October 16, 2025 • 37 mins
Preview of the 2025 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football game against the University of Souther California Trojans. Is this the last, for a while, who wins and what is the impact of the CFP in this NCAA FB top 25 matchup.
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(00:01):
It's the moment you didn't know you're waiting for.
He is Carter, he's Chad, and this is the.
Irish 365 Podcast Welcome into the Irish 365 Podcast Rivalry
Week edition. And it's not just any rivalry,
it's the jewel to Lailey rivalryit is.
It's the Lailey. USC Week.
(00:23):
Finally, right. Yes, and I you know, this is we
can talk about this 150 different ways or spent so much
talk about this game in the offseason.
This is one of those games I think Josh paid I saw post
something on this like this is agame that he thinks about
outside, you know, an October game that's not always like
(00:46):
playoff implications involved, but a game that people pay
attention. This is a rivalry that's bigger
than just these two schools. You can talk about Michigan,
Ohio State rivalry. It is big, but I don't think
people in Southern California care about Michigan, Ohio State,
the same way people in the Midwest care about it, right?
This is a rivalry that may be outside of some people in New
York. And I'm not even sure I would
(01:07):
say that this is a rivalry a lotof people are aware of and have
knowledge of. And I and I think that's what
makes you know, these these hugerivalries.
I mean, awesome. And this, this is a long term
rivalry goes back to the new rocky days.
It's like so much. And then, of course, all summer
long, it's been this back and forth between the two schools.
Is it going to continue? Is it not going to continue?
(01:29):
They both say they want to continue, but USC is a little
shady about it. And it all depends on what the
16 team playoff looks like. Is a Big 10 going to be
guaranteed four games in? They've made complaints about
travel, you know, all these other things Notre Dame has said
well. Maybe it's going to be a neutral
site. Maybe it's going to be on
Netflix. I'm now seeing.
Yeah, and Notre Dame anywhere, anytime, suit up, strap in,
(01:52):
let's go, let's play ball. But, you know, they're trying to
say, well, we got an offer to Notre Dame, they just signed it,
it'll continue. Well, OK, what does that offer
look like? Is Notre Dame being whiny?
I think one of the interesting things was the Marcus Freeman
press conference. You know, there was this whole
conversation about playing in the snow and Marcus Freeman's
like, hey, if kids don't want tocome to the South Bend because
(02:12):
they have to play in the snow, they're not the type of
competitors we're looking for. And I thought that's the perfect
response. I think I heard Charlie Weiss
use the. Listen, if you want to play on
Sundays, you better learn to play in the snow 'cause that's
what we do in New England when Iwas there.
I mean, you know, there's, there's plenty of ways coaches
can counter that argument. Yeah, sure.
It's great to have four years orthree years at USC where it's,
(02:33):
you know, warm weather year round, never rains in Southern
California. But, but it's also good for the
coaches to be able to counter that with some great arguments.
And I think Marcus Freeman's gota new, new spin.
I hadn't heard before, but I love the spin on it.
So yeah. Anyway, USC rivalry, What more
do we need to say, right? I mean this, yeah, you said it's
(02:55):
a game that it's one of my favorite sporting events of the
year. Like it's just such history.
I mean, it hasn't been very likeit would be very early part of
my life we got dominating this and luckily here recently we've
been dominating this rivalry. So yeah, I mean, it's just a
game that if you haven't ever been to like, I hope you get the
(03:16):
chance to go because it is incredible.
Like like even the USC band walking through Norton campus,
like it it's just it's just one of those things.
And yeah, we got the pleasure last year of going out to
Southern California and that wasjust incredible.
And like, I think I've looked back a lot those pictures 1000
times like that was just an awesome.
Yeah. I mean, yeah, again, this is
(03:40):
this is like I again, one of thebig rivalries in your lifetime.
And, you know, you, you look at it and like the Bush Bush, you
know, it's so iconic. It's just so many great memories
of USC, Notre Dame and they, andthey go back like, you know,
when I was a kid, before I was even a conscious of Notre Dame,
like, you know, what it was and the Joe Montana green jersey
game and some of those things. And, and yeah, I, I love this
(04:02):
rivalry. I respect the heck out of USC.
I've got friends that attended USC and I, I like those people a
lot. We just always disagree on the
outcome of this game. But, but I, it's a rivalry where
I, I respect, but I want to win,right?
It's, it's just one of those, tome, it's a great rivalry.
And, and you're right, I mean, the, the USC tradition, the
(04:23):
band, you know, and there's a lot of core values that are very
similar between these two schools, even though there's
some lifestyle differences, you know, is, is the Southern
California lifestyle versus the Midwest lifestyle.
There's, you know, there's some changes there, but it, it, it
doesn't change the fact that this is just a great rivalry.
It's high level football, 2 historic programs.
(04:43):
It's fun to watch. It's always a good game.
You know, I mean, we, yeah. And last year, getting a chance
to go out and see USC, it's, it's been on my bucket list for,
gosh, I don't know, 30-40 years.And, and to me, it was just
awesome that we got the entire crew out there to do take part
of that game. We got to go to the USC alumni
tailgate, which was kind of an interesting perspective to be
(05:04):
the, the green dots in that, in that sea of maroon.
And, you know, but it was just, yeah, it just was a perfect,
perfect opportunity to go see our rival play, you know, and,
and just be on their campus and then see Notre Dame come away
with a victory. Just like love it.
And I love and I and there's so many great memories of USC,
(05:24):
Notre Dame in my in my lifetime.And I know, you know, I was
thinking that maybe one of the first games I took Christie to
might have been Notre Dame, USC,like I.
Think you I remember you saying that.
I'm pretty sure like that's the first game I ever took her to.
So it was like, you know, it's got a little special place in my
(05:44):
heart for a lot of different reasons and that's just another
one. So anyway, yeah, what's your
favorite, all time favorite USC memory here?
Right? What do you got?
Obviously last year was very special for so many reasons, but
one of my memories I remember forever is when, what was it 3
years ago? I said it'd be 20, 2022-2023.
(06:10):
We stormed the field on him. We just crushed Caleb Williams.
So many interceptions all a couple years.
I guess the year before I stormed the field for Clemson
and you didn't do it. And then obviously for USC, all
five of us are on the field. So that was awesome.
And yeah, USC was should have beat us that day, but we just
our defense played the lights out.
Sam Hartman did enough and we. Ruined Caleb's Heisman hopes
(06:34):
that day, which was awesome because he played so great
against us the year before and Al Goldman.
Yeah, he crushed us that year before Al Goldman, 2023 or that
year, so 2022, yeah, he was crushed us.
Yeah, it was a it was an AL Goldmaster class in how to play
defense against a mobile quarterback.
And so, yeah, it, that's a great, great memory.
Like I said, I'm pretty sure theyear I took your mom the first
(06:55):
year we went to USC. That's a great game.
Last year being at USC was a great game.
Yeah, I've been just, I'm with you.
There's just a lot of great memories and and you know, the
green jerseys have come out a couple different times for USC,
most famously the Trojan Horse 77 Joe Montana green jerseys.
And you know, you, you sent somestuff to me this week.
(07:17):
You know, there's there Notre Dame Bookstore's dropping the
Shillelagh edition. Collection.
Collection, right? And everybody who saw Marcus
Freeman's press conference earlier this week was like,
where do you get that? Again, which I saw it and I
didn't know what the name of thecollection was.
And then I saw like the names they on phonetics and I was like
the shali collection. Well, like, I don't think that's
(07:38):
the time at the Purdue Chile Trophy.
Dropping that the, you know, rivalry week with USC and the
and the Shali trophy, right? I mean, like, come on, what are
we doing here? And that's another reason we
have to win this game, right? I'm going to bring out the fact
they're using the reflective Notre Dame gold now that I mean,
they've jumped on the Irish Shoe65 bandwagon.
(07:58):
They're following us. I love it.
Those who have won the contest and got their T-shirts in their
hands already, they know what we're talking about.
Those who have seen us out aboutrocking the gear know what we're
talking about. Soon, some other contest winners
are going to have their shirts in hand and they're going to
what we're talking about. And, you know, we'll do another
contest this week and give somebody else a chance when we
get to that later. But yeah, I mean, it's just
(08:19):
like, what do you think? I mean, we probably should ask
on Twitter. We should probably ask Notre
Dame uniform tracker Like we should get, we should have got
his input. I don't know if you've
communicated with him, but does he think there's a chance of an
alternate jersey based on this drop today?
Yeah, I mean, I think the job's been out for a few days.
I just happened to notice it today.
But it's I feel like this is something I do every year when
(08:40):
we're playing USA on. Like you think green jerseys,
you think green jerseys and it never ends up happening.
And I'm like, ah man. It would have been sweet though.
But yeah, it's just one of thosethings like got 2025 every year
that like it gets you can't in the social media era that it
would get out somehow, some way,right.
That's what I tell myself like someone it.
(09:02):
Yeah. Yeah, but but you know, I mean
the famous Lou Holtz green jersey game, they came out and
warmed up in the navies. The team had no idea they come
back. To live, I know, but they come
back about how many? Like how hard that was then,
right? It was easier.
