On this week’s episode of The Echoes: A Podcast on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Mike Golic Jr. and Jessica Smetana recap Notre Dame’s dominant 36-7 win over North Carolina State.

After a slow start to the season, the Irish defense has found its rhythm, allowing 13 points or fewer in each of the past three games. In a twist, it was the offense that struggled to finish drives this week — even while putting up nearly 40 points.

Mike and Jess break down the comfortable win over the Wolfpack and turn their attention to the week’s biggest storyline: Notre Dame’s upcoming matchup with the University of Southern California. This could be the last meeting between the longtime rivals for a while, making this year’s game even more meaningful — and possibly a playoff eliminator for both teams.

The hosts also dive into USC’s uneven season. The Trojans have faced limited competition and dropped their only tough test to Illinois. Mike and Jess analyze how the Irish defense can contain USC’s explosive offense and how Notre Dame can take advantage of the Trojans’ shaky defense.

As the biggest game of the season approaches, Mike and Jess share favorite memories from the historic Notre Dame–USC rivalry. They close the show by reacting to Penn State’s firing of James Franklin and discussing what it could mean for Marcus Freeman’s staff — and the wild coaching carousel that’s just getting started.

Tune in to The Echoes each week for Notre Dame Football recaps, player interviews, and reactions from two of the most entertaining voices in college football.