Notre Dame Football: USC Trojans Q&A with Michael Muto from “Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”

Once again, those damn Trojans are the only thing standing in ND’s way to another big-time postseason berth — what should we know about them heading into the season finale??

Folks,,,

We made it. It’s finally the regular season finale for our Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend every other year where we get to watch the greatest intersectional rivalry in college sports.

Our 10-1, 5th-ranked Irish travel to the City of Angels to take on the 6-5 USC Trojans, with those bastards once again being the one team standing in the way of this ND squad earning a berth into the target postseason scenario, just like 2012 and 2018. If those seasons are any indication of how this might go, this will be no cake-walk for the Irish. USC, despite their many failings this year, still has a good deal of talent — plus, they’d love nothing more than to ruin the Irish’s season by upsetting Marcus Freeman’s squad tomorrow.

So, how should we as Irish fans prepare ourselves to #BeatSC and take care of business in order to march onward to the College Football Playoff and a near-certain opportunity to host a first round playoff game? Of course, in order to do so we once again reached out to recurring OFD Q&A interviewee Michael Muto of “Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast,” a podcast he records with our good friend Greg Flammang each week, talking about both ND and USC football’s latest games and their upcoming opponents.

Despite his poor taste in college football fandom, Michael is one of our favorite guests here in the OFD opponent Q&As, and he’s once again proven why. His responses are comprehensive, detailed, hilarious, and give us so much good insight into this USC program, how the team matches up with the Irish, way too much information about Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and much, much more.

So, we can go ahead and jump right in, starting first with a quick statement from Michael before we move into our many important and professional questions we asked him.

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Prologue from Michael:

I am honored to be back for a fourth year. I may be a Trojan fan but one of you got my Johnathan Swift reference last year, and this will now always be my home away from home. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer right? I also need to preface this year’s article with something. There are not enough sad Don Corleone memes on the internet to help me through my feelings on the benching of Miller Moss. The only other person more in the bag for Miller was his mom and we both took him losing the starting job extremely hard. The saltiness toward Lincoln Riley for what he did to my beautiful boy will be evident throughout this whole piece. What a great start to rivalry week. Let’s dive right into the questions.

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1. Lincoln Riley began his USC tenure 17-3, but since the 2023 shellacking at the hands of Notre Dame, his team is 8-10 and JUST reached bowl eligibility last weekend with a close win over UCLA.

What’s been going wrong of late for Riley and his program, and do USC fans still believe he will be able to have the Trojans competing for a CFP spot anytime soon, or has all the shine worn off with the former Oklahoma QB whisperer?

Michael Muto (“Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”): Wonderful, we are starting with Lincoln Riley questions. Did I mention he benched my favorite Trojan on the team? I should be able to be totally objective here.

If there is one thing I know about Lincoln Riley it’s he can’t cook brisket. If there are two things I know, it’s he can coach quarterbacks. Even Spencer Rattler started an NFL game this season. For whatever reason he has not clicked with his quarterbacks this year. This season the play calling seems uninspired and head scratching.

It could be a few things. Maybe the current talent on the roster can’t execute Riley’s scheme, maybe Riley needs world class talent at the QB position to make his scheme work, or it could be Riley is checked out and waiting for that Bears or Cowboys job to open up. Honestly, it’s probably some combo of all three. Lincoln Riley is totally going to block me on X after this.

2. USC had been starting Miller Moss for most of the year and he seemed to be doing alright, but recently the Trojans have apparently turned to Jayden Maiava at QB.

Why did they make the switch, how do you feel about it, and how do you expect ND to fare against Maiva? What does he do well/not well that could hurt them and/or that they could take advantage of?

Michael Muto (“Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”): Oh, sweet, a question about benching Miller Moss, this thing is going gangbusters for me. I’ve said it on the podcast and on Twitter, Miller Moss was the scapegoat for whatever is wrong with the Trojan offense. Was he perfect? No. And does the quarterback get blamed for most issues? Sure.

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But there is and was a lot going wrong with USC this year. At the start of the season the offensive line had some issues. I believe against Michigan some linemen had negative PFF grades. (is that a thing?). Watch the receivers, they always bobble the ball before they catch it. And running back Woody Marks is having one of the best rushing seasons for a Trojan in a while and yet he never seems to get the ball enough. You take all of that, add it to some untimely interceptions and everyone hates Miller Moss. Well, everyone but me and Emily.

I wish and hope for all the best for new quarterback Jayden Maiava, but the last two games have been a rollercoaster. The game winning play against terrible UCLA was just Maiava running around doing a bad Caleb Williams impression until he found a receiver who was barely open for a touchdown. Can that beat Notre Dame, sure why not?

3. Who are the Trojans skill position players to know on offense, and which ones could do some damage on Saturday against the Irish? Also, how do you anticipate the USC offensive line will hold up against the Irish defensive front?

Michael Muto (“Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”): Who are the Trojan skill position players you should know about? Well, I mentioned Woody Marks and his great season running the ball. He is second in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards, and he has the longest active streak of games with a reception in the nation. Fun fact, Woody is his nickname because he loves Toy Story. The worst character in the movie, but still fun, nonetheless.