It was easy. How hard it was though, Like it
(09:22):
wasn't easy to do that. It was easier.
But so to divert a second here, like Notre Dame is very
protective with media around thefootball program specifically.
And if someone inside the media sphere or someone inside the
equipment area had a clue about this and it got dropped, it
(09:44):
could be detrimental to them, right?
Like you could lose your job if you're a Notre Dame employee and
you drop said information. If you're a media guy, you could
lose your credentials if you drop said information.
So I think Notre Dame has a goodcontrol on sports information.
If they wanted to pull this off and keep it hush hush, I think
they could 'cause I think I I not that would be easy, but I
(10:06):
think they could. And I think the players, even if
the players knew, I think the players could do a good job.
I mean, I think they they could do a good job of keeping
internal. But will they?
I don't know. I don't know that the green
jersey 'cause we have a Irish wear green game.
That's kind of a regular thing. I don't know that dropping the
green jersey surprise is the same motivational benefit that
(10:27):
it was back in the day. Like I don't know that gives you
that that little extra bounce. But but from a fan perspective,
you know, they can show up in purple.
And I would be like, when did Northwestern get here?
But that's my team. I'm rooting for him, right?
So yeah, we like it. We love it.
The players. I don't think sneaking it in on
them would be a special to them,right, because we've got that
(10:47):
alternate jerseys we got we got all the cool.
We're we're like organ light with the mixed match of jerseys
we have and what we do now. And I like that.
I like, I think it's, you know, non traditional, but yet
traditional and I think I like it.
So I don't know, I don't think we'll get I'm with you.
I don't think we'll get a special jersey, but I.
Keep going back. No Shamrock series game this
year, no drops. So maybe just give me hope.
(11:07):
Yeah, I was convinced. It's going to be happening for
that Navy game, but there's beenno announcement for it.
So I'm just like, well, maybe we'll see.
Yeah, well, maybe they'll have the captains vote on it Friday
night. And if the captains decide to
wear an alternate jersey, we'll get a drop.
And if they decide not to, they'll, you know, they'll pack
it up. There was a whole rumor of the
black jersey last year that never happened.
Yeah. So maybe But.
All right, we'll probably get into this game, though.
(11:29):
Let's go like, let's get into the game.
We've got into the details, let's get into the game.
So I think the first thing we got to talk about is the
weather. Yeah.
Like right now, the forecast in South Bend is thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Yeah.
I mean, it's almost 80° like it's projected temps and then
yeah. Then it drops to like 60 and
(11:50):
when the Stormfront comes through, so there's a chance of
thunderstorms. And I and you and I had a little
bit of conversation back and forth this week earlier.
It's like, I think delaying of the game favors USC more than it
favors us. If we have to push back start
time or anything else just because they're on West Coast
time and we're on East Coast time.
(12:11):
And you know, if the game startsat 9:30 at night, it's a whole
lot later for us than it is for them because them it's 6:30 at
home. It's kind of a normal start, so.
Yeah, and how my head always works.
Like I remember I've been to, we've been to a few.
I mean, we've been to a lot of games, but I can only think of
three to four, like rain delays.And everyone I remember has made
a 330 gig. Yes, or like I have a delay some
(12:32):
point in the game. It usually doesn't happen before
the game. Like usually on kickoff time
doesn't get pushed back. Usually at some point first or
second, third quarter or something.
But it's like I can't remember atime where it's a 730 game and
then you're delayed. It's like holy cow, like this.
And then my mind goes from I mean, my career.
Like what I do is it's like how how late do they push this game
(12:54):
back? Like this game has to take place
Saturday night. Yeah, 'cause you think about it
from the business standpoint, 'cause you understand sports
program operations management, like you got to protect the
crowd. You've got rules and regulations
in the state, lightning strikes,like all these things.
But there's logistical problems there.
And what we learned from what welearned from the last rain delay
(13:16):
is Notre Dame shuts off the concession stands during a rain
delay. So like, they don't sell beer,
they don't sell food. Like I'm thinking from a dollars
and cents standpoint, that's kind of a missed opportunity.
You got that for another hour and a half to drink beer, but
it's probably a wise move. But yeah.
So do they push the game back? Do they try and delay it to the
next day? I and see they can't delay it to
the next day unless they get a USC agreement.
(13:38):
And and then you've got the NBC tie in where NBC don't want this
game to happen and NBC doesn't want to go to Sunday and become
an all of a sudden conflict with, you know, the Premier
League in the morning or the NFLin the afternoon.
So like, yeah, I mean, boy, could we?
Get the whole logistical mess weget from that standpoint
because, yeah, it's supposed, like it's literally supposed to
(14:00):
storm for most of the evening. Yeah, like in the two.
Like if this is a high school game, this game's moved to noon.
Oh yeah, you're. Moving it you're.
Moving it up, you're moving it up or whatever to, to avoid
weather And yeah, it it's not, it's not feasible.
Like I'm thinking, I looked, I think sweet tickets right now on
the secondary market are somewhere around $1200 a piece.
(14:23):
It might be a good investment tobe in that suite during a rain
delay. Have you some snackage and some
drinkage And you know. 14 hours maybe, yeah.
Because you might be there till Sunday, you might miss Mass on
Sunday if you're a good Catholic, because it may, it may
not get over in time. You may, you may have Mass in
the suite. So.
So yeah. I really hope this situation we
don't have to worry about, but it's just one that's definitely
(14:44):
been on my mind though. So they come like, I love this
game so much. And yeah, I just like, that's
just, I mean, we'll be there no matter what.
I mean, if it's Sunday, if it's Monday, I'll call off work.
I don't care. I'll do it.
All right, so here. Here's the situation.
You and I are in alignment. This game could get delayed.
It could get ugly. Yeah, Christy and Kay may have
(15:06):
to get a ride home from somebody.
It's going to be an expensive Uber.
I mean, I don't know what we're going to do.
I knew. I do know the helicopter that
provides security is from Fort Wayne.
Maybe I can make a call suite helicopters and get a discount
ride on the way back since they're in South Bend already.
But. It's an empty leg, right?
One way or yeah, they're Deadhead and they're going to go
back empty. Might as well put a couple
passengers on and make 50 bucks.But either way, I'm not leaving
(15:30):
this game just because there's arain delay.
So I, I, I'm going to talk to your mom, say hey, you, you may
need to drive separate if you don't want to be, you don't want
to be stuck in this mess becauseI'm, I'm here till 4:00 in the
morning. If I need to, I'll get me, I'll
get me an energy drink of some sort of overcapitation and and
I'll watch this game. And if and if it's anything
(15:50):
close to last year's game, like a back and forth high scoring
battle that Notre Dame gets a couple of pick sixes, I could
probably drive from here to the Sugar Bowl and not need any
sleep because I'll be so freaking hyped about winning
this game knowing knowing that could be the last USC Notre Dame
game for some extended period. And if it's you know, so that's
(16:11):
where I'm at. I'm not I'm not I'm in.
If I have to Uber and rent a carto drive home the next day,
whatever, I'm in. So anyway, just I'll put that
out there. Don't, don't.
Expect me to say. 4 hour rain delay, We're going home.
Yeah, so obviously it's the top 20 match up here this week at
Notre Dame. The average are 9 1/2 point
(16:32):
favorites, which just feels so big right now.
And it's so much higher after than I expected.
It just did. This rivalry, like you've seen
so many back and forth games, you've seen so many big moments,
but Notre Dame truly has dominated and I've seen since
77. If it's rained or snowed, nerd
Amos 10 and O against USC at home.
(16:52):
So there's a fun fact for you. I like that fun fact.
Yeah. This game, 60 1/2, is that over
under, which if you think it's going to be a wet, sloppy game,
I lean under. But yeah, I mean, we can kind of
talk about this from last year'sstandpoint.
USC learned did not have a lot of troubles defensively last
year and not besides USCUSC courts.
(17:15):
Jaden, like Maeva, is how you say it.
I think it's Maeva, yeah. He went off against that was
kind of his like second or thirdgame.
I remember correctly, I think itwas his first, wasn't it?
Didn't he? Wasn't he?
Didn't start that game, did he? I thought he started.
He did start because he threw like 300 yards.
OK, I thought he I thought therewas an injury and he came in.
(17:38):
Maybe he was injured the previous game.
I think it was benched, but yeah.
OK, benched or whatever, I thinkit was his first start, I think.
But yeah, I mean, maybe it was asecond start, but yeah, he
looked great at that game against what I think was a
really good in tune Notre Dame secondary.
We we had A and everybody can goback and say we're not the
(17:59):
secondary this year that we werelast year.
And that's been the case. And now we've gotten better the
last few weeks. Now we're going to find out is
it is it apparition? Is it because the level of the
opponent or are we for real? You know, and so and hey, you
look at what Arkansas did last week against Tennessee and you
got to say hey. If and old miss.
And Ole Miss said, like you, hey, Arkansas's a good team.
(18:23):
Like maybe not the best of the SEC, but that's a good team.
And we, we took care of business.
