Five Shocking Statistics From USC Trojans' Loss to Notre Dame

The USC Trojans suffered their second loss of the season to No. 12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and enter their final bye weekend. In the aggravating 34-24 loss, the Trojans were beat up on both sides of the ball, while Notre Dame's run game flourished.

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans frustrating 34-24 loss to the No. 12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish sparked areas of weakness and improvement entering their final bye weekend of the season.

What brought the second loss to life was the surprising statistics around it, especially with a rivalry and top-25 road contest for the Trojans.

1. 306 Rushing Yards Allowed By USC

Oct 18, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs the ball while Southern California Trojans safety Bishop Fitzgerald (19) in the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Fighting Irish delivered the loss with the strenght and power of their running backs -- with tailbacks Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price rushing for 306 total yards.

USC had contained their past opponents run offense well, with their most rushing yards allowed before the loss being 171 yards against Illinois. Even for a game where Notre Dame quarterback C.J. Carr passed for 136 yards and one passing touchdown, the Fighting Irish run game was strong enough to power past USC.

The front seven, as well as special teams, had trouble holding back Love and Price, with Love averaging 9.5 yards per run and Price with 6.7.

The focus turns to perfecting and playing their most physical games in the trenches, something USC did so well against the Michigan Wolverines on Oct. 11.

2. Most Individual Rushing Yards In Notre Dame Stadium Since 1930

Oct 4, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman adjusts his radio against the Boise State Broncos at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images | Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

With Love and Price's wildly impressive performance in the run game, cracked a new statistic for the Fighting Irish.

Love's 228 rushing yards were the most rushed by a Notre Dame player in Notre Dame Stadium history, dating back to the Stadiums opening in 1930.

Jeremiyah Love's 228 rushing yards today are the most a @NDFootball player has rushed for in a single game in Notre Dame Stadium history.

The Irish have played 512 games in The House That Rockne Built since 1930, including tonight's 34-24 victory over Southern Cal.

— Notre Dame Football PR Team (@NDFootballPR) October 19, 2025

While both tailbacks have proved why they are some of the best in the nation, the performance over the Trojans solidified how dangerous both Love and Price are, especially against a solid USC defensive unit in rainy conditions.

Although the statistic does not pair well with USC's run defense and their strength in the trenches, the Trojans will turn to maintain upcoming Big Ten opponents rushing games, and force them to the pass game.

3. Notre Dame Leads USC 7-1 In Last Eight Matchups

Oct 14, 2023; South Bend, Indiana, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley and Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman chat before the game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images | Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

What makes rivalry games so entertaining and intense is the knowingness of, the unexpected. The environment, the competition and what's at stake continues to deliver shocking and exciting rivalry games.

For the Jeweled Shillelagh rivalry between USC and Notre Dame, with the week 8 matchup marking their 96th meeting, the Fighting Irish lead the Trojans 7-1, a concerning statistic for USC especially with the uncertain future of the rivalry.

The last time USC endured a winning drought against Notre Dame was from 1983-95, when the Trojans went 0-12 against the Fighting Irish.

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The last time USC beat Notre Dame was in 2022, coach Lincoln Riley's first season as head coach and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' Heisman Trophy season. Before that, USC beat the Fighting Irish in 2016, when Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton was at the helm and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold ran the show.

Now, with the rivalry's continuation at stake, the rumors and accusations of why it may not continue have bounced between one common question: Does USC need Notre Dame on their schedule, or does Notre Dame need USC on theirs?

While the Fighting Irish are in IA Independents, and the Trojans in the Big Ten conference, both programs have a decision to make that either extends the iconic rivalry, or puts an end to it.

4. USC is 0-6 At Top 25 Opponents Under Lincoln Riley

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

What became really questionable after the Trojans loss at Notre Dame was their record on the road facing ranked opponents since Riley has led the program. USC is 0-6 when facing top 25 opponents on the road.

Before this season's loss to No. 12 Notre Dame, USC has lost at No. 20 Utah in 2022, No. 21 Notre Dame, No. 14 Utah and No. 6 Oregon in 2023, No. 18 Michigan under Riley.

This season, USC has proved to be a competitor, putting up two conference leaders in passing yards with quarterback Jayden Maiava with 2,180, and receiving yards for wide receiver Makai Lemon with 758, but have seemed to struggle with consistency.

After defeating then-No. 15 Michigan at home, hope was restored for their chances at a College Football Playoff and a Big Ten title. Now, with their sixth ranked road loss since 2022, USC needs to win out to be relevant in the title conversations.

5. USC Shut Out in Fourth Quarter For First Time

Oct 18, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) drops back to throw the ball in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

For an offense as explosive as USC's, the loss marked the first time all season the Trojans did not score in the fourth quarter.

Maiava and the USC offense have been impressive all year long, from a 73-point season opener win to 400+ yard passing performance against the Georgia Southern Eagles. Against the Fighting Irish, multiple factors affected the Trojans attack.

The play-calling did not reflect an offense that has led the Big Ten in yards per game with 530 and passing yards per game with 326. The most questionable was a reverse pass trick play to Lemon on a critical first down in rainy weather, that led to game-changing turnover.

Another squandered scoring opportunity came late in fourth on a fourth-and-inches, when Maiava's play-action pass fell incomplete and gave the ball back to Notre Dame.

Following their second bye week, the Trojans go right back on the road to Nebraska, and look to bounce back and earn their fourth conference win.