Notre Dame defense gets fortunate break with USC superstar RB missing Week 8 matchup

The "Bush Push" rivalry will see another installment this weekend as No. 13 Notre Dame will take on No. 20 USC, the first time these two teams have been ranked while playing each other in a while. This could be one of the last times these two teams face off, with one more game in 2026 for a while, as well, with USC not trying very hard to renew a game contract.

All of that aside, USC got some tough news from their running back room with Waymond Jordan out for at least four to six weeks and fellow running back Eli Sanders out for the season. Jordan exited the game against Michigan, and walk-on King Miller stepped into his place and went off against the Wolverines in the Trojans' big 31-13 win.

Miller went off for 158 rushing yards on 18 carries and a rushing touchdown in that win as he had over half of the Trojans' 224 rushing yards in the game. Miller, who is just in his first season with the Trojans as a walk-on, hasn't seen the field much and only has 310 rushing yards on 29 carries, but has found the end zone three times already this season.

Now with Jordan and Sanders out, the team will turn to Miller as the lead back, and if he has a day like he had against Michigan, Notre Dame will be in trouble. The Fighting Irish, however, with the injury news, now know what to plan for, and that is Miller.

With some solid game film on him now from the Michigan game, Chris Ash and his defense will be able to study Miller and how he runs and find the best way to stop a running back who is literally running and breaking on the scene.

Notre Dame's defense has played better in their last three games, but this will probably be the toughest matchup they face since their first two games against Miami adn Texas A&M. Ash will have to have his defense ready to go for this big rivalry matchup.