So I'm starting, I'm starting tobuy in this South Bend don't
break defense is, is it's getting back to where it should
be, where we expect it to be. It's going to become the
strength we hoped it would be. But yeah, I mean, and C JS been
a little off, not bad, but just a little off compared to where
he was earlier this year. So we're going to need a good
game from him. But yeah, I expect USC to be
(18:44):
able to put up points. I'm I'm kind of in that category
where I'm thinking big Big 12 style, right?
This this is Big 12 style. It's going to be a lot of
opportunities for offenses. And I, I, I'm thinking even with
the rain, I'm thinking it's going to have to rain pretty
hard to, to take away because the Notre Dame field drains
great. It's not, it's not going to be
(19:05):
standing water. It's not going to, you know,
force you to not be able to throw the ball unless it's just
raining hard. So I still think there's going
to be a lot of passing going on in this game.
And I think both quarterbacks are going to have, I think
exceptional games. It's, it's going to be
entertaining. I'm I I really feel that way.
And my guy Lemon for USC is a very good writer Seer.
(19:26):
He's a dude. He yeah, he he's legit.
So he's going to get touches. Yeah.
And now the interesting part is Rubio's out for the Irish this
week, which he's been one of ourbest defensive tackles, run
defense especially. But USC is without their two
starting running backs. They're their top 2 running
backs, went out for the year, went out for a few weeks so.
(19:50):
Yeah, and I that's. Going to be an interesting how
good. Is their third string guy
because it used to be back in the day like, you know, felt
like Pete Kirkwood threw a rock out the window of the head
coaching office and hit a freaking five star running back
on campus. I mean, just felt like they had
I. Was going to say I think last
week was his first start and I think he had 150 yards.
Yeah, so he's not a slouch and, you know, against.
(20:12):
Michigan. Michigan defense.
Yeah. And again, it was against
Michigan. It wasn't against, it wasn't
against, you know, some directional school for the blind
out of Utah, right? I mean, it was it was a solid
program. That's, you know, it was a
ranked, it was a ranked program.I mean, it was a 15th ranked
Michigan team. And he he put up yards.
He put up. So Notre Dame's going to have
their work out from him, even ifit is a rainy game now.
(20:34):
I like a rainy game if it forcesa lot of run.
I like what we can do there. I feel like we can run our our
run blocking has been a little SUS the last couple weeks, but
it's gotten itself going and youknow, we're going to have to be
complete, but I I think we can yeah, we can compete.
And I'm I'm feeling good about it in that respect.
So. All right, So what do you think
(20:55):
USC keys of the game here. What do you think?
What do you think USC is going to try and do?
Score. And so I think the big thing
with Lincoln Riley is he knows how to scheme up a offense
against our defense. He's going to like he knows we
like to play man. And last year we would not get
away from that man defense. And he he runs a lot of those
(21:16):
rubber outs, a lot of that stuffwhere he gets guys open and man
defense. So that US that's got to be
their game plan. Just if we're in man, find the
easy open receivers, find the guys get just get them beating
their one-on-one match up. If they do anything what they
did last year. I mean, they and they feel like
they have a better team than last year and they only lost us
(21:36):
by 14 points, right? Like I think it's just throw the
ball and then throw the ball. See what happens.
And that game was closer than the score.
I mean a couple of 6 late, I mean they were driving and on
the way to score and we just what, 99100 yard pick 6.
So even though it was a 14 pointgame, it was much closer than a
14 point game. Yeah.
And then I think if they're throwing all over us, that's
(21:58):
when they get the run game going.
And yeah, I mean, that's it's going to be a pass first team,
which you don't say that a wholelot against Notre Dame, but
yeah, this team's going to come out throwing the ball.
I mean, if it's pouring down rain, that'll be interesting
what happens there. But they got to they got to keep
Naiva protected. They they don't turn the ball
(22:20):
over a whole lot. He's got a good completion
percentage. I mean, yeah, don't turn the
ball over, don't do anything uncharacteristic.
And yeah, that's their offense in my opinion.
You got anything? Oh, no, I think that's it.
I think you summed it up pretty well.
And I and I think you got to throw the other thing out there.
I mean, Malachi Fields is our isour wide receiver 1.
And I think if he was on that USC team, he's probably wide
(22:42):
receiver three. I mean, like, yeah, like so
there's clearly a separation andtalent of receiver at USC to
Notre Dame. You know, I, I, so I think
that's going to be a challenge. They're going to throw the ball.
It's going to be a challenge forour secondary.
Do we play man? Do we play zone?
Their quarterback can be mobile if need be.
(23:02):
He's not going to take off first.
He's not going to run first though second, but he can be
mobile. So the run game is going to be
there. It's going to, they're going to
be balanced. They're going to be a challenge
and it's, it's going to be how good are we?
Because they may offensively be one of the top, if not the top,
they may be one of the top teamswe face offensively this year
(23:24):
for sure. I mean, I, I think Miami was
really good. I think A&M was good.
I think Arkansas was good. But I, I don't know if I'd put
them ahead of Miami, but I'd probably put them ahead of A&M.
And if I'm not putting them ahead of A&M, it's going to be
right there behind it. If I was ranking our, I'd say
Miami, maybe USCA and M and thenArkansas was how I'd rank the
(23:45):
offenses we face. So it's going to be a challenge
and. I just want to like, yeah, this
USCTNV at the other block. Here's how many passes he's
thrown in the last few games. He's thrown 32 against Michigan,
43 against Illinois, 26 against Michigan State.
Like there's Throw in the Rock. Yeah, but they have struggled
(24:05):
when they've had to travel east.I don't, I don't know why that
is. They they're great at home and
they've struggled and, and, you know, we've heard Lincoln Riley
complain about it and, you know,the travel and it's like, well,
you're the Big 10. Like 80% of the schools are east
of the Mississippi. What did you expect?
Now, that's a whole other conversation we can have later
because is Lincoln Riley happy when he left to go to the USC?
(24:31):
Did he know they were going to be going to the Big 10 shortly
after or was that a surprise to him?
And I and I've heard both stories.
And if it was a surprise to him and this coaching carousel, it's
going to happen at the end of the season starts to take off.
He's got to be a name people aretalking about, right?
There's got to be a place for him to go if he wants to go
someplace else. I don't see him going to the
SEC. But boy, could he could he look
(24:55):
at that Penn State job and get stupid money thrown at him and
say, I've got a lot of resourcesthere.
But I don't have to deal with the the complexity of the travel
nearly as much because the trip to UCLA and the trip to USC is
only one big trip a year. Not everything else is more
regional, if you will. We got. 5 big trips a year.
Yeah, right. So I mean, that could be
(25:15):
interesting now if he wins this game and he's got himself in
playoff contention, you know, that changes his his outlook on
how things are USC, because he'sgot a good team, he's building
momentum. He's getting there.
It's just not gone as fast as hewould like.
But yeah, so I think that'll be interesting.
Now if he loses this game and they kind of fall out of that
playoff contention, you know, because the the Big 10 is not
(25:36):
going to favor them in that respect.
Does he say, hey, I'm open someone want to throw a stupid
amount of money at me, I'll I'llBill.
It comes down to what his buyoutis at USC.
And I don't know what that lookslike.
So I can't imagine someone leaving USC and going somewhere
else in the Big 10. I I at least I can't see Lincoln
Riley doing that, but I think it's a possibility.
(25:58):
I can't see him going to the SECif a job opens up there, but you
never know. I think it's it'll be an
interesting conversation for January when the coaching
carousel opens up where he's where he falls.
So Notre Dame defensively, I mean, we got to do what we do
well. We got to find a way to get
pressure on the quarterback if we can, if we can run, run, stop
(26:22):
and get pressure on the quarterback, I think our
secondary will be all right. If we don't get pressure on the
quarterback, our secondary is going to have a long day ahead
of them. You seen any differently?
No got to get got to get pressure, got to force
turnovers. That's keep forcing turnovers,
keep getting pressure. That happens.
(26:42):
Terry could be a very great day in South but.
Yeah, so then you go go flip theother side of the ball, Notre
Dame offense. What do you think?
Not turn the ball over. I know that's the simplest thing
to say, but we've had turnovers these past couple weeks that
haven't cost us, but which is one of those things like I can't
when we get to this game, you can't have any keep the ball.
(27:05):
And then my biggest thing is short yardage.
Got it. Got to convert. 3rd and short.
Short, Yeah, yeah, cannot get stopped on you can't get the
second and two and then go 3 like not get a first down right,
you got to go get. Those first down and you got to
score in the red zone. Yes, even if you take a field.
Goal. You got to score in the red
(27:25):
zone. Yeah, can't have empty trips,
which you'll be interesting because Marcus Freeman's been
very aggressive early in the game, which I think is him
tracting the defense more than anything going forward on 4th
down down there. And it hasn't turned out because
we haven't been successful in those short yardage situations.
But I it's so he's going to continue to do it, I think.