His back up is Quinten Joyner, who is good for one big play a game and then inexplicably never gets the ball again. I am mad at the receivers but there is Zachariah Branch. He was an All-American punt returner last year. This year he has decided to stop trying to return punts, was taken off the kickoff return team, and has had some bad drops. Lately he’s started to round into form and make some good plays. He’s your classic athlete in space. Then there is Deuce Robinson. He is very tall, and quarterbacks like to throw to him.

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My favorite non-Miller Moss Trojan is receiver Makai Lemon. He is a former five star, runs good routes, and knows how to get open. There are also Ja’Kobi Lane and Kyron Hudson. Hudson has made some great highlight reel catches this year and Lane stood up for Miller Moss on X, so I like him and Lincoln Riley doesn’t.

I mentioned the offensive line had a real rough go early in the season, but it looks like they’ve come together lately. I know Notre Dame has a good defensive line, but USC should be able to hold their own and not be embarrassed.

4. What position groups are the strengths/weaknesses of the USC defense, and do you think the Trojans are good enough against the run to contain the rushing attack the Irish have been pummeling opponents with lately?

Michael Muto (“Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”): I got to say some nice things about the Trojans in the above answer, but the tide seems to be turning…awe man a question about the defense.

The Trojan defense is literally 100% better than last year. While in and of itself that is a good thing, I’ve had it out for this unit all season. They may not give up big plays, but they also don’t make any. The defensive line had no sacks for the first nine games. I’m not smart enough to know what HAVOC rate is, but this team is bad at it. They give up long drives and don’t get a lot of turnovers.

USC is always in close games, so I guess they are doing something right. I assume its more of the same for the Trojans this week. They will make a few more stops than Notre Dame has been used to lately, but I bet they give up some points at an inopportune time.

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5. Do you still have nightmares about Xavier Watts from last year? Are you aware he’s still back there lurking for Al Golden’s defense this weekend? It’s okay to close your eyes.

Michael Muto (“Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”): This guy I follow on X said that Notre Dame has 9 dropped interceptions on the season.

I’ve watched Jayden Maiava and Xavier Watts both play football; I guarantee that Watts gets his hands on a Maiava pass. What happens next is anyone’s guess.

6. FAN QUESTION:

Michael Muto (“Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”): We’ve come this far so I feel like I can be honest with everyone, I loved the Pac-12. It was constantly underrated. Tons of great teams and great players. Look, Oregon is the #1 team in the nation and ASU is trying to win the Big-12. The Pac-12 will always have my heart.

The reverse is also true. I hate the B1G. The teams are overrated, play boring offense, and the logo is dumb. Any group that has Michigan in it is not for me. Having said all that, this is a down year for the Trojans and things have seemed to be fine in the B1G.

7. FAN QUESTION:

Michael Muto (“Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”): I really psyched myself up for this question and then got super nervous about answering it. I got so nervous, in fact I almost had ChatGPT write this section for me. I came to my senses, reminded myself I could do this, and that John Henry died for something. We are better than machines. However, I will say the robot had some good ones like, “Grab a beer or a chalice of holy water”, “Rudy was offside and overrated”, and “This rivalry is stupid, it’s petty, it’s exhausting, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world”. On to the Aqua Teen rankings:

Number 5: Dumber Dolls. Happy Time Harry looked like a cool doll for Meatwad, but turned out to be an awful, depressed guy who ruins everyone’s fun. Sounds like this year’s Trojans. Also, Lincoln Riley can sure as hell be Jiggle Billy. Those night vision googles he doesn’t know what to do with are clearly Miller Moss. Also, this season probably has Riley Pretty depressed too.

Number 4: MC Pee Pants. There is no way I can concisely describe the episodes of this crazy cartoon. You either know or you don’t at this point. MC Pee Pants. The giant spider is college football. He tricks us only to bring us to our doom. The free candy is the wins along the way but the drill to hell is where we all end up. USC got there sooner but don’t worry we are still waiting for you Notre Dame.

Number 3: Frat Aliens. Just to add some credibility to the proceedings here, the Frat Aliens, D.P. and Skeeter, were voiced by Patton Oswald. So, who are the Frat Aliens? Who is most likely to say, “my dad owns a dealership”? I’m going with Riley Leonard. Let’s not forget the guy went to Duke.

Number 2: The Broodwitch. The best part of this ridiculous cartoon is that it barely makes any sense. A cursed sandwich from hell that you can’t stop eating. I’ll give that to Pete Carroll. Could we talk about USC/Notre Dame and not mention Sneaky Pete? No sir. He is somehow a great gift from the football gods and an albatross that all Trojan teams and coaches get compared to.

Number 1: Revenge of the Mooninities. The title of the episode mentions the Mooninities who are in and of themselves pretty funny, but what I’m here for is Carl and the Foreigner Belt. When I reviewed the top ATHF episode list created by A.I, there was something lacking and it was Carl. Not one Carl heavy episode was listed. That’s crazy. Carl is the best and I guess robots don’t understand that. We have the upper hand for now fellow humans. Who is Carl? No one on either team really seems like a Carl to me. I’m going to give it to Traveler. That beautiful white horse who is always there like a constant stalwart in good seasons and in bad. Traveler is the best and there is nothing like seeing that majestic steed on the field, just like there is nothing similar to Carl with the Foreigner Belt.

