Notre Dame Football: 3 takeaways from blowout win over USC in Week 8

2 of 4

SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 30: Brandon Wimbush #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irishhands off to Josh Adams #33 on a long touchdown run against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Notre Dame Stadium on Seotember 30, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Miami (OH) 52-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

3. Josh Adams is now a legit Heisman candidate

The Heisman race did not get a huge shake up in Week 8. Penn State’s Saquon Barkley is currently the front runner and it should stay that way. However, if one player truly inserted themselves into the race, it was Notre Dame running back Josh Adams.

On 19 carries, Adams rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns. Adams’ longest run was for 84 yards and USC’s defense was not able to contain him all night. If Adams is to continue playing this way, he’ll join the ranks of Barkley, Stanford’s Bryce Love, and Wiscosin’s Jonathan Taylor.

In the last three weeks combined, Adams has rushed for six touchdowns and averaged more than 12.0 yards per carry. The way he’s getting things done now makes it extremely hard to stop the Notre Dame offense with a quarterback like Brandon Wimbush behind center.

The success for Notre Dame hinges on the performances of Adams and Wimbush. Both are destroying opponents on the ground right now. Yet, Adams is the one getting most of the attention nationally.

Home/Notre Dame Fighting Irish