Notre Dame's defense has hit a hot streak over the last three games, and we're finally starting to see the unit we thought we'd see earlier in September. Chris Ash's unit has held three straight opponents scoreless in the second half; Notre Dame's defense shut down the high-powered NC State offense last weekend, held them to seven total points and 233 total yards of offense. Their task doesn't get any easier this weekend as they gear up to face USC's offense that currently ranks No. 3 in the country in points per game (45.5), No. 2 in the country in yards per game (552.3) and No. 1 in the country in yards per play (8.3). We've broken down the top players to watch on this Trojan offense and it begins with their play-making quarterback under center.
Quarterback #14 Jayden Maiava
Former UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava has experience playing against Notre Dame, but this will be his first trip to South Bend. Last season, the 6-4, 230-pound quarterback threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns against the Irish defense. He also finished the game with back to back pick-sixes in the red zone. This season, Maiava has done a significantly better job taking care of the football and has only thrown two interceptions this season. He's also passed for 1,852 yards, 13 touchdowns and rushed for four more scores this season. Maiava has came into his own in the USC offense and has played a major role in their success.
Matchup To Watch: Over the past few weeks, we've seen Ash put together solid gameplans to limit and restrict talented quarterbacks. Quarterbacks Taylen Green, Maddux Madsen and CJ Bailey all struggled to get going against the Notre Dame defense. Maiava might be the best of the bunch and Ash and his coaching staff will have to do everything they can to make him uncomfortable in the pocket, confuse him pre and post snap on the back end and limit his big-play ability. If Maiava has time to throw in the pocket, he'll pick you apart. The Fighting Irish defensive coordinator will have his hands full against this talented quarterback.
Wide Receiver #6 Makai Lemon
USC's slot receiver Makai Lemon is off to a spectacular start to the season. He's on pace to finish the regular season with over 1,200 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. So far, Lemon has 44 receptions, 682 receiving yards and six touchdowns through six games and he's gearing up to face a team that let him loose last season. In 2024, Lemon went against a very stout Notre Dame secondary and finished the game with nine receptions for 133 yards. This season, he's already posted three games over 100 yards and is coming off of a nine catch, 93-yard, one touchdown performance against Michigan. He's a game wrecker and USC's biggest weapon on offense.
Matchup To Watch: The nickel corner position for Notre Dame has given them multiple headaches. Alabama transfer DeVonta Smith hasn't been able to remain in the lineup, Karson Hobbs has gotten demoted and they're now relying on a true freshman in Dallas Golden. Whether it's Smith or Golden in the lineup against Lemon, both players will have to play aggressive, trust their technique and limit the big play, something that's hurt the nickel position throughout the season. Lemon provides a different challenge than NC State's, Boise State's or Arkansas' slot receivers. This can't be a repeat performance from Miami or Texas A&M, if it is, this will be a long night for the Notre Dame secondary.
Wide Receiver #8 Ja'Kobi Lane
Big-bodied receiver Ja'Kobi Lane brings a different challenge to the table opposed to Lemon. Lane is 6-4, 200-pounds but is still a big-play threat. He's averaging 17.4 yards per catch this season and has 313 receiving yards on just 18 receptions. Last season, he only caught three passes against Notre Dame, but all three went for touchdowns. Lane is one of Maiava's go-to targets in the offense; he hasn't dropped a pass since the season opener and 15 of his 18 receptions have gone for first downs. Over the last few weeks, his yards per catch average has gone down, but Notre Dame's corners will have to remain disciplined against USC's biggest wide receiver.
Matchup To Watch: Lane will play both to the field and to the boundary meaning both Leonard Moore and Christian Gray will have their opportunities against Lane. This same cornerback duo faced this USC passing attack, led by Lemon and Lane, last season in Los Angeles. Both corners, at times, will also be matched up on 6-0, 195-pound true freshman Tanook Hines. The outside corners for Notre Dame will have to remain disciplined, Gray in particular. Teams haven't been shy at taking their shots on Gray; last season against USC, Gray allowed eight receptions on 12 targets for 130 yards and two touchdowns. He also ended the game with a 98-yard pick six. The matchup between Notre Dame's corners and USC's wide receivers will be one to watch.
Tight End #87 Lake McRee
USC's tight end Lake McRee has been another pleasant surprise in this offense. He's averaging the most yards per catch on the team of any player over five receptions; McRee has 289 receiving yards on just 14 receptions this season. He's another sure-handed target for Maiava and hasn't dropped a single pass from his 21 total targets. Like Lane, he's effective moving the chains with 12 of his 14 receptions going for first downs. He isn't the red zone threat some believed he could be at 6-4, 250-pounds, but Notre Dame has to be sure this isn't the weekend McRee breaks out.
Matchup To Watch: Since inserting redshirt freshman safety Tae Johnson in the starting lineup, Notre Dame's secondary has improved drastically. Last week, NC State's tight end Justin Joly entered the matchup as a premier target for the Wolfpack. He ended the afternoon with two receptions for eight yards. This weekend, Notre Dame's safeties, Johnson to be specific, will be tested against a talented tight end in McRee. He's a threat in the seams and a reliable target. Johnson, along with Adon Shuler, Luke Talich and Jalen Stroman at times, will have to limit McRee's impact over the middle of the field.
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