USC vs. Notre Dame: Six Legendary Moments in an Iconic Rivalry

Today, USC hosts Notre Dame at the Coliseum in the latest of college football’s Greatest Intersectional Rivalry. While we wait for kickoff, let’s take a look back at six legendary moments between the Trojans and the Irish.

The Anthony Davis Game (1974)

At halftime of the 1974 USC-Notre Dame game, the number six Trojans trailed the number five Fighting Irish 24-0.

What happened after that? Well, Anthony Davis happened.

USC’s star running back famously returned the opening kickoff of the second half more than 100 yards for a touchdown to get the Trojans on the board. It would mark the first of four second half touchdowns for Davis, as USC would mount a stunning comeback, scoring 55 unanswered points to blow out their hated rivals 55-24. A month later, the Trojans would defeat Ohio State in the Rose Bowl to win the school’s eighth national championship.

Frank Jordan’s Kick (1978)

Late in their 1978 matchup, USC trailed Joe Montana and Notre Dame by a score of 25-24. However, the Trojans were able to drive downfield and set up a potential game-winning 37-yard game-winning field goal attempt from kicker Frank Jordan. Jordan drilled it, and the Trojans won the game. USC would go on to defeat Michigan in the Rose Bowl to win another national title.

Ending the Streak (1996)

In 1996, Notre Dame came into the Coliseum ranked number ten in the country to face a 5-6, unranked USC squad. It had been more than 14 years since the Trojans had beaten the Irish. But in a stunning upset, USC pulled off a 27-20 overtime victory over their archrivals, leading to the fans storming the field at the Coliseum.

The game would mark the final contest of legendary Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz’s career. Holtz would retire following the 1996 season; however, he would come out of retirement two years later to become the head coach at South Carolina.

Palmer’s Heisman Moment (2002)

Not only did USC’s 2002 win over Notre Dame signify the beginning of their dynasty under Pete Carroll, but it also effectively wrapped up the Heisman Trophy for Trojan quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer threw for four touchdowns and 425 yards—which at the time was the most ever allowed in a game by the Irish—as USC dominated Notre Dame 44-13 for their tenth win of the season. The win sent the Trojans to the Orange Bowl vs. Iowa, where Palmer would cap off his college career with another brilliant performance.

The Bush Push (2005)

The legendary 2005 USC-Notre Dame game featured one of the most iconic moments in college football history. With the Trojans trailing the Irish 34-31 with seven seconds left to play, USC had the ball on the Notre Dame one yard line. Instead of spiking the ball to set up a game-tying field goal, however, USC star quarterback Matt Leinart attempted to sneak the ball in for the game-winning touchdown. After Leinart was denied on his initial attempt, running back Reggie Bush came in from behind and pushed him across the goal line for the winning score. The play came to be known as “The Bush Push”, and will forever go down in USC lore.

A moment we’ll never forget ‼️✌️@ReggieBush x @MattLeinartQB pic.twitter.com/3m6XwAkfiZ

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) November 25, 2022

Adoree’s Hat Trick (2016)

The Trojans’ most recent victory over Notre Dame was the famous Adoree’ Jackson hat trick game in 2016. On a rainy afternoon at the Coliseum, Jackson scored three touchdowns in three different ways—one on a punt return, one on a reception, and one on a kickoff return—helping USC handle the Irish 45-27. The win helped USC clinch a birth in the Rose Bowl, where they would go on to defeat Penn State.