The moment Bishop Fitzgerald streaked through Michigan’s offensive line on a third-down blitz, defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn knew something had changed. The redshirt senior safety’s 11-yard sack of freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood wasn’t just a momentum-shifter in USC’s 31-13 victory—it was validation.
“[Lynn] usually lets other people go,” Fitzgerald said. “So that’s why it was a special moment for me. I finally went and got one.”
For a USC defense that surrendered 34 points and allowed senior QB Luke Altmyer to carve it up for 331 yards in a gut-wrenching loss at Illinois two weeks earlier, the Michigan game was a statement of intent heading into tomorrow night’s rivalry showdown at Notre Dame.
The numbers tell just a part of the story. Fitzgerald hauled in two interceptions to complement his first career sack, earning national recognition as both the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week and Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week.
“He’s right place, right time. When you’re playing safety that’s an important task,” Lynn said. “He’s made a ton of plays for us and I’m super happy we have him.”
The Trojans held Michigan to just 109 rushing yards and 207 passing yards, dominating a Wolverines offense that had been averaging over seven yards per play in most of their previous contests.
But redshirt junior defensive tackle Devan Thompkins wasn’t celebrating. He knew that the next week his group would face another high-powered run game, and he had faith that his group would once again answer the call.
“Every team we play is gonna be talented, but we’re talented too and I have the utmost confidence that we’ll do what we’re supposed to do and building on everything,” Thompkins said.
That sense of unity will be tested like never before against this Notre Dame offense. Redshirt freshman QB CJ Carr is operating at peak efficiency alongside the one-two punch in the backfield of juniors Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, players who can shift the game with their explosiveness. Last season, the duo torched the Trojans with 25 combined carries, 210 yards and two scores.
And while he hasn’t scored yet this season, the Irish also boast an athletic, 6-foot-7 tight end in senior Eli Raridon, who averages 17.1 yards per play and has totaled 342 yards on 20 receptions.
“He’s the best tight end we’ll play all year,” Lynn said of Raridon. “He can block, he can run routes in line, he’s very very good at attacking the ball. Some of the balls thrown to him downfield he’s not open but the quarterback trusts him, and it’s gonna be a big matchup for our inside backers and our DBs.”
USC’s defensive line, which boasts one of the nation’s best pass rushes on paper, managed just one sack and two tackles for loss two weeks ago turned it around against Michigan allowing just 4.9 yards per carry and forcing three sacks.
They wanted to start fast and did exactly that, dialing up the pressure packages that sent Fitzgerald and others covering gaps, forcing Underwood into uncomfortable throws and ultimately two costly interceptions.
Lynn told Fitzgerald he was “going to call it a little aggressive” against Michigan, and the results spoke for themselves. The question now is whether that aggression can translate against an offense far more polished than what Michigan brought to the Coliseum.
The Trojans have experience slowing down dynamic backfields—they held Michigan’s ground game in check last Saturday. But Love and Price represent a different challenge entirely, one that will require increased gap discipline and tackling fundamentals that haven’t been consistently present.
Redshirt junior safety Kamari Ramsey’s presence immediately stabilized the secondary on Saturday after missing the Illinois game. His production will also be crucial against an Irish passing attack that ranks the best in the country in converting on third-and-long.
As USC walks into the cauldron of Notre Dame Stadium tomorrow night, the defense carries with it the confidence of the Michigan game, though they aren’t satisfied. They know what they’re capable of when everything clicks and they also know how quickly it can all fall apart.
This unit’s story is one of attempts to find consistency. After a concerning start to the season, the group is still working to get healthier and more consistent. Tomorrow night’s battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh will be a key test to see if this improvement is sustainable.