(27:46):
Yeah, but I think the margin of error against USC is then
different than that of the margin error against Boise,
right. I like there there's a NC State
like you can the margin of errorto not get a score in the red
zone is greater than it is against USC that could come back
and haunt you with USCI mean. So yeah, I think it's a
(28:07):
different, I think it's a he's been aggressive, but I think
he's got to take a slightly different approach to this game.
And it'll be a situation where we're going to have a special
teams play. We got to execute it.
It's going to be a momentum play, a fake pot, fake field
goal, something that yeah. I want to see that Tyler Buckner
fake punt, hurry up, no huddle and see where that ball goes on
(28:30):
the next play, whether it's Vasan, whether it's Randall,
whether it's Tyler Buckner just running around the end.
Like I want to see what that looks like, right?
I want to know what that next play call looks like.
I I'm dying to find that out. But yeah, I think from the Notre
Dame side, what I'm hoping to see offensively is balance ball
protection. And I'm hoping to not see him
(28:51):
trying to force, or at least I don't want to feel like they're
trying to force the J Love highlights.
I want to just see it be more natural and less forced because
it's like he it just seems when it becomes more natural in the
play call and it's just, you know, we're just going to call
the plays and naturally he's going to do great things as
opposed to we're going to try and highlight him and he's going
to be amped up and try and make something.
So I want to see us like I want to see him get the ball a lot,
(29:15):
but I want to see it being the flow of the game and be part of
the game plan, but not a highlight package.
I just want to see us protect the ball.
And I want I want to see, you know, I want to see a complete
game from the offense, which I don't feel like we've seen a
complete game from the offense the last couple.
I want to see a complete game from the offense.
That's what I want to see. And I think, you know,
defensively they got a couple ofgood defensive lineman at USC.
(29:37):
Their secondary's OK, but not not world beating.
So I mean, yeah, I, I, I think we can, if we can play balance,
we can score. So what's Vegas say about the
score? Yeah, 60 1/2's the line and then
9 1/2 point favourites for the Irish.
So yeah, it's 4031. That would be 70, yeah.
(30:04):
I know you say yeah, you're little.
High 3526 or something like that.
Something something around there.
Yeah, 35. Yeah. 26 so.
Yeah, what are you? What are you?
I take the over, I'll tell you that right now, even even in
you're. Taking the over.
Even in the weather I'm taking the over, I'm feeling like this
(30:25):
game is going to be close and I,I think 3 points.
I, I really think it's three points.
I expect it to be kind of a backand forth battle.
And I don't think it's going to be settled until after the 2
minute warning or the two-minutetimeout in the fourth quarter.
And now the question is, is that2 minute timeout going to happen
(30:48):
before or after midnight? Because that's what I really,
that's what I'm really thinking.The variation is there.
So I'm leaning 4241. Wow.
I, I think it's going to, I think it's going to be a barn
burner of a game. I think it's going to be, it's
going to, I, I think it's going to be just, it's going to be an
(31:09):
epic game of epic proportions. And maybe it's because I've seen
Bush push highlights and all these other highlights this week
on social. And I, I expect it to be high
scoring. I expect to be back and forth.
I expect it to be a game. If we don't play this game for
five or ten years, it's going tobe a game that we're going to
talk about and be in our memory,good, bad or indifferent.
It's going to be in our memory for, for various reasons.
And I think the final outcome isgoing to be part of it, how it
(31:31):
finished. And, you know, I'd love nothing
more than have, you know, Jeremiah Love score with a
minute 30 on the clock because CJ Carr pushed him over the
freaking goal line, you know, because that's legal now.
I'd love Loving more than, yeah,maybe a little Tyler Buckner
push in there. I don't know.
But I mean, I would love to see it be an epic game as long as
(31:52):
the Irish win. And I think it will be.
So what's your thoughts? I am on the opposite side of
you. I am a much lower score.
I think it's one of those thingswhere everyone's coming in and
saying it's going to be these high-powered offenses and it's
going to we're going to they're still going to score some points
like these defenses are going toshut the team down.
But I think there's going to be some stalls in the game where
(32:13):
it's defensive back and forth, pop, pop, pop.
But I'm going to go 3124 Irish. OK.
I'm going to take the under. It's I don't think it's very low
scoring, but compared to your 40. 4142. 41 yeah, I'm going to
say there's going to be a few balls in the game where it's a
defense or battling. Couple turnovers for both teams
(32:34):
is really what I'm thinking. CJ Carr, that's going to be the
question. So many people are so high on
him and I'm one of them. But this is one of those
moments. It's a rivalry game.
This is where you're remembered,right?
No one's here to remember YouTube for 250 yards against NC
State last week. They're gonna remember what you
did against USC. This is where you won.
You become a legend in this game, right?
(32:55):
This is where you become Fourth War.
Exactly. So this is definitely a big one.
I'm so I'm leaning that under, but I almost wanted to go 31
zero just like at the Michigan last time, but I didn't do it
so. That's with your heart, not with
your head. And you never go to Vegas.
You never go to Vegas betting your heart because you'll lose
every time. That's the and you know, Vegas
(33:18):
knows ball. I don't care what anybody says.
Vegas knows ball. Yeah, I think that 9.9 and a
half point spread just I, I they're begging me to put money
on USC at that point. Like how do you not take it in
the points I mean? Which when they do that, it
feels like then they're like when they're begging some like
you put money on USC, the nerdy will win back 35 and everyone's
like, what the. Heck yeah.
(33:39):
Like, yeah, I feel like it's a soccer spat, right?
Like how can USC not be within 9points?
And I'm like, wait a minute, whydo they think they won't?
Like, yeah, I just, it feels like free money to take USC in
the points, even if they lose, take USC in the points.
But yeah, I'm, I'm with you. What does, what does Vegas know?
They know something. I don't know what it is so.
(34:00):
They must know we're coming out in alternate jerseys around here
and that. That's right.
We're going to come out in some neon highlighter green with gold
lights, you know, and some special shoes or something.
I, I don't know, I mean, we're going to wear, we're going to
wear the all black around the bend shirts like it's going to
save the bend on it, like. All right, well, let's get into
(34:22):
this. If you'd like to win two tickets
to the Notre Dame Syracuse, If you'd like to be entered to win
those two tickets to the Notre Dame Syracuse game, we've got a
contest for you this week and you'll automatically win an
Irish 365 T-shirt. I think it's something that we
have talked about so much in this podcast.
Last year, USC torched the Irishin the passing game.
Yes. I think the big question is
(34:43):
what's USC going to do this week?
And obviously the rain's going to play a factor.
So we're going to go how many passing yards do the USC Trojans
have? I guess their day Friday
nighters this year Closest we'llget entered to win those two
tickets and a notch 65 T-shirt. You get AT shirt for sure, and a
chance to win those Syracuse tickets.
(35:03):
So yeah, good time to be had with the T-shirt envy of the
neighborhood. Better time to be had taking
your special someone to a Notre Dame game at the end of the
season. Yep, all right.
Exactly. So yeah, I'm excited about this
right way. I'm excited about this game.
I'm not excited about the weather potential.
But, you know, these things, these things happen and it it
(35:24):
just going to be part of the folklore and we're going to talk
about it and, you know, years tocome.
Midwest Fall. Right, Yeah, I mean, it'll,
it'll give us something to say. I'll remember that time and how
awesome that was. And yeah, it's, it's going to be
a good game. It's always a good game.
So it's, it's USC week. It's one of my favorite, like
you said, one of my favorite rivalries.
I know it's one of your favoriterivalries.
It's, it's just so much on the line here.
(35:46):
This is our playoff game. And if we win this game, we're
in the, we're in the driver's seat control of our destiny to
get into the playoffs. I I think winning this game sets
us up pretty nicely and losing this game, I think the it's
going to take a lot of help for us to find our way into the
playoffs. So I think this this is, you
(36:07):
know, we're in a playoff mode every week.
We can't lose another game and this is probably our toughest
challenge between now and the playoff.
I know there's a chance that Navy team could be ranked coming
in, but if we lose this game, that won't help us enough.
I mean, we'll get we'll get to the pop carts bowl and I'm a I'm
a strawberry, no frosting kind of guy and not a lot of people
like that. So what's your Pop Art flavor?
(36:29):
Cinnamon with icing. You're cinnamon with icing.
So let's hope that let's hope this is the only talk about the
Pop Tarts bowl we have this entire season because I don't
want to talk about the Pop Tartsbowl and I don't want to talk
coolest mascot and all of all the bowl, but I don't want to
see not in person. So all right, anything else you
want to cover on this spot? Not set.
(36:51):
That's all we got to say. Have you have we put up the Sam
Hartman victory down? It's it's all right, So check it
out on X. It's one of my favorite photos
is Sam Hartman enjoying the heckout of the USC victory,
especially that night. We talked about it.
It was a big win. No one expected you know, us to
to do what we did. Kayla Williams was coming in
(37:13):
just storm the field and just itwas it was just a celebration
party after that game on the field with the players.
It was it was just one of those makes you feel good to support
the team things and so that thatphoto's pretty cool.
All right, Well, I think we're running out of time on this pod.
So apologize to coach Freeman. We couldn't get you on, but keep
trying. We promise we'll get you on one
(37:34):
of these days. Yep, one of these days, right?
