USC had plenty of chances to regain momentum in the second half. But they failed, especially in two critical moments.
The first was after a downfield pass through the rain from Jayden Maiava to Makai Lemon to set USC up in Notre Dame territory. Lincoln Riley, who is the Trojans’ offensive play-caller, followed that up with… a slow-moving reverse to Lemon where he had the option to pass. While rain was coming down.
Lemon ended up fumbling the ball near the midfield marker, and Notre Dame recovered.
Then, on a do-or-die fourth-and-short attempt near midfield, Riley had Maiava fake a quarterback sneak and roll out to pass — again, in the pouring rain. Notre Dame was ready for that, too. Maiava’s pass fell incomplete, and that was that.
Riley is one of smartest, most inventive play-callers in college football. But he was too smart for his own good in those two critical moments tonight.