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Notre Dame football: 3 reasons the Irish will beat USC in Week 8

By Brad Weiss

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Kurt Hinish #41 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish blows kisses to the fans after the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Kurt Hinish #41 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish blows kisses to the fans after the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football
Oct 9, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams (23) runs the ball toward Virginia Tech Hokies defensive back Jermaine Waller (2) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: 3 reasons the Irish will beat USC in Week 8

Improved OL play and the run game

This season, the Notre Dame football team has struggled in a big way in terms of the offensive line, and rightfully so. Remember, this is a program that saw four of its five starters from a year ago head to the NFL, depleting what many considered to be a top-2 offensive line in college football last season.

Still, there is talent there, and the last time out, the Irish got strong offensive line play against the Virginia Tech Hokies. They will need to keep moving forward in this one, as the Trojans have some players who can get off the edge and make plays in the backfield, including outside linebacker Drake Jackson.

However, this is a group that is improving, and I believe that the Irish will establish the run game early and often against the Trojans on Saturday night. Kyren Williams could be in for his first 100-yard game of the season, and if the Irish can keep the USC offense off the field by milking the clock, the more lopsided this game is going to become.

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