Notre Dame football is set for a massive rivalry matchup on Saturday night when they host the USC Trojans. This game is one of the finest rivalries in all of college football, with a ton of great games in the past, and fond memories on both sides. While this historic rivalry is losing a bit of its luster without a game scheduled past 2026, you can bet both fanbases are going to be pumped up for the primetime battle once it kicks off. 

This game boasts a lot of fun and incredible storylines, from the battles between head coaches Marcus Freeman and Lincoln Riley, to the ascension of two elite quarterbacks in CJ Carr and Jayden Maiava. This promises to be a fun game with a lot of underlying intrigue. Here are some of the key storylines to know. 

Top Notre Dame Storylines 

Making a rivalry statement 

The Notre Dame and USC rivalry is set to end following the 2026 college football season, and nobody knows what the future will hold after that final game. It’s a real shame to see since this is one of the great rivalries in college football history. If you’re an Irish fan or supporter, you want to see Notre Dame dominate on Saturday night. If Lincoln Riley wants to hide from top competition, at least make him suffer on the way out. 

Just how improved is this Chris Ash defense? 

After a putrid start to the season, the Notre Dame defense under defensive coordinator Chris Ash has gotten a ton better. We saw some improvement in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers, and once again in the same setting against the Arkansas Razorbacks. That momentum has carried over to the last two weeks against Boise State and NC State, giving up a combined 14 points. It’s been an impressive stretch. 

In that four-game stretch, Notre Dame was by far the most talented team on the field. Have there really been massive defensive improvements, or is this merely a case of playing inferior opponents? We will get a glimpse into the truth this week against an explosive USC Trojan offensive attack. This will show Irish fans a lot. 

Finish offensive drives 

The Notre Dame offense led by redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr, has been moving the ball exceptionally well so far this season. In recent weeks, however, that unit has struggled to finish drives at times, and that was most notable against NC State last week. That does for a couple of missed throws from Carr, inconsistent play calling, and struggles converting in short yardage. Those must improve this week against USC, especially if this team gets into a bit of a shootout. 

Chad Bowden revenge game 

While it isn’t a huge part of this football game, former Notre Dame general manager Chad Bowden has made some interesting comments this past offseason. I’m sure he has some admiration for the Fighting Irish program still, but clearly, he is enjoying his time with the USC Trojans and choosing to throw shade on his former employer because of it. After Bowden left, some shady stuff was happening, and I’d be surprised if he wasn’t at least mentioned this week. There will be some bulletin board material attached to the former Notre Dame personnel member.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News

Final score prediction for Notre Dame vs. USC: Can the Irish keep its playoff hopes alive against the explosive Trojan offense?

Final score prediction for the Notre Dame vs. USC matchup, one of the best rivalries in all of college football.

AJ Schulte