it’s no wonder the kid has 5-6 “Heisman moments”. I hate being this guy, I truly do. I have kept myself from complaining about officiating all season. I think it makes for terrible discussion after a game and there is little to be learned/gained from beating that dead horse, but good lord that was atrocious. Remember Johnny Manziel’s play against Alabama? Of course, you do, I don’t even have to say the year or which play exactly but you remember. ESPN (Kirk and Chris) would have you believe that Caleb Williams had 4+ plays like that last night. Which he did, until you look and on every single one of those scrambles there was not just one, but multiple egregious holding calls. It would be one thing to not have it called, but to have commentators blatantly ignoring all of them to try and manufacture hype around an award that has a dying interest is just infuriating. Already down 2 starters in the secondary, and Williams is already talented enough. You saw what happened on the one drive they decided to call anything, they ended up in a 3rd and 25+. Imagine if the refs had just thrown 1 or 2 more, let alone the 10+ blatantly obvious ones. Not saying the defense is completely devoid of blame, but similarly to the Stanford game, I will not accept that you cannot lay any blame on the officiating crew. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 26 Notre Dame at USC" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HU9aNhWBm3QuoizwGv9D7pTbvEo=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231221/1245134058.jpg">
<cite>Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="BBlPlW">Coming into this game I thought that the defense would be able to hold its own against this offense. I was worried offensively just due to the lack of consistency with the unit as a whole this season. In the end, I thought our offense would be enough against a pretty bad USC defense. The one thing I said they would avoid that <a href="https://www.bruinsnation.com">UCLA</a> failed to avoid was turnovers. In the end, it is what led to the loss. First was the failed 4th and 1 that counts as a turnover. I said that I thought we should put trust in our defense and take the points early. Had they gotten it yes it would’ve been big, but my thought process with this offense is any points are good points. Then had Pyne had not fumbled opening the second half there’s a real possibility that Notre Dame flips momentum big time. Instead, it’s a 10-14 point swing in the other direction. Despite a chance later on to close it to one possession, I know all of us thought it was probably over at that point. Then obviously on that final drive, Pyne is trying to make something happen late and it’s picked off. Had they avoided just one or two of those turnovers this game is much different in the final minutes. Had we scored to make it 31-24 or 31-28 it could’ve gotten pretty wild. That is even with the struggles on the defensive side to contain Williams. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Notre Dame v USC" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zKtNrSSoizdXtRZmb_n1z2gqih0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231223/1444857882.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="xxgGxp">After this game, I felt down more so than I had even following even the Stanford loss. The turnovers, combined with awful officiating, and an awful broadcast had me down in the dumps. After sleeping it off and racking my brain I am not so upset. I think despite everything Notre Dame can close out 9-4 with a top 5 recruiting class set to be confirmed in the coming weeks/months. I think if we can solidify the QB position we have special things to come. Let’s try to enjoy bowl season as best we can, and look forward to how we build heading into year two with Marcus Freeman. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Notre Dame v USC" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KDC2ucdg6q8GNAeRY4HfkHMaaqg=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24231225/1444853138.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/11/27/23480307/irish-fail-to-keep-up-with-williams-and-the-trojans-38-27-notre-dame-football-usc-nd-newsJoseph Babey2022-11-27T02:18:05-05:002022-11-27T02:18:05-05:00Notre Dame Football Notebook: Slow start doomed Irish versus Southern Cal
<figure>
