The greatest intersectional rivalry in college football is back — USC vs. Notre Dame. The Trojans are headed to South Bend to take on the Fighting Irish, and both teams come in ranked, desperate to keep their seasons alive. This is what the podcast was built for.

You can feel the buzz in the air. Everyone knows about USC’s high-powered offense, but this year, Notre Dame is bringing some serious fireworks of their own. The Irish — usually known for their steady, methodical play — have suddenly become a big-play machine. There’s even a world where we get a CJ Carr vs. Jayden Maiava shootout on Saturday.

As the episode rolls on, it’s hilarious to hear the confidence in each host slowly crumble. One minute it’s “Notre Dame by 20,” the next it’s “Well, if USC can just hang around…” It’s pure fandom at its best — hope, doubt, delusion, and passion all rolled into one. Rivalry week reminds us why we love this sport so much.

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The post Podcast: Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 11.3 Rivalry Week appeared first on Tilting Ground.

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:

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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The post Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 11.2 Early Season Recap appeared first on Tilting Ground.

The 2025 season has arrived for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the USC Trojans. As college football kicks off, so does a decade of excellence for our podcast. And there’s only one place to begin: the greatest intersectional rivalry in the history of the sport.

The annual matchup between Notre Dame and USC—the very inspiration for this podcast—still hasn’t been renewed. Greg believes Notre Dame should walk away from the negotiating table, while Michael is calling the USC brain trust cowards for dragging their feet. Needless to say, emotions are running high.

We then turn our focus solely to USC. Expectations are modest for Michael. Most of last year’s 7–6 squad returns, but it’s hard to know what to expect. There’s real excitement around transfer running back Waymond Jordan and Makai Lemon, but beyond them, the roster is full of question marks. Greg reminds us that USC hasn’t won a game in the Central Time Zone since before this podcast even began.

Defensively, the Trojans still lack havoc plays—especially sacks. If this unit is going to succeed, Eric Gentry must stay healthy. Fortunately for USC, Missouri State is on the schedule this weekend—an obvious win and a straightforward way to notch their first victory.

We close by shifting to Notre Dame. The big story is the quarterback competition. Greg thinks Marcus Freeman may have chosen the wrong starter in CJ Carr, though he trusts Freeman to make a change if things don’t start strong. The rest of the roster looks loaded with quality starters across the board. Defensive end Bryce Young could be a breakout star in a stacked position group, and Greg is especially excited about freshman safety Tae Johnson.

Somehow, it takes us until the end of the preview to get to the team’s best player: Jeremiyah Love. Spoiler alert—he’s really, really good.

Before we sign off, we look ahead to Notre Dame’s trip to Miami this weekend. Both of us agree the Irish are favorites for a reason. If Miami manages to keep it close, Notre Dame has the toughness to slug it out, and key losses on the Hurricanes’ offense should help the Irish defense keep them in check.

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The post Podcast: Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 11.1 2025 Season Preview appeared first on Tilting Ground.

Happy Holidays everyone! It’s been a while, but we are back. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish won a college football playoff game, and the USC Trojans are gearing up for the Las Vegas Bowl. Before we get into football we talk about the holidays, Michael’s trip to USC, Sandwich meats, and what kids eat.

We start football talk with Notre Dame’s CFP win over Indiana. The Irish pretty much dominated the game, making Indian look like they didn’t belong in the playoff. This leads to a rousing discussion about the teams that made the college football playoff and who was deserving of the bid. Getting back to the game we praise Jeremiyah Love and chuckle at Curt Gignetti’s scared coaching.

We move on to Notre Dame’s next playoff game against Georgia. Its lucky for the Irish to get Georgia’s backup quarterback but they are still a very good team. Notre Dame loses Rylie Mills for this game, which is not ideal, but they are built for close games regardless.

Finally, we end on the Trojans and their Las Vegas Bowl game against Texas A&M. The fun part of this game is, with all the players leaving USC for the transfer portal, it’s unclear who will actually be playing in the game. All the random players hitting the field for USC will be exciting. The game itself almost doesn’t matter.

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The post Podcast: Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 10.14 Indiana Recap, Georgia and Las Vegas Bowl Preview appeared first on Tilting Ground.

The greatest intersectional rivalry in college football is back, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have come out on top against the USC Trojans! In this episode, Greg and Michael both share their experiences from being at the game—though not together, they both got to witness an exciting, back-and-forth matchup. Notre Dame took control for most of the game, but USC made it a nail-biter in the fourth quarter. However, back-to-back interception returns for touchdowns sealed the victory for the Irish.