I apologize to everyone who has no idea what Aqua Teen Hunger Force is. Thanks for hanging in there.

8. Since this will be published either on/after Thanksgiving, let’s look ahead to Christmas — if you could compare this USC football season to a classic/favorite Christmas/holiday movie, what movie would it be and which players and coaches would represent which of the main characters/moments from the movie?

Bonus points if you use Jingle All The Way, my personal favorite Christmas movie, but feel free to choose whatever film you see fit.

Michael Muto (“Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”): On or after Thanksgiving!?!?!?! Everyone around here is too used to ACC teams. This is the greatest intersectional rivalry in all of college football, there are standards. (Writer’s Note: My Thanksgiving planning went full Pac-12 after dark the second I wrote this. I want my hubris to be memorialized on the internet forever though).

Now, I am a man of honor so I will lead off by telling you I have never seen Jingle All the Way. I wanted to do Die Hard so I could say “Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs” and work it into a bit about Notre Dame losing. Unfortunately, I don’t think there are enough characters in Die Hard to do this question justice, and Hans Gruber is one of the best movie villains of all time so I’m not giving Lincoln Riley that honor. Love Actually it is.

Let’s start at the top. Marcus Freeman is obviously Hugh Grant. He’s charming. He’s in charge but is he really in charge? I also assume every portal quarterback you get starts out as a meet-cute with him and Marcus.

Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images

This would make Riley Leonard the secretary he falls in love with? Sure, why not? Riley is only here for one season and won’t be a part of our lives again. Also, the NIU game is like everyone commenting on that woman’s body all the time.

Okay time for some Trojans. Eddie Czaplicki is…. Well, I should tell you who he is in real life first. Eddie is USC’s all-world punter. He is truly the best punter in the nation and one of the best parts of the team. Since he is the best part of the team, he should be the best part of the movie, that little kid who plays the drums. He just wants a girlfriend which is like Eddie leaving ASU for USC and he has a skill that makes everyone like him. Just like the little kid woos the girl with his drum skills.

Woody Marks is Colin Firth. They are both pretty charming and just like Firth is off in Spain the USC run game is off doing it’s own thing, especially around the goal line.

Makai Lemon is Liam Neeson because they both have a very particular set of skills, wait wrong movie but still accurate. Also, Lemon was Moss’s favorite receiver so now he has to learn to love again since his quarterback was taken away from him.

Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price and even Riley Leonard are Keira Knightley, Chiwetel Ejofor and the guy from the Walking Dead (Carrrllll). They all are super intertwined just like the Notre Dame running game. I am pretty sure Love will be the star on Saturday but as a USC fan let me tell you I’m not counting out Price’s ability to get in on the action.

Xavier Watts is the guy who plays Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean. He’s the guy with the most accolades, the reigning defensive player of the year and just like that Christmas song becomes a hit, I bet Watts has a great game against USC.

Jayden Maiava is obviously the stand-ins. He’s standing in for my guy Miller Moss. Hear me out, at the end of the movie those two people get engaged so I want a happy ending for Jayden. Maybe it could even be a win against Notre Dame.

Miller Moss is obviously Emma Thompson. Getting benched is his version of unwrapping a Joni Mitchell CD.

So, this must make Lincoln Riley Alan Rickman. Not Hans Gruber Rickman, but scumbag philanderer Rickman in Love Actually. Nobody puts Miller Moss in a corner.

9. Alright, let’s get down to it: who wins, what’s the final score, and how does it happen?

Michael Muto (“Untitled Notre Dame USC Podcast”): On to the prediction. Every USC game has been close this year. They are like 6 plays away from being undefeated. Also, about 4 plays away from being 3-8, but I digress. Vegas only put a 7 point spread on this game in favor of the Irish. Additionally, lots of Notre Dame people have told me they are worried about this game, which is fun.

Putting all these things together, the game should be close. I’ve been honest this whole time and I’m not going to stop now, this has been a bad season for the Trojans and me and as a fan. There is no way it ends up happy. Also, Notre Dame has been rolling for weeks now, and I don’t think this boring USC defense will stop that. Notre Dame wins and Notre Dame covers. Something like 30-20 Irish.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and since it’s in Los Angeles I may even be at the game. Fight On!

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Alright folks, I want to give a MASSIVE thank you and shout-out to Michael for once again putting up with all our ridiculous questions (especially a wild Aqua Teen Hunger Force detour in the question list this year), and highly recommend you all go check out his and Greg’s podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.

Additionally, you’re going to want to follow the man on Twitter. He’s an excellent follow on that site we all love, and will surely provide some great insight, news, thoughts, feelings, and opinions leading up to the game on Saturday, as well as during and after. You won’t regret it.

That’s it for this week and our last opponent Q&A until the postseason, y’all — as always, GO IRISH, BEAT SC!!!!!!!!!