With a bye this week, there's plenty of time to look back and relish how well the Notre Dame football team played against USC on Saturday. While the Irish were pushed pretty hard, there were a couple of plays that changed the complexion of the big rivalry game.
Trailing by three points in the fourth quarter, Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava found wide receiver Makai Lemon open downfield for a 42-yard gain. The Trojans were taking a big step in the right direction and could seize the momentum. However, USC's offense then ran a trick play that was designed for Lemon to throw the ball. However, Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray tackled the receiver and forced a fumble as Lemon tried to get rid of it.
Notre Dame eventually won the game 34-24, putting them on a trajectory to make the College Football Playoffs after an 0-2 start to the season. Meanwhile, USC appears out of the running. After the game, head coach Lincoln Riley was asked about the play call, and he didn't mince words. "Stupid call, stupid call," Riley said, refusing to say anything else.
Lincoln Riley’s 'stupid call' helps Notre Dame secure rivalry win over USC
"Stupid call." pic.twitter.com/nBjNChGeh6
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 19, 2025
The call was especially odd considering that it required a USC wide receiver to try and make a tough throw with rain pouring down. It's hard enough for a quarterback to throw with a drenched ball. It's a whole other situation when it's someone who's not used to throwing it at all.
There's also the added degree of difficulty in that a quarterback might understand he needed to pull the ball down and take the hit. Lemon wanted to make the play because it was his job. The fumble changed the game.
Notre Dame won a big rivalry showdown with College Football Playoff implications. And Lincoln Riley knows that he made a mistake. What's better than all of that?