This episode covers it all! From USC’s explosive offense and their deep ball strategy against the Notre Dame defense, to the Irish running all over the Trojans, we break down every key moment. We dive into the pivotal third and fourth quarters, discuss the performances of Maiava, Riley (Lincoln, and Leonard), and take a closer look at the atmosphere and crowd energy at the game.

If you’re a fan of this historic rivalry, you won’t want to miss this fun and energetic recap of a memorable Notre Dame vs. USC clash. Another epic chapter in the rivalry—tune in now!

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The post Podcast: Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 10.13 Rivalry Week appeared first on Tilting Ground.

This week on The Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast, we break down another exciting weekend of college football, where both the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the USC Trojans walked away with victories.

First, we dive into the Trojans’ hard-fought win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. USC entered the game with a new quarterback under center, a change that seemed to bring a fresh energy to the team. While the quarterback switch made waves, the Trojans stuck to their tried-and-true formula—close games. This time, however, they managed to hold on for the win, proving that they can weather the storm when it matters most.

Next, we shift gears to Notre Dame, who faced off against the Virginia Cavaliers. The Fighting Irish had a solid win, but we discuss their ongoing struggles with slow starts, which have made fans nervous. With Army on the horizon this coming weekend, the pressure is mounting for the Irish to start strong from the opening whistle. We also highlight Marcus Freeman’s ability to lead and adjust, pointing to his growth as a coach as he navigates these challenges.

We wrap things up by returning to USC and previewing their upcoming rivalry game against UCLA. Spoiler alert: We’re expecting another gritty, competitive showdown. Based on past performances, it seems like this one will play out much like the others, with the Trojans fighting until the very end.

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The post Podcast: Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 10.12 Nebraska and Virginia appeared first on Tilting Ground.

In this week’s episode, we dive into another action-packed chapter of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and USC Trojans saga. While Notre Dame cruises to a dominant victory over the Florida State Seminoles, USC continues to spiral, even when they don’t play! The Trojans were hit hard by a wave of decommits, leaving Lincoln Riley scrambling to maintain momentum. And just when things couldn’t get worse, the program faces sanctions—leaving fans wondering if they can salvage a season that’s slipping away. With Nebraska coming to town and a new quarterback in the mix, can the Trojans bounce back, or is the damage done?

On the flip side, Notre Dame continues to impress with an absolute drubbing of FSU, so much so that even announcers were concerned about the score. The Irish look like a team on a mission, with Riley Leonard improving week by week and their defense stepping up big-time (except for a few early-game hiccups). Are the Fighting Irish on a crash course with the College Football Playoff? We break it all down and preview what’s ahead for both teams as their seasons take crucial turns.

Tune in for a fun, fast-paced recap of the week’s highs, lows, and the burning questions about these two iconic programs. From recruiting drama to playoff hopes, it’s all here, enjoy!

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The post Podcast: Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 10.11 Florida State and a Bye appeared first on Tilting Ground.

In this week’s episode, we dive deep into the latest twists and turns for both the USC Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football teams. After missing a week, we’re back just in time to break down all the drama surrounding the Trojans’ decision to bench quarterback Miller Moss, as well as discuss the state of the Fighting Irish coming off their bye week.

It’s been a tough year for USC, and unfortunately, it just keeps getting worse. After another heartbreaking loss, this time to Washington, the Trojans find themselves reeling from both on-field failures and internal dysfunction. In the fallout from the embarrassing defeat, starting quarterback Miller Moss was benched, a move that has sent shockwaves through the team and the fanbase.

Moss had become the scapegoat for much of USC’s struggles this season, but as we discuss in this episode, he’s far from the only problem. From the very top, head coach Lincoln Riley has faced mounting criticism for his questionable play calling and inability to build a cohesive team. One of the most glaring stats is the fact that USC’s defensive line has failed to register a single sack all season. Yes, you read that right—not a single sack from a defensive lineman in 2024. That’s a crazy stat this late in the season.

Despite the turmoil, there is a glimmer of hope for USC fans. In a move that’s left many wondering if this is the last-ditch effort to salvage the season, freshman quarterback Jayden Maiava has been named the new starter. The hope is that Maiava can inject some energy into the offense. The Trojans have a bye week ahead, which means there’s no immediate opportunity for Maiava to prove himself on the field.