Hey so go Irish beat USC.
It's the moment you didn't know you're waiting for.
He is Carter, he's Chad, and this is the.
Irish 365 Podcast Welcome into the Irish 365 Podcast Rivalry
Week edition. And it's not just any rivalry,
it's the jewel to Lailey rivalryit is.
It's the Lailey. USC Week.
(00:23):
Finally, right. Yes, and I you know, this is we
can talk about this 150 different ways or spent so much
talk about this game in the offseason.
This is one of those games I think Josh paid I saw post
something on this like this is agame that he thinks about
outside, you know, an October game that's not always like
(00:46):
playoff implications involved, but a game that people pay
attention. This is a rivalry that's bigger
than just these two schools. You can talk about Michigan,
Ohio State rivalry. It is big, but I don't think
people in Southern California care about Michigan, Ohio State,
the same way people in the Midwest care about it, right?
This is a rivalry that may be outside of some people in New
York. And I'm not even sure I would
(01:07):
say that this is a rivalry a lotof people are aware of and have
knowledge of. And I and I think that's what
makes you know, these these hugerivalries.
I mean, awesome. And this, this is a long term
rivalry goes back to the new rocky days.
It's like so much. And then, of course, all summer
long, it's been this back and forth between the two schools.
Is it going to continue? Is it not going to continue?
(01:29):
They both say they want to continue, but USC is a little
shady about it. And it all depends on what the
16 team playoff looks like. Is a Big 10 going to be
guaranteed four games in? They've made complaints about
travel, you know, all these other things Notre Dame has said
well. Maybe it's going to be a neutral
site. Maybe it's going to be on
Netflix. I'm now seeing.
Yeah, and Notre Dame anywhere, anytime, suit up, strap in,
(01:52):
let's go, let's play ball. But, you know, they're trying to
say, well, we got an offer to Notre Dame, they just signed it,
it'll continue. Well, OK, what does that offer
look like? Is Notre Dame being whiny?
I think one of the interesting things was the Marcus Freeman
press conference. You know, there was this whole
conversation about playing in the snow and Marcus Freeman's
like, hey, if kids don't want tocome to the South Bend because
(02:12):
they have to play in the snow, they're not the type of
competitors we're looking for. And I thought that's the perfect
response. I think I heard Charlie Weiss
use the. Listen, if you want to play on
Sundays, you better learn to play in the snow 'cause that's
what we do in New England when Iwas there.
I mean, you know, there's, there's plenty of ways coaches
can counter that argument. Yeah, sure.
It's great to have four years orthree years at USC where it's,
(02:33):
you know, warm weather year round, never rains in Southern
California. But, but it's also good for the
coaches to be able to counter that with some great arguments.
And I think Marcus Freeman's gota new, new spin.
I hadn't heard before, but I love the spin on it.
So yeah. Anyway, USC rivalry, What more
do we need to say, right? I mean this, yeah, you said it's
(02:55):
a game that it's one of my favorite sporting events of the
year. Like it's just such history.
I mean, it hasn't been very likeit would be very early part of
my life we got dominating this and luckily here recently we've
been dominating this rivalry. So yeah, I mean, it's just a
game that if you haven't ever been to like, I hope you get the
(03:16):
chance to go because it is incredible.
Like like even the USC band walking through Norton campus,
like it it's just it's just one of those things.
And yeah, we got the pleasure last year of going out to
Southern California and that wasjust incredible.
And like, I think I've looked back a lot those pictures 1000
times like that was just an awesome.
Yeah. I mean, yeah, again, this is
(03:40):
this is like I again, one of thebig rivalries in your lifetime.
And, you know, you, you look at it and like the Bush Bush, you
know, it's so iconic. It's just so many great memories
of USC, Notre Dame and they, andthey go back like, you know,
when I was a kid, before I was even a conscious of Notre Dame,
like, you know, what it was and the Joe Montana green jersey
game and some of those things. And, and yeah, I, I love this
(04:02):
rivalry. I respect the heck out of USC.
I've got friends that attended USC and I, I like those people a
lot. We just always disagree on the
outcome of this game. But, but I, it's a rivalry where
I, I respect, but I want to win,right?
It's, it's just one of those, tome, it's a great rivalry.
And, and you're right, I mean, the, the USC tradition, the
(04:23):
band, you know, and there's a lot of core values that are very
similar between these two schools, even though there's
some lifestyle differences, you know, is, is the Southern
California lifestyle versus the Midwest lifestyle.
There's, you know, there's some changes there, but it, it, it
doesn't change the fact that this is just a great rivalry.
It's high level football, 2 historic programs.
(04:43):
It's fun to watch. It's always a good game.
You know, I mean, we, yeah. And last year, getting a chance
to go out and see USC, it's, it's been on my bucket list for,
gosh, I don't know, 30-40 years.And, and to me, it was just
awesome that we got the entire crew out there to do take part
of that game. We got to go to the USC alumni
tailgate, which was kind of an interesting perspective to be
(05:04):
the, the green dots in that, in that sea of maroon.
And, you know, but it was just, yeah, it just was a perfect,
perfect opportunity to go see our rival play, you know, and,
and just be on their campus and then see Notre Dame come away
with a victory. Just like love it.
And I love and I and there's so many great memories of USC,
(05:24):
Notre Dame in my in my lifetime.And I know, you know, I was
thinking that maybe one of the first games I took Christie to
might have been Notre Dame, USC,like I.
Think you I remember you saying that.
I'm pretty sure like that's the first game I ever took her to.
So it was like, you know, it's got a little special place in my
(05:44):
heart for a lot of different reasons and that's just another
one. So anyway, yeah, what's your
favorite, all time favorite USC memory here?
Right? What do you got?
Obviously last year was very special for so many reasons, but
one of my memories I remember forever is when, what was it 3
years ago? I said it'd be 20, 2022-2023.
(06:10):
We stormed the field on him. We just crushed Caleb Williams.
So many interceptions all a couple years.
I guess the year before I stormed the field for Clemson
and you didn't do it. And then obviously for USC, all
five of us are on the field. So that was awesome.
And yeah, USC was should have beat us that day, but we just
our defense played the lights out.
Sam Hartman did enough and we. Ruined Caleb's Heisman hopes
(06:34):
that day, which was awesome because he played so great
against us the year before and Al Goldman.
Yeah, he crushed us that year before Al Goldman, 2023 or that
year, so 2022, yeah, he was crushed us.
Yeah, it was a it was an AL Goldmaster class in how to play
defense against a mobile quarterback.
And so, yeah, it, that's a great, great memory.
Like I said, I'm pretty sure theyear I took your mom the first
(06:55):
year we went to USC. That's a great game.
Last year being at USC was a great game.
Yeah, I've been just, I'm with you.
There's just a lot of great memories and and you know, the
green jerseys have come out a couple different times for USC,
most famously the Trojan Horse 77 Joe Montana green jerseys.
And you know, you, you sent somestuff to me this week.
(07:17):
You know, there's there Notre Dame Bookstore's dropping the
Shillelagh edition. Collection.
Collection, right? And everybody who saw Marcus
Freeman's press conference earlier this week was like,
where do you get that? Again, which I saw it and I
didn't know what the name of thecollection was.
And then I saw like the names they on phonetics and I was like
the shali collection. Well, like, I don't think that's
(07:38):
the time at the Purdue Chile Trophy.
Dropping that the, you know, rivalry week with USC and the
and the Shali trophy, right? I mean, like, come on, what are
we doing here? And that's another reason we
have to win this game, right? I'm going to bring out the fact
they're using the reflective Notre Dame gold now that I mean,
they've jumped on the Irish Shoe65 bandwagon.
(07:58):
They're following us. I love it.
Those who have won the contest and got their T-shirts in their
hands already, they know what we're talking about.
Those who have seen us out aboutrocking the gear know what we're
talking about. Soon, some other contest winners
are going to have their shirts in hand and they're going to
what we're talking about. And, you know, we'll do another
contest this week and give somebody else a chance when we
get to that later. But yeah, I mean, it's just
(08:19):
like, what do you think? I mean, we probably should ask
on Twitter. We should probably ask Notre
Dame uniform tracker Like we should get, we should have got
his input. I don't know if you've
communicated with him, but does he think there's a chance of an
alternate jersey based on this drop today?
Yeah, I mean, I think the job's been out for a few days.
I just happened to notice it today.
But it's I feel like this is something I do every year when
(08:40):
we're playing USA on. Like you think green jerseys,
you think green jerseys and it never ends up happening.
And I'm like, ah man. It would have been sweet though.
But yeah, it's just one of thosethings like got 2025 every year
that like it gets you can't in the social media era that it
would get out somehow, some way,right.
That's what I tell myself like someone it.
(09:02):
Yeah. Yeah, but but you know, I mean
the famous Lou Holtz green jersey game, they came out and
warmed up in the navies. The team had no idea they come
back. To live, I know, but they come
back about how many? Like how hard that was then,
right? It was easier.
It was easy. How hard it was though, Like it
(09:22):
wasn't easy to do that. It was easier.
