I wonder if Netflix got a look at the weekend TV ratings? They might be surprised where the USC-Notre Dame game ranked. Week 8 most-watched college football games, per Nielsen: Ole Miss-UGA (ABC) 9.8 milion Tenn-Bama (ABC) 8.0M LSU-Vandy (ABC) 5.9M USC-Notre Dame (NBC) 4.6M Washington-Michigan (FOX) 4.3M Ohio St-Wisconsin (CBS) 4M Louisville-Miami (ESPN) 3.4M Nebraska-Minnesota (FOX) 2.7M Texas-Kentucky (ESPN) 2.64M Texas Tech-ASU (FOX) 2.56M … Continue reading A Surprising USC-Notre Dame Stat

Here is a problem for the USC defense. After the Illinois loss, I spoke to a Big Ten defensive coach who watched the game films and asked what he thought of the secondary? The first thing he told me was the players had “poor technique.” Yesterday, I spoke to another Big Ten coach who watched the Notre Dame game and asked about the defensive line? … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: A Big Problem For Defense

Ed Orgeron says in the interview below that he is willing to be a defensive line coach as he seeks a return to coaching. USC’s run defense could definitely use him. Now let me say this because I am not naive. Lincoln Riley and Ed Orgeron are like oil and water. Riley wouldn’t hire him and I’m not sure Orgeron would work for him. But … Continue reading USC Notes: Here’s One Way To Help The Leaky Run Defense

One new alibi from the Lincoln Riley apologists is that it is tough to win road games, especially when Riley is 0-6 against ranked teams on the road since he was at USC. Well, Texas A&M won at Notre Dame. How about that? Alabama won at Georgia. Indiana won at Oregon. Ohio State won at Illinois (memo to USC). And Oregon won at Penn State, … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: The Newest Excuse For Losing

Does anyone think if USC had hired Kris Richard as defensive coordinator, he would have allowed 944 yards of offense against Illinois and Notre Dame? People really need to ponder that yardage stat. It’s abysmal. I definitely think there is a spikiness this weekend as Notre Dame fans are frustrated with USC’s intransigence regarding the extension of the rivalry. It’s quite unusual for the director … Continue reading USC Notes: Some Next Level Rivalry Trolling

QUARTERBACK Jayden Maiava built up some gaudy stats this season but Lincoln Riley didn’t trust him in the biggest game, a popular theme with Riley. Grade: C+ RUNNING BACKS It’s not ideal to get your first career start at Notre Dame so King Miller deserves some grace for that. More importantly, there was plenty of plays with lousy run blocking that allowed him to get … Continue reading Morning Buzz: USC-Notre Dame Report Card