The Trojans will not be winning a National Championship this year.
The Fighting Irish rushed for 377 yards and No. 13 Notre Dame blew out No.11 USC, 49-14, on Saturday night in South Bend.
After a 45-27 lopsided loss at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum last season, the Irish got payback, outplaying the Trojans in every facet of the highly-anticipated rivalry game.
The Trojans forced a three-and-out to start the contest, but on their first possession on offense, Sam Darnold fumbled, setting up the first Notre Dame touchdown and it was all downhill for USC from there.
Notre Dame strikes first! @WimbushB7 finds @Equanimeous for a 26-yard touchdown! #USCvsND #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/bPn0TGLagK— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) October 21, 2017
Notre Dame led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter, but the Trojans opened up the second quarter with a long drive that got all the way down to the Irish three-yard-line.
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After running back Ronald Jones II was stopped for a loss of one on third down, the Trojans opted for the field goal, but Chase McGrath missed the easy 27-yarder and the Trojans were still scoreless.
The game went from bad to worse minutes later, as Jack Jones muffed and Notre Dame took over at the USC nine-yard-line. Three players later, Josh Adams easily ran in for the 21-0 lead.
Notre Dame is blowing USC out of the water. Josh Adams' short TD run puts them up 21-0! #USCvsND #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/dgCkd3E5cQ— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) October 22, 2017
The "Nightmare at Notre Dame" continued as Darnold was intercepted by Nick Watkins on the Trojans' next drive and Irish quarterback Brandon Winbush called his own number as Notre Dame led 28-0 at the half.
Things are going from bad to worse for USC. @WimbushB7 finds the corner to push Notre Dame's lead to 28-0! #USCvsND #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/S7JbZCEhg3— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) October 22, 2017
The Trojans tried to keep it interesting in the third quarter, as both Steven Mitchell Jr. and Deontay Burnett caught touchdown passed from Darnold, but the USC defense was outmatched as the Irish just kept on finding the endzone.
Darnold left the game in the fourth quarter, finishing 20-of-28 for 229 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for seven yards.
Burnett was the leading receiver in the game with eight catches for 113 yards and a touchdown.
The USC rushing attack was non-existent on the day as five different players combined for just 76 yards on the ground.
On the flip side, the Fighting Irish dominated the ground attack, rushing for a combined 377 yards.
Adams finished with 191 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries including an 84-yard touchdown burst at the end of the third quarter for the knockout blow.
STOP THE FIGHT! Josh Adams takes the carry 89 yards right up the middle for the TD! #USCvsND #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/mFEUUtFibc— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) October 22, 2017
Winbush, a Junior at of New Jersey, proved to be too mobile for the Trojans as he scampered for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. He also threw for 120 yards and two touchdowns as well.
For the second year in a row, the Trojans now have two losses before November and will most certainly fall down (if not out) of the AP Top 25 rankings on Sunday.
Since the College Football Playoff was created in 2014, no team with two losses made the four-team playoff.
Up Next:
The Trojans will return home, lick their wounds, and then head to Tempe, Arizona next weekend where they will face Arizona State at 7:45PM PST on ESPN.