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 26 Notre Dame at USC" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0vEDOpB8zfEA-U1NIovEugghtQ8=/1x0:5134x3422/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71677791/1245134080.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Kiyoshi Mio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Stats, notes, and thoughts from a disappointing loss in L.A.</p> <p id="8AzQCn">It was a brutal way to end the <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame Fighting Irish</a> regular season. The 38-27 loss to the <a href="https://www.conquestchronicles.com">USC Trojans</a> probably didn’t surprise many people, but the game was a bit of a head-scratcher in many ways — some of which are even important (some are decidedly not). </p>
<p id="d2T794">Let’s get into it.</p>
<h2 id="vOAuxb">THE CALEB WILLIAMS PROBLEM </h2>
<p id="d67tcl">We knew Notre Dame was walking into a potential snake pit with Caleb Williams on the field, but there was hope that Notre Dame’s defensive front could “get” to him throughout the night. Honestly — Notre Dame did get to Williams quite a bit, but he was rarely GOT. USC was 8-12 on 3rd down and 1-1 on 4th down (the 4th down conversion was a Williams TD run). That kind of money-down success is almost entirely due to Williams and his ability to create out of the pocket. His stat line isn’t overly impressive at 18-22 for 232 yards and 1 TD along with 35 rushing yards... and 3 rushing touchdowns. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/68jqye-zuKEqAikRlZWHfJ1nNuw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230815/usa_today_19511830.jpg">
<cite>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="h1jdsw">The feet and determination of Williams were the biggest difference. He refused to go down and made the Trojans tougher than maybe they really are — which is a Heisman quality unto itself. </p>
<h2 id="qooNFI">THE REAL PROBLEM</h2>
<p id="yPK0EQ">While Caleb Williams will be the one that gets all of the sunshine and glory, it was Austin Jones that deserves as much (maybe more) praise for what he did on the ground. The Trojan RB carried the ball 25 times for 154 yards and left Irish tacklers laying on the ground grasping at air, dirt, and dreams. USC’s running game — which mostly consisted of Jones — was the part of the Trojan offense that didn’t scare me at all. Maybe it should have. Even scarier was that most of Notre Dame’s run fits were okay, they just couldn’t bring down Jones. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Khl2tKDzxogcXMOZbaJg0fjnSx4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230816/usa_today_19510758.jpg">
<cite>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="Rmtu23">We figured Williams would get his through the air, but adding Jones on the ground was what ultimately led to the Irish defeat. </p>
<h2 id="7rhPqn">DREW PYNE’S WEIRD DAY</h2>
<p id="WnubnN">If I told you before the game that Drew Pyne was going to pass 23-26 for 318 yards, 3 TD, and 1 INT — I think many of you would consider the game to be about a 10 point Irish win instead of an 11 point loss. When Pyne threw the ball, he looked like a different quarterback than most of what we saw this year. </p>
<p id="qAbAVu">The problem was that he was still a problem. Notre Dame absolutely needed points on the first drive of the second half, and after driving the ball down the field, he fumbled the ball away to USC which eventually tuned the favor into a touchdown to make it a 24-7 game rather than 17-14 or 17-10. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ljm-nRiW5h0fwF5T3oqShYyn8zw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230817/usa_today_19512068.jpg">
<cite>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="fWHYtG">As bad as the interception was — the fumble was unforgivable. And yet... it was still a good day for Pyne. It’s too weird to think about. He did everything he needed to do to win the game but one (maybe two) things. With the defense unable to stop Southern Cal, we needed more than the best from Pyne, and that didn’t happen.</p>
<h2 id="MqtnVG">A HANDICAPPED DEFENSE</h2>
<p id="hPiQip">Notre Dame’s defense didn’t do nearly enough to win the football game. While they certainly put a lot of pressure on Caleb Williams, and weren’t receiving the holding calls from the refs (which there were many) they also didn’t tackle well, and were bullied in the trenches in the running game. It was a huge loss for Notre Dame to play without Cam Hart and TaRiq Bracy for the entirety of the game as they are two of the top 3 defensive backs on the team. In my opinion, those two losses made Golden play even more aggressive than what was maybe needed (trying to force a play) and it backfired on a number of occasions.</p>
<h2 id="3E7dMU">IT WAS THE BEGINNING </h2>
