In this week’s Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast, Michael (long-time USC fan) and Greg (Notre Dame expert) swap takes on how both programs are doing 3 weeks into the 2025 season. The tone is equal parts excitement and concern—USC is showing flashes, Notre Dame is under more scrutiny—especially on defense.

Greg was at the Texas A&M game in South Bend, and though tailgates were subdued, once the action started, the crowd was electric—“one of the loudest ever” at Notre Dame Stadium. The final play loss stung heavily. Emotions ran high.

The defense, historically a point of pride, is lagging. Key issues:

Zone vs. man confusion — in the first half vs Texas A&M, the zone scheme got shredded (161 yards allowed on few attempts). They switched to more man-coverage in the second half with better results, but perhaps too late.
Lack of pass rush — almost zero pressure, very few sacks. The front seven haven’t generated enough disruption.
Inconsistency & sloppy play — breakdowns at crucial moments (missed tackles, penalties, confusion) make big games difficult.

Offense showing promise but not perfection

With a new QB and a heavy run game mix, ND has put up decent numbers: 33 points vs Texas A&M, strong ground yardage, and some explosive plays. But there are moments of “what am I watching” with odd play calls or slow reads.

The hosts debate who’s to blame: DC Chris Ash versus Marcus Freeman. Freeman is viewed as overseeing the program, but hasn’t historically been deeply involved in the defensive play-calling. Chris Ash, though with past experience, hasn’t yet shown game plans or adjustments that stick. If things don’t improve, speculation suggests changes may be coming.

Greg predicts a Notre Dame win vs Purdue but expects more points given up. The upcoming game is framed as a chance to right the ship. Michael projects a 38-17 ND victory. Consistency is stressed as the key.

USC’s State of Play – Upside with caveats

USC is 3-0, which looks good on paper. But Michael expresses reservations: the wins are sometimes deceptive, especially against weaker competition. The “50-50 balls” and risky throws are working now—but will they hold up when the competition stiffens?

Jayden Maiava is serviceable, with moments of brilliance, but also questionable decisions. Receivers like Jacoby Lane, Makai Lemon are showing talent. The run game has seen solid contributions, though there are concerns about whether those runs will translate vs stronger defenses. Players like Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders get praise.

Penalties bark loud for the defense: hands to the face, mental errors, open receivers. USC’s defensive line is generating some sacks, especially vs lesser teams, but the secondary has had breakdowns; safety play particularly is under scrutiny.

USC has an upcoming 8 p.m. kickoff vs Michigan State. The general tone: they should win, they are favored (line at ~17.5), but the question is how cleanly. Michael trusts they’ll cover; Greg seems less worried. The matchup is seen more as a test of USC’s ability to avoid letting sloppy play bite them.

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