Running backs in spotlight as USC visits Irish
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Quarterbacks have received most of the attention whenever Southern California and Notre Dame have their annual showdown in college football. The running backs have often decided the outcome.
It should be no different Saturday night when No. 11 USC (6-1) and No. 13 Notre Dame (51) meet as ranked opponents for the first time since the 2009 season.
While quarterbacks Sam Darnold of USC and Brandon Wimbush of Notre Dame will command much interest, the Trojans’ Ronald Jones II and Irish workhorse Josh Adams will be key.
Both coaches — USC’S Clay Helton and Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly — love their guys but they spoke glowingly of their opposition.
“He is a big, fast running back who is hard to bring down — you have to gang-tackle him,” Helton said of the 6-foot-2, 225-pound Adams, who has 776 rushing yards and is averaging 9.02 yards per carry (second nationally) for Notre Dame’s fifth-ranked rushing offense (308 yards per game).
Kelly has been enamored with the 6-foot, 200-pound junior Jones since he tried to bring him to South Bend from Mckinney (Texas) North High School.
“He’s got speed, explosiveness, great vision — I love Ronald,” said Kelly of Jones, who has four 100-yard games, including 111 in last week’s 28-27 comeback victory
over Utah, among his 640 rushing yards and eight TDS. “I think he’s as good as anybody in the country, and you know, he runs in an offense that can throw the football.” Some other things to watch Saturday night:
UNDER CENTER Darnold has won 15 of the 17 games he has started. He has thrown nine interceptions and been susceptible to fumbles (he had three in the first half against Utah) but is completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 2,063 yards and 15 touchdowns.
“He has a knack of making plays when it looks like you’ve got everything covered,” Kelly said.
Wimbush is expected to make his first start after a foot injury sidelined him for Notre Dame’s last game, a 3310 victory at North Carolina two weeks ago. He has rushed for 402 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns and thrown for 782 yards and six TDS with just two interceptions.
TURNOVER BATTLE Last year, when Notre Dame finished 4-8, its defense managed just 14 takeaways (104th nationally). Under first-year defensive coordinator Mike Elko, Notre Dame already has 14 turnovers (17th), including six interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. The Fighting Irish have outscored opponents 73-10 in points off turnovers. The Trojans have 10 interceptions this season, fifth best nationally, led by sophomore cornerback Jack Jones with four. They have forced 16 overall turnovers (ninth nationally) — the exact number committed by the USC offense. Still, opponents have scored just 24 points off USC turnovers. IN THE RED ZONE Notre Dame has scored on 24 of its 26 trips into the red zone (92.3 percent; 18th nationally) and stopped the opposition on five of 20 red-zone trips (75 percent; 28th nationally). Notre Dame, Alabama and TCU are the only schools that are ranked 30th or better in both categories.