<p id="N7oGPe">It’s a simple viewpoint, but Notre Dame’s start to the game was ultimately its downfall. The Irish gave up 10 points in the first quarter while only having the ball for about five minutes. After the first quarter, the Irish matched USC touchdown for touchdown. </p>
<p id="AwayAQ">Yes, that was pretty simple. Within that truth resides another... Notre Dame’s running game was in big trouble. The slanting and run blitzes that hurt the Irish run game in losses to <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a> and Marshall were back on the table and working for USC. While that happened, USC put points on the board, and the Irish were chasing the score for the rest of the night. All of this was because of how the game started. </p>
<h2 id="cV6DyY">THANK-YOU </h2>
<p id="FGlNLR">Thank-you Michael Mayer. This was likely the last game we will ever see Michael Mayer play for Notre Dame. It was a very Mayer effort with 8 receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gd9IcwA_d6NZhjAjZ-qGI1pUcjQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230818/usa_today_19510832.jpg">
<cite>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="xzblDY">Thank-you Isaiah Foskey. This was likely the last game we will ever see Isaiah Foskey play for Notre Dame. Foskey was credited with 1.5 sacks and another TFL for 5 tackles on the night.</p>
<p id="j5VW2V">Those two players represent the best production Notre Dame has ever seen from a tight end and a defensive end.</p>
<h2 id="QmbQW0">SILVER LININGS</h2>
<p id="o2NaFf">The loss sucked ass and there’s no way to get around it. There were, however, some positives to take away from the game, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li id="88F154">Lorenzo Styles caught 4 balls and dropped none. He also led the team in YAC.</li>
<li id="05bXPQ">Deion Colzie solidified his rise as a starting WR with 3 receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.</li>
<li id="1Xm184">Honestly... the sophomore group of Colzie, Styles, and Jayden Thomas showed that there is a LOT of potential next season. </li>
<li id="hrUimB">Xavier Watts led the team with 9 tackles and a pass break-up. He played really well for most of the night and has positioned himself as a probable starter in 2023.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="7XdSAY">SOME COMPLAINTS</h2>
<p id="AJr86d">This shouldn’t be considered a knock on Logan Diggs at all — but I’m infuriated by the second team status Audric Estime gets in terms of carries. With the line struggling, Estime was the one that exploded past the line of scrimmage and the one that could have made the difference early in the game — and yet we had to wait until to see him on the field (and then he rumbles off a 30 yard catch and run). </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Southern California" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Shugc9RLB3OUSuLGmYgIHJNqY1M=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230819/usa_today_19511894.jpg">
<cite>Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
</figure>
<p id="iLSmvZ">I don’t like Al Golden’s defense. It doesn’t make sense to me as it is, and makes even less sense when you factor in personnel. Because this was a night that Notre Dame’s defense was dominated in the trenches, it stands out even more. I’m not sure what changes Golden will make in the offseason, but I would start with everything. It’s actually a good unit of players, but they play out of position, get caught in man zero, and fundamentally need a lot of work. </p>
<h2 id="vK8Rck">MOVING ON</h2>
<p id="lUmcMh">There will still be plenty of talk about this game over the next couple of days, but there will be a bowl game that Notre Dame will play in, and that’s what I’m looking forward to. Despite the opt-outs and everything else that comes with bowl games, I think the program desperately needs a win regardless of bowl and opponent.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dgER5GR-CANMO6riK214qtVZJbU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230809/Screen_Shot_2022_11_27_at_12.36.38_AM.png">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CZFiR_34atUTmLmmp8sRWKOZ3rw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230810/Screen_Shot_2022_11_27_at_12.36.58_AM.png">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xTVRIqA8rYaM-ElAY-o9udjkw84=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230811/Screen_Shot_2022_11_27_at_12.37.16_AM.png">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vinzky7Y9eZvG4a4afyArF5dTGA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230812/Screen_Shot_2022_11_27_at_12.37.28_AM.png">
</figure>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h_AcSxIRs9yDz4TSoVxNFRumI7I=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24230813/Screen_Shot_2022_11_27_at_12.37.47_AM.png">
