Keys To Victory For Notre Dame Over USC

Notre Dame has built its 5-2 record primarily on the backs of the defense, but that unit will face its toughest test of the season tonight when they take on the undefeated and high scoring USC offense. The Trojans are averaging over 50 points per game and are led by the reigning Heisman Trophy winner - and leader in the clubhouse for the award in 2023.

Notre Dame will have its hands full against the Trojan offense, but this is also a unit that has held each of its seven opponents below its season scoring average, and four of its opponents (Ohio State, Duke, Navy, Tennessee State) were held at least 15 points below their season scoring average. NC State needed a late game touchdown against the Irish backups to get their number into single digits.

The defense has been on the field a lot in recent weeks, so they'll need to dig deep and play their best against the vaunted USC offense.

Here are the keys for the Notre Dame defense to do what is needed to play their role in a victory over USC.

1. Stop The Run - Considering USC has the best quarterback in college football and also has one of the best groups of wideouts this key might seem backwards, but it is of the utmost importance.

When USC got off to its dominant 4-0 start the Trojans were averaging 192.0 rushing yards per game and 6.9 yards per carry. In its last two games, with the Trojans struggling to hang on late to win both games, the offense averaged just 120.5 yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry. USC scored 43 points in the win over Arizona, but it needed overtime to get to that mark, as the Trojans had just 28 points in regulation.

It was a similar story last season, as USC averaged just 94 rushing yards per game in the postseason, losing to Utah in the Pac 12 title game and to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl.

Notre Dame needs to control the line of scrimmage and shut down the run game, something it failed to do last season when the Trojans racked up 204 yards in a win over the Irish. Putting USC in more second and third-and-long situations increases the odds that it can make stops. If USC gets its ground game going the offense becomes incredibly hard to stop.

2. Get Caleb Williams Out Of Rhythm - Notre Dame needs to shut down the run game primarily with its defensive line. That unit must control action and dominate the USC blockers. If that happens it could also lead to that unit putting pressure on Williams, which is another key to success.

If Williams gets time to throw and gets comfortable he'll rip the Irish defense up. Yes, Notre Dame has great corners and one of the best pass defenses in the country, but even that group cannot cover all game against talented USC receivers if Williams isn't pressured. Notre Dame has to find ways to get after Williams and actually put pressure on him.

Notre Dame needs to get Williams out of rhythm in multiple ways. One is to get after him with the defensive line, which will result in him getting out of the pocket and starting to look down instead of throwing in rhythm from the pocket. He'll still make plays at times in these situations, but it will also result in more incompletions.

Two is to also be effective with the linebacker and DB pressures. Blitzing Williams all game long like we've seen in games past will likely result in getting a few hits on him, but it will also result in some big plays being made. Notre Dame needs to be more confusing and inconsistent with when it brings second and third level players, and who it brings. Keeping Williams guessing is important, and when those players do blitz they have to get home and get hits on Williams.

Three is to mix up the pre and post snap looks. Williams is a very smart quarterback as well as being ultra talented, so if he has a good feel for what you're doing he'll have answers. Keep him guessing and you increase the odds he'll throw incompletions.

3. Tackle, Tackle, Tackle - This is simple, Notre Dame has been inconsistent tackling on defense this season. That cannot happen against USC. We saw what happens when the defense fails to bring Williams down last season, and that can't be repeated. It's not just Williams, however. The Irish have to do a good job bringing down the backs at first contact and they absolutely must limit yards after the catch in the pass game.

4. Make Stops - This is an easy one. Of course to beat a team like USC you need stops. But the key isn't keeping USC to 17 points or 14 points like it did against Ohio State and Duke. If that happens you might as well hand Al Golden the Broyles Award. It's about creating enough stops to give your offense a chance to win the game.

Stops are obviously forcing punts and getting turnovers. Those are easy to think about and evaluate. Punts are good for the defense, turnovers are good for the defense. We all know that.

But against a USC team that scores 50+ points per game and has one of the best red zone offenses in college football, stops are also forcing field goal attempts. USC is going to get their yards, but the more we see Denis Lynch lining up for field goals instead of touchdowns the better. I don't care of USC scores every time they have the ball as long as all of those scores are fields.

Force 3-point attempts and keep USC out of the end zone, on top of the other stops the defense will get, and Notre Dame can win this football game.

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