But so to divert a second here, like Notre Dame is very
protective with media around thefootball program specifically.
And if someone inside the media sphere or someone inside the
equipment area had a clue about this and it got dropped, it
(09:44):
could be detrimental to them, right?
Like you could lose your job if you're a Notre Dame employee and
you drop said information. If you're a media guy, you could
lose your credentials if you drop said information.
So I think Notre Dame has a goodcontrol on sports information.
If they wanted to pull this off and keep it hush hush, I think
they could 'cause I think I I not that would be easy, but I
(10:06):
think they could. And I think the players, even if
the players knew, I think the players could do a good job.
I mean, I think they they could do a good job of keeping
internal. But will they?
I don't know. I don't know that the green
jersey 'cause we have a Irish wear green game.
That's kind of a regular thing. I don't know that dropping the
green jersey surprise is the same motivational benefit that
(10:27):
it was back in the day. Like I don't know that gives you
that that little extra bounce. But but from a fan perspective,
you know, they can show up in purple.
And I would be like, when did Northwestern get here?
But that's my team. I'm rooting for him, right?
So yeah, we like it. We love it.
The players. I don't think sneaking it in on
them would be a special to them,right, because we've got that
(10:47):
alternate jerseys we got we got all the cool.
We're we're like organ light with the mixed match of jerseys
we have and what we do now. And I like that.
I like, I think it's, you know, non traditional, but yet
traditional and I think I like it.
So I don't know, I don't think we'll get I'm with you.
I don't think we'll get a special jersey, but I.
Keep going back. No Shamrock series game this
year, no drops. So maybe just give me hope.
(11:07):
Yeah, I was convinced. It's going to be happening for
that Navy game, but there's beenno announcement for it.
So I'm just like, well, maybe we'll see.
Yeah, well, maybe they'll have the captains vote on it Friday
night. And if the captains decide to
wear an alternate jersey, we'll get a drop.
And if they decide not to, they'll, you know, they'll pack
it up. There was a whole rumor of the
black jersey last year that never happened.
Yeah. So maybe But.
All right, we'll probably get into this game, though.
(11:29):
Let's go like, let's get into the game.
We've got into the details, let's get into the game.
So I think the first thing we got to talk about is the
weather. Yeah.
Like right now, the forecast in South Bend is thunderstorms in
the afternoon. Yeah.
I mean, it's almost 80° like it's projected temps and then
yeah. Then it drops to like 60 and
(11:50):
when the Stormfront comes through, so there's a chance of
thunderstorms. And I and you and I had a little
bit of conversation back and forth this week earlier.
It's like, I think delaying of the game favors USC more than it
favors us. If we have to push back start
time or anything else just because they're on West Coast
time and we're on East Coast time.
(12:11):
And you know, if the game startsat 9:30 at night, it's a whole
lot later for us than it is for them because them it's 6:30 at
home. It's kind of a normal start, so.
Yeah, and how my head always works.
Like I remember I've been to, we've been to a few.
I mean, we've been to a lot of games, but I can only think of
three to four, like rain delays.And everyone I remember has made
a 330 gig. Yes, or like I have a delay some
(12:32):
point in the game. It usually doesn't happen before
the game. Like usually on kickoff time
doesn't get pushed back. Usually at some point first or
second, third quarter or something.
But it's like I can't remember atime where it's a 730 game and
then you're delayed. It's like holy cow, like this.
And then my mind goes from I mean, my career.
Like what I do is it's like how how late do they push this game
(12:54):
back? Like this game has to take place
Saturday night. Yeah, 'cause you think about it
from the business standpoint, 'cause you understand sports
program operations management, like you got to protect the
crowd. You've got rules and regulations
in the state, lightning strikes,like all these things.
But there's logistical problems there.
And what we learned from what welearned from the last rain delay
(13:16):
is Notre Dame shuts off the concession stands during a rain
delay. So like, they don't sell beer,
they don't sell food. Like I'm thinking from a dollars
and cents standpoint, that's kind of a missed opportunity.
You got that for another hour and a half to drink beer, but
it's probably a wise move. But yeah.
So do they push the game back? Do they try and delay it to the
next day? I and see they can't delay it to
the next day unless they get a USC agreement.
(13:38):
And and then you've got the NBC tie in where NBC don't want this
game to happen and NBC doesn't want to go to Sunday and become
an all of a sudden conflict with, you know, the Premier
League in the morning or the NFLin the afternoon.
So like, yeah, I mean, boy, could we?
Get the whole logistical mess weget from that standpoint
because, yeah, it's supposed, like it's literally supposed to
(14:00):
storm for most of the evening. Yeah, like in the two.
Like if this is a high school game, this game's moved to noon.
Oh yeah, you're. Moving it you're.
Moving it up, you're moving it up or whatever to, to avoid
weather And yeah, it it's not, it's not feasible.
Like I'm thinking, I looked, I think sweet tickets right now on
the secondary market are somewhere around $1200 a piece.
(14:23):
It might be a good investment tobe in that suite during a rain
delay. Have you some snackage and some
drinkage And you know. 14 hours maybe, yeah.
Because you might be there till Sunday, you might miss Mass on
Sunday if you're a good Catholic, because it may, it may
not get over in time. You may, you may have Mass in
the suite. So.
So yeah. I really hope this situation we
don't have to worry about, but it's just one that's definitely
(14:44):
been on my mind though. So they come like, I love this
game so much. And yeah, I just like, that's
just, I mean, we'll be there no matter what.
I mean, if it's Sunday, if it's Monday, I'll call off work.
I don't care. I'll do it.
All right, so here. Here's the situation.
You and I are in alignment. This game could get delayed.
It could get ugly. Yeah, Christy and Kay may have
(15:06):
to get a ride home from somebody.
It's going to be an expensive Uber.
I mean, I don't know what we're going to do.
I knew. I do know the helicopter that
provides security is from Fort Wayne.
Maybe I can make a call suite helicopters and get a discount
ride on the way back since they're in South Bend already.
But. It's an empty leg, right?
One way or yeah, they're Deadhead and they're going to go
back empty. Might as well put a couple
passengers on and make 50 bucks.But either way, I'm not leaving
(15:30):
this game just because there's arain delay.
So I, I, I'm going to talk to your mom, say hey, you, you may
need to drive separate if you don't want to be, you don't want
to be stuck in this mess becauseI'm, I'm here till 4:00 in the
morning. If I need to, I'll get me, I'll
get me an energy drink of some sort of overcapitation and and
I'll watch this game. And if and if it's anything
(15:50):
close to last year's game, like a back and forth high scoring
battle that Notre Dame gets a couple of pick sixes, I could
probably drive from here to the Sugar Bowl and not need any
sleep because I'll be so freaking hyped about winning
this game knowing knowing that could be the last USC Notre Dame
game for some extended period. And if it's you know, so that's
(16:11):
where I'm at. I'm not I'm not I'm in.
If I have to Uber and rent a carto drive home the next day,
whatever, I'm in. So anyway, just I'll put that
out there. Don't, don't.
Expect me to say. 4 hour rain delay, We're going home.
Yeah, so obviously it's the top 20 match up here this week at
Notre Dame. The average are 9 1/2 point
(16:32):
favorites, which just feels so big right now.
And it's so much higher after than I expected.
It just did. This rivalry, like you've seen
so many back and forth games, you've seen so many big moments,
but Notre Dame truly has dominated and I've seen since
77. If it's rained or snowed, nerd
Amos 10 and O against USC at home.
(16:52):
So there's a fun fact for you. I like that fun fact.
Yeah. This game, 60 1/2, is that over
under, which if you think it's going to be a wet, sloppy game,
I lean under. But yeah, I mean, we can kind of
talk about this from last year'sstandpoint.
USC learned did not have a lot of troubles defensively last
year and not besides USCUSC courts.
(17:15):
Jaden, like Maeva, is how you say it.
I think it's Maeva, yeah. He went off against that was
kind of his like second or thirdgame.
I remember correctly, I think itwas his first, wasn't it?
Didn't he? Wasn't he?
Didn't start that game, did he? I thought he started.
He did start because he threw like 300 yards.
OK, I thought he I thought therewas an injury and he came in.
(17:38):
Maybe he was injured the previous game.
I think it was benched, but yeah.
OK, benched or whatever, I thinkit was his first start, I think.
But yeah, I mean, maybe it was asecond start, but yeah, he
looked great at that game against what I think was a
really good in tune Notre Dame secondary.
We we had A and everybody can goback and say we're not the
(17:59):
secondary this year that we werelast year.
And that's been the case. And now we've gotten better the
last few weeks. Now we're going to find out is
it is it apparition? Is it because the level of the
opponent or are we for real? You know, and so and hey, you
look at what Arkansas did last week against Tennessee and you
got to say hey. If and old miss.
And Ole Miss said, like you, hey, Arkansas's a good team.
(18:23):
Like maybe not the best of the SEC, but that's a good team.
And we, we took care of business.