It’s a tough time for USC, and while some are placing blame on Moss, we dive into the deeper issues facing the team and the question of whether head coach Lincoln Riley can course-correct before the season slips away completely.

Meanwhile, across the country in South Bend, things are a lot calmer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Coming off their bye week, Notre Dame looks poised to continue winning. The Irish have been cruising through their schedule, aside from one minor hiccup earlier in the year. Quarterback Riley Leonard has only improved as the season has gone on, and Notre Dame seems to be firing on all cylinders.

The bye week gave Notre Dame an opportunity to rest, recharge, and evaluate where they are heading into the latter half of the season. It’s clear that the Fighting Irish are one of the more complete teams in college football right now, and as they head into the Florida State game, they’ll be looking to prove they are among the nation’s elite. All eyes are on Notre Dame as they continue their march toward a potential College Football Playoff berth.

In a lighter moment of the podcast, Michael shares his experience attending the USC vs. Rutgers game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It was an odd week for USC fans—on the one hand, they secured a win against Rutgers, but on the other hand, there was a palpable sense of frustration in the air, knowing that the Trojans’ season wasn’t going quite as planned, but hey the Dodgers won that night, so everyone was happy. It’s a unique experience to be in the stands when your team wins, but the energy is still subdued because of the larger issues at hand.

As always, we’ll continue to keep an eye on both teams as the season progresses. Can USC turn things around with Jayden Maiava? Will Notre Dame continue to roll through their schedule and prove they belong in the playoff conversation? Stay tuned for more updates and analysis on the Fighting Irish and Trojans in next week’s episode.

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast for more coverage on USC and Notre Dame football, and don’t forget to leave us a review if you’re enjoying the show!

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The post Podcast: Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 10.10 Washington Recap and a Bye appeared first on Tilting Ground.

This weekend brought another wildly different experience for the USC Trojans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football teams. Notre Dame marched down to Atlanta and secured a solid win against Georgia Tech, while USC continued its losing streak after a challenging cross-country trip to play Maryland.

Let’s start with the Trojans and their third consecutive defeat. No team snatches defeat from the jaws of victory quite like USC. Despite leading in the fourth quarter of every game this year, the Trojans find themselves at a dismal 3-4. In a gut-wrenching turn of events, a blocked USC field goal allowed Maryland to score a go-ahead touchdown, sealing the Trojans’ fate. Michael is clearly distraught, and it’s hard to blame him; the program is reeling, and with Rutgers coming to town for a Friday night showdown, we can’t expect a packed Coliseum.

On the flip side, the Fighting Irish keep on winning. It was more of the same for Notre Dame: a tight game early on, followed by a decisive win where they comfortably covered the spread. While Greg has dubbed the Fighting Irish a bit “boring” to watch, their solid defense and running quarterback have them on autopilot for victories. With a ranked Navy team on the horizon, confidence is soaring among Notre Dame fans.

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The post Podcast: Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 10.9 Maryland and Georgia Tech Recap appeared first on Tilting Ground.

In this week’s episode, we dive into the highs and lows of college football, with our usual hyper focus on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the USC Trojans. Although the episode dropped a bit later than usual, the energy is still high as Michael grapples with the Trojans’ recent loss to Penn State, while Greg revels in Notre Dame’s impressive victory over Stanford.

The discussion kicks off with the Trojans, and it’s a mixed bag. Michael is understandably downcast after USC’s second consecutive loss. Yet, there’s a glimmer of optimism from the “glass half full” crowd, who point out that younger players are stepping up and gaining valuable experience. On the flip side, the “glass half empty” fans are already looking forward to the NBA season, lamenting the Trojans’ struggles. With the rest of the season ahead, the hosts ponder what to expect—likely more ups and downs as the team navigates its challenges.

Transitioning to the Fighting Irish, the tone shifts to one of celebration. Notre Dame delivered a resounding win against Stanford, but the victory came at a cost: the loss of All-American cornerback Benjamin Morrison for the season. This injury adds to an already lengthy list of sidelined players for the Irish. Despite this setback, the hosts discuss how Notre Dame stacks up against other top teams, and the outlook is surprisingly favorable.

As the conversation unfolds, the hosts take a light-hearted detour to discuss the universally shared frustration with officiating in college football, sharing amusing anecdotes that many fans can relate to.

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The post Podcast: Untitled Notre Dame USC Football Podcast – Episode 10.8 Penn State and Stanford Recap appeared first on Tilting Ground.