In a city of stars, keep an eye on these four when Notre Dame football visits USC

What a fitting way for Notre Dame football to wrap the 2024 regular season.

Everything on the line against your biggest rival. No reason to hold anything back. Let it rip and win and grab a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Lose, and you get no CFP spot.

The Irish have been here before, but here not necessarily being the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where they play for the 49th time in a series that dates to the black and white photos and train traveling days of the 1920s.

Here for these Irish is having to win to realize their postseason dream. In 2012, Notre Dame won at USC to secure a spot in the national championship game. In 2018, Notre Dame won at USC to snag a spot in the four-team CFP. Might the third time also be a charm?

Let’s head for the west coast and find out.

Polls: See where Notre Dame football landed in latest US LBM Coaches Poll

Analysis: Army football coach Jeff Monken calls Notre Dame ‘a great football team’ after 49-14 loss

Notre Dame defensive tackle Donovan Hinish has been able to minimize the injury loss of veteran Howard Cross III with two solid efforts. Does he have a third in him just in case Cross is slowed?

No. 5 NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (10-1)

DT Donovan Hinish (41)

When D-line cornerstone Howard Cross III lay on the Notre Dame Stadium turf with a left ankle injury against Florida State, the prevailing concern was, uh, oh. The Irish were going to miss Cross exponentially for however long he’d be out.

Enter Hinish, who’s done plenty to plug the gaping hole along the defensive front left by Cross, who has missed the last two games. No big deal for the 6-foot-2, 278-pounder (give or take a few lb’s) from Pittsburgh. Hinish hasn’t been Cross like in the middle, but he hasn’t been that far off, either.

Hinish tallied five tackles with two sacks against Florida State. In his…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/city-stars-keep-eye-four-090248829.html

Author : South Bend Tribune

Publish date : 2024-11-27 09:02:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Check Also

Winslow’s defense turns up heat, helps deliver program’s first state title

Members of the Winslow Township High School football team celebrate after Winslow defeated Phillipsburg, 35-0, …