So I'm starting, I'm starting tobuy in this South Bend don't
break defense is, is it's getting back to where it should
be, where we expect it to be. It's going to become the
strength we hoped it would be. But yeah, I mean, and C JS been
a little off, not bad, but just a little off compared to where
he was earlier this year. So we're going to need a good
game from him. But yeah, I expect USC to be
(18:44):
able to put up points. I'm I'm kind of in that category
where I'm thinking big Big 12 style, right?
This this is Big 12 style. It's going to be a lot of
opportunities for offenses. And I, I, I'm thinking even with
the rain, I'm thinking it's going to have to rain pretty
hard to, to take away because the Notre Dame field drains
great. It's not, it's not going to be
(19:05):
standing water. It's not going to, you know,
force you to not be able to throw the ball unless it's just
raining hard. So I still think there's going
to be a lot of passing going on in this game.
And I think both quarterbacks are going to have, I think
exceptional games. It's, it's going to be
entertaining. I'm I I really feel that way.
And my guy Lemon for USC is a very good writer Seer.
(19:26):
He's a dude. He yeah, he he's legit.
So he's going to get touches. Yeah.
And now the interesting part is Rubio's out for the Irish this
week, which he's been one of ourbest defensive tackles, run
defense especially. But USC is without their two
starting running backs. They're their top 2 running
backs, went out for the year, went out for a few weeks so.
(19:50):
Yeah, and I that's. Going to be an interesting how
good. Is their third string guy
because it used to be back in the day like, you know, felt
like Pete Kirkwood threw a rock out the window of the head
coaching office and hit a freaking five star running back
on campus. I mean, just felt like they had
I. Was going to say I think last
week was his first start and I think he had 150 yards.
Yeah, so he's not a slouch and, you know, against.
(20:12):
Michigan. Michigan defense.
Yeah. And again, it was against
Michigan. It wasn't against, it wasn't
against, you know, some directional school for the blind
out of Utah, right? I mean, it was it was a solid
program. That's, you know, it was a
ranked, it was a ranked program.I mean, it was a 15th ranked
Michigan team. And he he put up yards.
He put up. So Notre Dame's going to have
their work out from him, even ifit is a rainy game now.
(20:34):
I like a rainy game if it forcesa lot of run.
I like what we can do there. I feel like we can run our our
run blocking has been a little SUS the last couple weeks, but
it's gotten itself going and youknow, we're going to have to be
complete, but I I think we can yeah, we can compete.
And I'm I'm feeling good about it in that respect.
So. All right, So what do you think
(20:55):
USC keys of the game here. What do you think?
What do you think USC is going to try and do?
Score. And so I think the big thing
with Lincoln Riley is he knows how to scheme up a offense
against our defense. He's going to like he knows we
like to play man. And last year we would not get
away from that man defense. And he he runs a lot of those
(21:16):
rubber outs, a lot of that stuffwhere he gets guys open and man
defense. So that US that's got to be
their game plan. Just if we're in man, find the
easy open receivers, find the guys get just get them beating
their one-on-one match up. If they do anything what they
did last year. I mean, they and they feel like
they have a better team than last year and they only lost us
(21:36):
by 14 points, right? Like I think it's just throw the
ball and then throw the ball. See what happens.
And that game was closer than the score.
I mean a couple of 6 late, I mean they were driving and on
the way to score and we just what, 99100 yard pick 6.
So even though it was a 14 pointgame, it was much closer than a
14 point game. Yeah.
And then I think if they're throwing all over us, that's
(21:58):
when they get the run game going.
And yeah, I mean, that's it's going to be a pass first team,
which you don't say that a wholelot against Notre Dame, but
yeah, this team's going to come out throwing the ball.
I mean, if it's pouring down rain, that'll be interesting
what happens there. But they got to they got to keep
Naiva protected. They they don't turn the ball
(22:20):
over a whole lot. He's got a good completion
percentage. I mean, yeah, don't turn the
ball over, don't do anything uncharacteristic.
And yeah, that's their offense in my opinion.
You got anything? Oh, no, I think that's it.
I think you summed it up pretty well.
And I and I think you got to throw the other thing out there.
I mean, Malachi Fields is our isour wide receiver 1.
And I think if he was on that USC team, he's probably wide
(22:42):
receiver three. I mean, like, yeah, like so
there's clearly a separation andtalent of receiver at USC to
Notre Dame. You know, I, I, so I think
that's going to be a challenge. They're going to throw the ball.
It's going to be a challenge forour secondary.
Do we play man? Do we play zone?
Their quarterback can be mobile if need be.
(23:02):
He's not going to take off first.
He's not going to run first though second, but he can be
mobile. So the run game is going to be
there. It's going to, they're going to
be balanced. They're going to be a challenge
and it's, it's going to be how good are we?
Because they may offensively be one of the top, if not the top,
they may be one of the top teamswe face offensively this year
(23:24):
for sure. I mean, I, I think Miami was
really good. I think A&M was good.
I think Arkansas was good. But I, I don't know if I'd put
them ahead of Miami, but I'd probably put them ahead of A&M.
And if I'm not putting them ahead of A&M, it's going to be
right there behind it. If I was ranking our, I'd say
Miami, maybe USCA and M and thenArkansas was how I'd rank the
(23:45):
offenses we face. So it's going to be a challenge
and. I just want to like, yeah, this
USCTNV at the other block. Here's how many passes he's
thrown in the last few games. He's thrown 32 against Michigan,
43 against Illinois, 26 against Michigan State.
Like there's Throw in the Rock. Yeah, but they have struggled
(24:05):
when they've had to travel east.I don't, I don't know why that
is. They they're great at home and
they've struggled and, and, you know, we've heard Lincoln Riley
complain about it and, you know,the travel and it's like, well,
you're the Big 10. Like 80% of the schools are east
of the Mississippi. What did you expect?
Now, that's a whole other conversation we can have later
because is Lincoln Riley happy when he left to go to the USC?
(24:31):
Did he know they were going to be going to the Big 10 shortly
after or was that a surprise to him?
And I and I've heard both stories.
And if it was a surprise to him and this coaching carousel, it's
going to happen at the end of the season starts to take off.
He's got to be a name people aretalking about, right?
There's got to be a place for him to go if he wants to go
someplace else. I don't see him going to the
SEC. But boy, could he could he look
(24:55):
at that Penn State job and get stupid money thrown at him and
say, I've got a lot of resourcesthere.
But I don't have to deal with the the complexity of the travel
nearly as much because the trip to UCLA and the trip to USC is
only one big trip a year. Not everything else is more
regional, if you will. We got. 5 big trips a year.
Yeah, right. So I mean, that could be
(25:15):
interesting now if he wins this game and he's got himself in
playoff contention, you know, that changes his his outlook on
how things are USC, because he'sgot a good team, he's building
momentum. He's getting there.
It's just not gone as fast as hewould like.
But yeah, so I think that'll be interesting.
Now if he loses this game and they kind of fall out of that
playoff contention, you know, because the the Big 10 is not
(25:36):
going to favor them in that respect.
Does he say, hey, I'm open someone want to throw a stupid
amount of money at me, I'll I'llBill.
It comes down to what his buyoutis at USC.
And I don't know what that lookslike.
So I can't imagine someone leaving USC and going somewhere
else in the Big 10. I I at least I can't see Lincoln
Riley doing that, but I think it's a possibility.
(25:58):
I can't see him going to the SECif a job opens up there, but you
never know. I think it's it'll be an
interesting conversation for January when the coaching
carousel opens up where he's where he falls.
So Notre Dame defensively, I mean, we got to do what we do
well. We got to find a way to get
pressure on the quarterback if we can, if we can run, run, stop
(26:22):
and get pressure on the quarterback, I think our
secondary will be all right. If we don't get pressure on the
quarterback, our secondary is going to have a long day ahead
of them. You seen any differently?
No got to get got to get pressure, got to force
turnovers. That's keep forcing turnovers,
keep getting pressure. That happens.
(26:42):
Terry could be a very great day in South but.
Yeah, so then you go go flip theother side of the ball, Notre
Dame offense. What do you think?
Not turn the ball over. I know that's the simplest thing
to say, but we've had turnovers these past couple weeks that
haven't cost us, but which is one of those things like I can't
when we get to this game, you can't have any keep the ball.
(27:05):
And then my biggest thing is short yardage.
Got it. Got to convert. 3rd and short.
Short, Yeah, yeah, cannot get stopped on you can't get the
second and two and then go 3 like not get a first down right,
you got to go get. Those first down and you got to
score in the red zone. Yes, even if you take a field.
Goal. You got to score in the red
(27:25):
zone. Yeah, can't have empty trips,
which you'll be interesting because Marcus Freeman's been
very aggressive early in the game, which I think is him
tracting the defense more than anything going forward on 4th
down down there. And it hasn't turned out because
we haven't been successful in those short yardage situations.
But I it's so he's going to continue to do it, I think.
(27:46):
Yeah, but I think the margin of error against USC is then
different than that of the margin error against Boise,
right. I like there there's a NC State
like you can the margin of errorto not get a score in the red
zone is greater than it is against USC that could come back
and haunt you with USCI mean. So yeah, I think it's a
(28:07):
different, I think it's a he's been aggressive, but I think
he's got to take a slightly different approach to this game.
