Notre Dame Opponent Preview: No. 10 USC Trojans

Notre Dame (5-2) will look to get back on track this weekend, but standing in its way is a long time nemesis, the USC Trojans (6-0). The 21st-ranked Fighting Irish and the 10th-ranked Trojans are meeting for the 94th time, with Notre Dame leading the all-time series 50-38-5.

USC is going to be a major challenge for the Irish, who are reeling after losing to Louisville, which gave Notre Dame its second loss in three games. USC will come into this contest undefeated.

Where: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.)
When: Saturday - October 14th
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Network: NBC
Line: Notre Dame -3.0, O/U: 63

Let's take a first glance look at the Trojans.

HEAD COACH - Lincoln Riley

USC Record: 17-3 (2nd season)
Overall Record: 72-13 (7th season)

Riley emerged as one of the best offensive minds in college football as the offensive coordinator at East Carolina. His true national breakout came as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops in 2015-16. When Stoops retired the Sooners turned to Riley to lead the program.

Riley went 12-2 in each of his first three seasons, earning a College Football Playoff berth each season. The Sooners went 19-4 in his last two seasons but failed to make the playoff. Riley left Oklahoma for USC following the 2021 season.

He inherited a USC program that went 4-8 in the season prior to his arrival, but his turnaround was swift. USC went 11-3 in Riley's first season and played in the Pac 12 title game. The Trojans have been one of the nation's most explosive and productive offenses from the moment Riley arrived.

Offensive Coordinator: Josh Henson (2nd season)
Defensive Coordinator: Alex Grinch (2nd season)

2023 SCHEDULE/RESULTS (6-0)

San Jose State - Won 56-28
Nevada - Won 66-14
Stanford - Won 56-10
at Arizona State - Won 42-28
at Colorado - Won 48-41
Arizona - Won 43-41
at Notre Dame
Utah
at California
Washington
at Oregon
UCLA

2023 STATISTICAL OVERVIEW

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Rushing: RB MarShawn Lloyd - 67 att., 519 yards, 7.8 YPC, 4 TD; RB Austin Jones - 25 att., 163 yards, 6.5 YPC, 4 TD; QB Caleb Williams - 38 att., 124 yards, 3.3 YPC, 6 TD; RB Quinten Joyner - 14 att., 113 yards, 8.1 YPC, 1 TD

Passing: QB Caleb Williams - 119 com., 166 att., 71.7%, 1,808 yards, 22 TD, 1 INT, 205.71 rating

Receiving: WR Tahj Washington - 21 rec., 456 yards, 21.7 YPC, 5 TD; WR Brenden Rice - 21 rec., 434 yards, 20.7 YPC, 7 TD; WR Mario Williams - 17 rec., 206 yards, 12.1 YPC, 1 TD; WR Zachariah Branch - 13 rec., 178 yards, 13.7 YPC, 2 TD; WR Dorian Singer - 12 rec., 157 yards, 13.1 YPC, 3 TD; WR Duce Robinson - 8 rec., 178 yards, 13.7 YPC, 1 TD

Tackles: S Jaylin Smith - 41 tackles, S Calen Bullock - 30 tackles, LB Mason Cobb - 26 tackles, S Bryson Shaw - 25 tackles, DE Jamil Muhammad - 23 tackles, DE Solomon Byrd - 21 tackles, LB Tackett Curtis - 21, CB Christian Roland-Wallace - 18, DT Bear Alexander - 18, LB Eric Gentry - 18

Tackles For Loss: DE Jamil Muhammad - 10.0, DE Solomon Byrd - 8, DE Romello Height - 4.5, S Jaylin Smith - 4.5, LB Mason Cobb - 4.5, DT De'jon Benton - 3.5, DT Anthony Lucas - 3.0, DE Braylan Shelby - 3.0, DT Bear Alexander - 2.5

Sacks: DE Jamil Muhammad - 6.0, DE Solomon Byrd - 5.0, DE Romello Height - 3.0, DE Braylan Shelby - 2.0, LB Tackett Curtis - 2.0

Interceptions: S Max Williams - 1, CB Christian Roland-Wallace - 1, S Calen Bullock - 1, CB Jacobe Covington - 1

DEPTH CHART - OFFENSE

DEPTH CHART - DEFENSE

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Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

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