LOS ANGELES — From the very first moments, Notre Dame delivered a relentless assault against the USC Trojans on their home field, showing no signs of letting up.
USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn recognized the strength of Notre Dame’s offensive line, likely the toughest his team would face all season. However, his defense seemed unprepared for just how dominant they would be. On the Fighting Irish’s first play, running back Jeremiyah Love took a handoff and surged through an unchallenged gap in the middle, advancing 10 yards before any Trojan managed to disengage from their blocks. Even then, Love gained additional ground as two Notre Dame linemen pushed him another 6 or 7 yards.
The 49-35 loss on Saturday underscored USC’s recurring issue: a lack of strength on the offensive and defensive lines. While USC’s offensive execution and play-calling were not the primary culprits, the failure to develop championship-caliber fronts on both sides of the ball has plagued the team throughout Lincoln Riley’s tenure.
This problem has surfaced repeatedly under Riley, including in late 2022 when USC faltered against Georgia’s dominant defensive line, and again in 2023 when Oregon’s line overpowered the Trojans. On Saturday, the issue was glaring as Notre Dame racked up 258 rushing yards, often breaking free through wide-open gaps.
“We didn’t defend the run as well as we have been,” Riley admitted. “That made them pretty multi-dimensional.”
The talent disparity on both fronts was evident. Despite some progress in rounding USC’s offensive line into shape and generating defensive pressure with creative schemes, Notre Dame thoroughly outperformed the Trojans. According to Pro Football Focus, USC’s blockers allowed 15 pressures while generating only eight defensively, compared to Notre Dame’s mere four pressures allowed and 26 generated.
This loss epitomized a season-long trend. USC’s opponents consistently outperformed them in generating and limiting pressures, highlighting the need for significant improvement in the trenches.
There is hope for the future, though. If USC’s current recruiting class holds, it includes promising four-star offensive tackles Aaron Dunn and Alex Payne, along with improved performances from current players like left tackle Elijah Paige. Riley expressed confidence in the potential of USC’s young offensive line, believing they could develop into championship-caliber players.
USC is also prioritizing pass-rushing talent, actively pursuing elite prospects like 2025 edge rusher Jahkeem Stewart. Freshmen Kam Fountain and Sam Greene have already shown promise, earning starting roles and demonstrating their ability to contain dual-threat quarterbacks.
While progress is evident, USC’s path to championship contention hinges on building stronger fronts. Until they achieve that level of dominance, realizing Riley’s lofty goals will remain a challenge.
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