And it'll be a situation where we're going to have a special
teams play. We got to execute it.
It's going to be a momentum play, a fake pot, fake field
goal, something that yeah. I want to see that Tyler Buckner
fake punt, hurry up, no huddle and see where that ball goes on
(28:30):
the next play, whether it's Vasan, whether it's Randall,
whether it's Tyler Buckner just running around the end.
Like I want to see what that looks like, right?
I want to know what that next play call looks like.
I I'm dying to find that out. But yeah, I think from the Notre
Dame side, what I'm hoping to see offensively is balance ball
protection. And I'm hoping to not see him
(28:51):
trying to force, or at least I don't want to feel like they're
trying to force the J Love highlights.
I want to just see it be more natural and less forced because
it's like he it just seems when it becomes more natural in the
play call and it's just, you know, we're just going to call
the plays and naturally he's going to do great things as
opposed to we're going to try and highlight him and he's going
to be amped up and try and make something.
So I want to see us like I want to see him get the ball a lot,
(29:15):
but I want to see it being the flow of the game and be part of
the game plan, but not a highlight package.
I just want to see us protect the ball.
And I want I want to see, you know, I want to see a complete
game from the offense, which I don't feel like we've seen a
complete game from the offense the last couple.
I want to see a complete game from the offense.
That's what I want to see. And I think, you know,
defensively they got a couple ofgood defensive lineman at USC.
(29:37):
Their secondary's OK, but not not world beating.
So I mean, yeah, I, I, I think we can, if we can play balance,
we can score. So what's Vegas say about the
score? Yeah, 60 1/2's the line and then
9 1/2 point favourites for the Irish.
So yeah, it's 4031. That would be 70, yeah.
(30:04):
I know you say yeah, you're little.
High 3526 or something like that.
Something something around there.
Yeah, 35. Yeah. 26 so.
Yeah, what are you? What are you?
I take the over, I'll tell you that right now, even even in
you're. Taking the over.
Even in the weather I'm taking the over, I'm feeling like this
(30:25):
game is going to be close and I,I think 3 points.
I, I really think it's three points.
I expect it to be kind of a backand forth battle.
And I don't think it's going to be settled until after the 2
minute warning or the two-minutetimeout in the fourth quarter.
And now the question is, is that2 minute timeout going to happen
(30:48):
before or after midnight? Because that's what I really,
that's what I'm really thinking.The variation is there.
So I'm leaning 4241. Wow.
I, I think it's going to, I think it's going to be a barn
burner of a game. I think it's going to be, it's
going to, I, I think it's going to be just, it's going to be an
(31:09):
epic game of epic proportions. And maybe it's because I've seen
Bush push highlights and all these other highlights this week
on social. And I, I expect it to be high
scoring. I expect to be back and forth.
I expect it to be a game. If we don't play this game for
five or ten years, it's going tobe a game that we're going to
talk about and be in our memory,good, bad or indifferent.
It's going to be in our memory for, for various reasons.
And I think the final outcome isgoing to be part of it, how it
(31:31):
finished. And, you know, I'd love nothing
more than have, you know, Jeremiah Love score with a
minute 30 on the clock because CJ Carr pushed him over the
freaking goal line, you know, because that's legal now.
I'd love Loving more than, yeah,maybe a little Tyler Buckner
push in there. I don't know.
But I mean, I would love to see it be an epic game as long as
(31:52):
the Irish win. And I think it will be.
So what's your thoughts? I am on the opposite side of
you. I am a much lower score.
I think it's one of those thingswhere everyone's coming in and
saying it's going to be these high-powered offenses and it's
going to we're going to they're still going to score some points
like these defenses are going toshut the team down.
But I think there's going to be some stalls in the game where
(32:13):
it's defensive back and forth, pop, pop, pop.
But I'm going to go 3124 Irish. OK.
I'm going to take the under. It's I don't think it's very low
scoring, but compared to your 40. 4142. 41 yeah, I'm going to
say there's going to be a few balls in the game where it's a
defense or battling. Couple turnovers for both teams
(32:34):
is really what I'm thinking. CJ Carr, that's going to be the
question. So many people are so high on
him and I'm one of them. But this is one of those
moments. It's a rivalry game.
This is where you're remembered,right?
No one's here to remember YouTube for 250 yards against NC
State last week. They're gonna remember what you
did against USC. This is where you won.
You become a legend in this game, right?
(32:55):
This is where you become Fourth War.
Exactly. So this is definitely a big one.
I'm so I'm leaning that under, but I almost wanted to go 31
zero just like at the Michigan last time, but I didn't do it
so. That's with your heart, not with
your head. And you never go to Vegas.
You never go to Vegas betting your heart because you'll lose
every time. That's the and you know, Vegas
(33:18):
knows ball. I don't care what anybody says.
Vegas knows ball. Yeah, I think that 9.9 and a
half point spread just I, I they're begging me to put money
on USC at that point. Like how do you not take it in
the points I mean? Which when they do that, it
feels like then they're like when they're begging some like
you put money on USC, the nerdy will win back 35 and everyone's
like, what the. Heck yeah.
(33:39):
Like, yeah, I feel like it's a soccer spat, right?
Like how can USC not be within 9points?
And I'm like, wait a minute, whydo they think they won't?
Like, yeah, I just, it feels like free money to take USC in
the points, even if they lose, take USC in the points.
But yeah, I'm, I'm with you. What does, what does Vegas know?
They know something. I don't know what it is so.
(34:00):
They must know we're coming out in alternate jerseys around here
and that. That's right.
We're going to come out in some neon highlighter green with gold
lights, you know, and some special shoes or something.
I, I don't know, I mean, we're going to wear, we're going to
wear the all black around the bend shirts like it's going to
save the bend on it, like. All right, well, let's get into
(34:22):
this. If you'd like to win two tickets
to the Notre Dame Syracuse, If you'd like to be entered to win
those two tickets to the Notre Dame Syracuse game, we've got a
contest for you this week and you'll automatically win an
Irish 365 T-shirt. I think it's something that we
have talked about so much in this podcast.
Last year, USC torched the Irishin the passing game.
Yes. I think the big question is
(34:43):
what's USC going to do this week?
And obviously the rain's going to play a factor.
So we're going to go how many passing yards do the USC Trojans
have? I guess their day Friday
nighters this year Closest we'llget entered to win those two
tickets and a notch 65 T-shirt. You get AT shirt for sure, and a
chance to win those Syracuse tickets.
(35:03):
So yeah, good time to be had with the T-shirt envy of the
neighborhood. Better time to be had taking
your special someone to a Notre Dame game at the end of the
season. Yep, all right.
Exactly. So yeah, I'm excited about this
right way. I'm excited about this game.
I'm not excited about the weather potential.
But, you know, these things, these things happen and it it
(35:24):
just going to be part of the folklore and we're going to talk
about it and, you know, years tocome.
Midwest Fall. Right, Yeah, I mean, it'll,
it'll give us something to say. I'll remember that time and how
awesome that was. And yeah, it's, it's going to be
a good game. It's always a good game.
So it's, it's USC week. It's one of my favorite, like
you said, one of my favorite rivalries.
I know it's one of your favoriterivalries.
It's, it's just so much on the line here.
(35:46):
This is our playoff game. And if we win this game, we're
in the, we're in the driver's seat control of our destiny to
get into the playoffs. I I think winning this game sets
us up pretty nicely and losing this game, I think the it's
going to take a lot of help for us to find our way into the
playoffs. So I think this this is, you
(36:07):
know, we're in a playoff mode every week.
We can't lose another game and this is probably our toughest
challenge between now and the playoff.
I know there's a chance that Navy team could be ranked coming
in, but if we lose this game, that won't help us enough.
I mean, we'll get we'll get to the pop carts bowl and I'm a I'm
a strawberry, no frosting kind of guy and not a lot of people
like that. So what's your Pop Art flavor?
(36:29):
Cinnamon with icing. You're cinnamon with icing.
So let's hope that let's hope this is the only talk about the
Pop Tarts bowl we have this entire season because I don't
want to talk about the Pop Tartsbowl and I don't want to talk
coolest mascot and all of all the bowl, but I don't want to
see not in person. So all right, anything else you
want to cover on this spot? Not set.
(36:51):
That's all we got to say. Have you have we put up the Sam
Hartman victory down? It's it's all right, So check it
out on X. It's one of my favorite photos
is Sam Hartman enjoying the heckout of the USC victory,
especially that night. We talked about it.
It was a big win. No one expected you know, us to
to do what we did. Kayla Williams was coming in
(37:13):
just storm the field and just itwas it was just a celebration
party after that game on the field with the players.
It was it was just one of those makes you feel good to support
the team things and so that thatphoto's pretty cool.
All right, Well, I think we're running out of time on this pod.
So apologize to coach Freeman. We couldn't get you on, but keep
trying. We promise we'll get you on one
(37:34):
of these days. Yep, one of these days, right?
Hey so go Irish beat USC.
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