Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Notre Dame Football: 3 takeaways from much-needed win over USC

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 23, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams (23) runs the ball as USC Trojans cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart (6) defends in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams (23) runs the ball as USC Trojans cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart (6) defends in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 23: Kevin Austin Jr. #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is tackled by Isaac Taylor-Stuart #6 of the USC Trojans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on October 23, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 23: Kevin Austin Jr. #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is tackled by Isaac Taylor-Stuart #6 of the USC Trojans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on October 23, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

1. Notre Dame finally looked like a playoff contender

All year long, we’ve been waiting for Notre Dame to rise up and look like that playoff contender that it had been over the previous few seasons. I was beginning to think that this team just didn’t have the “it” factor that a playoff team needs.

But I came away more than impressed with their win over USC.

The final score didn’t tell the whole story as the Irish controlled this game from start to finish, essentially leading by two scores for most of the game. They were up 17-3 at halftime and then 24-3 heading into the fourth quarter. USC scored 13 straight points to make things interesting, but Notre Dame dominated this one.

For the first time all year, Notre Dame truly looked like a playoff contender. The offense and defense both played well and that was even without Kyle Hamilton in the second half.

And with the win, the Irish will likely climb back into the top 10 and inch closer to that top four before the first playoff rankings come out on Nov. 2.

Next. Projected AP Top 25 for Week 9. dark

Home/Notre Dame Fighting Irish