</figure>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/11/27/23479953/notre-dame-football-notebook-slow-start-doomed-irish-versus-southern-cal-stats-notes-thoughts-nd-scJoshua Vowles2022-11-26T22:58:18-05:002022-11-26T22:58:18-05:00Quick Recap: Notre Dame can’t handle Southern Cal in L.A. and lose, 38-27
<figure>
<img alt="COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 26 Notre Dame at USC" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/L_GpN75spOXYIIqUbyeFuTrokF8=/0x0:3300x2200/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71677518/1245131359.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It wasn’t how we wanted it to end, but the Jeweled Shillelagh is gone</p> <p id="n0IGMI"><a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a> squared off against the <a href="https://www.conquestchronicles.com">USC Trojans</a> with plenty to play for, but didn’t have enough to make it happen.</p>
<p id="vX6zux">Notre Dame won the toss and deferred to the second half, and USC moved down the field with relative ease using the running game and some trick plays thrown in to keep the Irish off balance. The Trojans finished it off with an 11 yard touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Tahj Washington. </p>
<p id="RFOySC">The Irish weren’t so crisp on their opening drive and went three and out pretty quickly. </p>
<p id="727g4i">It was a big win of sorts for Notre Dame to force the Trojan offense to kick a field goal on their next drive to make it 10-7. The Irish tried to capitalize on that small bit of momentum and put a short drive together — but it ultimately blew up in their face with a Mitchell Evans 4th down rushing attempt stopped short. </p>
<p id="OPuun0">Notre Dame’s defense got to Caleb Williams enough on the next drive to force a punt, and Drew Pyne took the offense 80 yards down the field in 9 plays that ended with a touchdown pass to Michael Mayer to make it 10-7 halfway through the 2nd quarter.</p>
<p id="Q9gL8Z">The Trojans answered the Irish score with a 10 play 75 yard drive that was helped by the refs about 4 times, and Caleb Williams ran it in the endzone on a really nice play off the mesh point to make it 17-7 with 28 seconds left in the half. </p>
<p id="61vFyS">Notre Dame came out after halftime with plenty of fire and execution and drove the ball deep into Trojan territory, but Drew Pyne fumbled the ball away and Southern cal got the ball back poised to put this game out of reach. </p>
<p id="nmdecw">Southern Cal went 74 yards on 7 plays and punched it into the endzone with a 5 yard rush from running back Raleek Brown to go ahead 24-7 early in the third quarter. </p>
<p id="udYmpE">Notre Dame wasn’t done fighting though. The Irish offense took things to another level with a quick 75 yard drive that included a big run from Audric Estime that helped create a 23 yard touchdown pass from Drew Pyne to Deion Colzie to make it 24-14 about halfway through the third quarter.</p>
<p id="b3ys3v">Southern Cal wasn’t fazed in the slightest. The Trojans went 75 yards on their next turn with a taunting Caleb Williams jogging into the endzone on a 6 yard score to make it 31-14. At that point the game felt really over, but Notre Dame countered with a quick 75 yard drive of their own that ended with a Logan Diggs touchdown drive. </p>
<p id="fifzTG">Down 31-21, the Irish defense needed to make a big stop against USC on the next possession. Despite coughing up a big play to USC through the air that was extended by a Jaden Mickey facemask call, Notre Dame kept the Trojans off of the scoreboard on the drive, SC used up a bunch of clock and were flagged for two holding calls (finally) and a delay of game to get there — but Caleb Williams pooch punted for the second time on the night and the Irish took over on the 10 yard line, down 10, and 5:52 left on the clock. </p>
<p id="73gKvd">It could have been 3 seconds left on the clock. After gaining a first down, Drew Pyne threw an interception and Southern Cal took over at the Notre Dame 24 yard line. Four plays later, Caleb Williams ran it into the endzone to put the Trojans up 38-21 with 2:35 left in the game. </p>
<p id="TGQkyQ">Notre Dame added a touchdown pass from Drew Pyne to Michael Mayer with 1:02 left in the game, but a failed 2 point conversion attempt, and an onside kick that went into Trojan hands ended the night. </p>
<p id="0utvyv">More to come on OFD.</p>
https://www.onefootdown.com/2022/11/26/23479813/quick-recap-notre-dame-cant-handle-southern-cal-in-l-a-and-lose-38-27-college-football-nd-sc-irishJoshua Vowles