Written by Garin Turner
The #4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish should be heading to the College Football Playoff after they held off USC 24-17. The Irish finish the season 12-0 and don’t have a conference championship game since they’re independent. The Trojans held a 10-0 lead early, but the Irish ground out a win, dominating the 2nd half.
Notre Dame QB Ian Book was 22/39 for 352 yards and two touchdown passes. He also threw an interception. The 352 yards is a career high for Book. Book has thrown for more than 260 yards and at least two touchdowns in all of his starts this year (8). USC scored on its opening drive which went eight plays for 78 yards when Vavae Malepeai ran for 14 yards. The Irish scored with 2:20 left in the first half when Chris Finke caught a 24-yard pass from Book. Finke had a career-high seven catches and yards (86). USC went into halftime with a 10-7 led.
After both teams traded punts to start the third quarter, Notre Dame only took two plays to take the lead permanently when Dexter Williams broke off a 52-yard run. Williams finished the day with 16 carries for 97 yards. His touchdown was his 12th of the season. Notre Dame scored 24 unanswered points before USC scored with 48 seconds left in the game when Tyler Vaughns caught a 20-yard pass from JT Daniels. The Irish would cover the onside kick to seal the game.
Daniels was 37/51 for 349 yards and the touchdown. Vaughns led all receivers with 12 catches for 120 yards and the score. Amon-Ra St. Brown had 10 receptions for 94 yards and Michael Pittman Jr. added seven receptions for 91 yards.
The Irish will most likely stay at number three in the college football rankings unless Alabama loses to Georgia in the SEC championship game. Oklahoma takes on Texas in the Big 12 championship game but shouldn’t knock Notre Dame out of the playoff.
