USC at Notre Dame Week 8 College Football Matchup USC at Notre Dame Matchup - Week 8
Sat, Oct 18 2025 · Week 8 · 🏟 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN · Turf · 80,795 cap
USC✈ 1,815 mi+3 hr TZ
Away
24 34
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
USC
23
Notre Dame
37
P&R Line Notre Dame -13.5
P&R Total O/U 60
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Notre Dame -10.5 · O/U 60.5
Matchup Prediction
USC has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor USC entering this game.
Momentum Control
73.7%
USC wins
Solid
Game Control
58.3%
USC wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Notre Dame -10.5
O/U 60.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Notre Dame · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Notre Dame 3rd straight Home Game
USC 2025 Schedule
USC's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30USC vs Missouri State-34.5W73–1359.5W73–13OY
Sat 9/6USC vs Georgia Southern-29.0W59–2061.5W59–20OY
Sat 9/13USC at Purdue-20.5W33–1759.5W33–17UN
Sat 9/20USC vs Michigan State-18.5W45–3155.5W45–31ON
Sat 9/27USC at Illinois-6.5L32–3462.5L32–34ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/11USC vs Michigan-3.0W31–1358.5W31–13UY
Sat 10/18USC at Notre Dame+10.5L24–3460.5L24–34UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/1USC at Nebraska-4.5W21–1759.5W21–17UN
Fri 11/7USC vs Northwestern-14.5W38–1754.5W38–17OY
Sat 11/15USC vs Iowa-6.5W26–2148.5W26–21UN
Sat 11/22USC at Oregon+10.5L27–4259.5L27–42ON
Sat 11/29USC vs UCLA-21.0W29–1059.0W29–10UN
Tue 12/30USC vs TCU-4.5L27–3056.5L27–30ON
Notre Dame 2025 Schedule
Notre Dame's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sun 8/31Notre Dame at Miami-2.5L24–2753.5L24–27UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/13Notre Dame vs Texas A&M-7.5L40–4148.5L40–41ON
Sat 9/20Notre Dame vs Purdue-24.5W56–3051.5W56–30OY
Sat 9/27Notre Dame at Arkansas-5.5W56–1364.5W56–13OY
Sat 10/4Notre Dame vs Boise State-21.5W28–763.5W28–7UN
Sat 10/11Notre Dame vs NC State-23.5W36–759.5W36–7UY
Sat 10/18Notre Dame vs USC-10.5W34–2460.5W34–24UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/1Notre Dame at Boston College-31.5W25–1055.5W25–10UN
Sat 11/8Notre Dame vs Navy-30.5W49–1054.5W49–10OY
Sat 11/15Notre Dame at Pittsburgh-12.5W37–1555.5W37–15UY
Sat 11/22Notre Dame vs Syracuse-36.5W70–751.5W70–7OY
Sat 11/29Notre Dame at Stanford-32.5W49–2050.5W49–20ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season
Notre Dame PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Notre Dame
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Notre Dame
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Notre Dame
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
USC #7
+0.371
Notre Dame #4
+0.511
Notre Dame Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
USC #4
+0.607
Notre Dame #10
+0.639
Notre Dame Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
USC #63
0.159
Notre Dame #19
0.184
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Notre Dame Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
USC #10
+7.235
Notre Dame #6
+8.323
Notre Dame Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
USC #11
+0.852
Notre Dame #10
+0.943
Notre Dame Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
USC #120
72.8
Notre Dame #9
67.5
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Notre Dame Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Notre Dame Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
USC
17.0
Notre Dame
28.3
Offense Rating
USC
26.2
Notre Dame
29.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
USC
9.1
Notre Dame
0.0
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? USC Edge
Avg sequences created per game
USC #11
2.67
Notre Dame #10
1.67
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
USC #7
0.17
Notre Dame #19
0.50
USC +1.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 73.7% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? USC Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
USC #1
70.7
Notre Dame #1
64.1
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
USC #41
17.6
Notre Dame #2
19.9
USC +6.6
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.3% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on USC. Teams with this edge profile have covered 50.3% historically — essentially a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
USC
Lincoln Riley #1
25–14 (64%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Luke Huard Yr 1 #1
DC D'Anton Lynn Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Notre Dame
Marcus Freeman #1
33–10 (77%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Mike Denbrock Yr 2 #1
DC Chris Ash Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself