#NDInsider Twitter Chatter: Notre Dame-USC

IRISH STEW

Tyler James

South Bend Tribune

Twitter can be a fun (or depressing) and brutally honest (or unreasonable) place during Notre Dame football games. That's why we open up this space for the #NDInsider Twitter Chatter after games.

During the game, readers are encouraged to send their thoughts and observations with the #NDInsider hashtag to be considered for our postgame fan recap. They joined us with their 140-character takes during the game.

As always, we asked for pregame predictions. One fan (@mpatrick_24) was extremely confident, while others were a little more cautious. The confident pick ended up pretty close to Notre Dame's 49-14 victory.

ND 42

USC 10#NDInsider

— Patrick (@mpatrick_24) October 21, 2017

#NDInsider pic.twitter.com/SsA9Jshmsu

— Patrick Cortesi (@patio44) October 21, 2017

This maybe the single most important game for @CoachBrianKelly as Head Coach at @NDFootball A MUST WIN #NDvsUSC #GoIrish #NDInsider

— Joel DeLorge (@JoelDeLorge) October 21, 2017

Last pre-kick off thought: Martini's absence seems like it's going to matter. #NDInsider

— Donald (@Fresno_Domer) October 21, 2017

Notre Dame helped wipe away any early trepidation with a fast start. Linebacker Te'von Coney stripped quarterback Sam Darnold on USC's first offensive play. The Irish converted that turnover into a 26-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Wimbush to Equanimeous St. Brown. On the next offensive series for Notre Dame, Wimbush found Kevin Stepherson for a 23-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Gorgeous play calling by Notre Dame after that turnover. #NDInsider #NDvsUSC #Irish

— Matt Lozar (@matt_lozar) October 21, 2017

EQ. It's been a minute. #NDInsider

— Donald (@Fresno_Domer) October 21, 2017

YESSSSSSS offense...don't let our defense be the only studs out here tonight...EQ let's go...#NDInsider #USCvsND

— Cocosnapslife (@cdn515) October 21, 2017

WELCOME BACK, KJ!! #NDInsider

— Jude (@andrewwinn) October 22, 2017

Those hands tho #NDInsider #NDvsUSC

— Carleton Butler (@carleton_butler) October 22, 2017

Notre Dame's defense held up it's end of the deal. The first three USC drives ended in a fumble and two punts in just nine plays. The Trojans put together a drive on the fourth series, but it was ruined by a missed 27-yard field goal.

ND defense making Darnold look rattled and confused early on... #NDInsider

— Paul_In_Maple (@CLE_CLCFan) October 22, 2017

Huge missed FG! Keeping USC scoreless. I ❤️ it. #NDInsider

— Stephanie Winters (@stephie_winters) October 22, 2017

Notre Dame took a 21-0 lead shortly after Drue Tranquill recovered a botched punt return by USC. Three plays later, Josh Adams punched in a three-yard touchdown run. The growing margin brought on some strong (and hilarious) reactions from Irish fans.

*Because so many great GIFs were submitted, I decided to cut this section short and put the remaining GIFs at the end of this Twitter Chatter.

#NDinsider pic.twitter.com/A6IriKNtLP

— Jeff Wheeler (@JeffFaFa101915) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider pic.twitter.com/BJWub6wsPy

— Nicholas Ayers (@NicholasAyers) October 22, 2017

#NDINSIDER pic.twitter.com/TIDl6dTfKM

— Ernesto Alvarado (@ErnestoAlvarad6) October 22, 2017

#NDinsider pic.twitter.com/FANdkbIOap

— Knute's_Kid (@Bring_Back_Cito) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider pic.twitter.com/67TndscEC8

— Aaron Wilson (@AMWilson33) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider pic.twitter.com/MFXnDwEdAl

— Jude (@andrewwinn) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider pic.twitter.com/Ify4wywqm4

— Chris Kosiak (@C_K_42) October 22, 2017

#NdInsider pic.twitter.com/hCOqAFaw4L

— Go Irish (@IrishRVA) October 22, 2017

@TJamesNDI #NDInsider pic.twitter.com/MiwNifWI6h

— The New ND Network (@TNNDN) October 22, 2017

WOOOOOO!!! #NDInsider #NDvsUSC pic.twitter.com/JowAtCf3ie

— Joel DeLorge (@JoelDeLorge) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider pic.twitter.com/yxXmleSqAF

— Victoria Jacobsen (@Vicky_Jacobsen) October 22, 2017

Notre Dame pushed its lead to 28-0 by halftime with a Wimbush touchdown run. That score would have been an unlikely final for Saturday's matchup of ranked teams, let alone a halftime margin. The Irish couldn't have asked for a better start.

#NDInsider...id say #ND is announcing their arrival to the Playoff talk & it's not even halftime!! #GoIRISH

— Julie DeMaegd (@jdjules2u) October 22, 2017

If you would’ve told me that ND would be up 28-0 at half, I would not have believed you. #NDInsider

— Stephanie Winters (@stephie_winters) October 22, 2017

Absolutely dominant running game and tough D. Smash mouth on both sides of the ball #NDInsider

— Th3Bill (@Th3Bill) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider Defense!!! Not afraid at all

— Steve DePoy (@SteveDePoy) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider the dominant performance by the offensive and defensive lines.

— Jim Mordaunt (@WhatHeDoingHere) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider Wimbush looks like a completely different QB than the earlier games

— rrat (@RRatkay) October 22, 2017

Wimbush can throw! #NDInsider

— Josh (@jmc_926) October 22, 2017

Opportunistic defense #NDInsider

— Mr. Sarcasm (@sarcasm4_u) October 22, 2017

ND looking good in all phases, but another half to go. Hold me! #NDInsider

— yo murphy (@rofeal1) October 22, 2017

Total defensive domination #NDInsider

— William Redmond (@parkslopeirish) October 22, 2017

Irish totally prepared in all phases.

Physical everywhere.#NDInsider

— lv teacher (@lv_teacher) October 22, 2017

#ndinsider Pass Rush! https://t.co/maL2l97sHi

— Perry Osborn (@ND_OB) October 22, 2017

Defense. Defense. Defense. Make turnovers into points. Great half. #NDInsider

— Chris Scheiber (@scheib43) October 22, 2017

Am I the only one who thinks the second could completely flip and this ends up close. Notre Dame has taken their foot off the throats of many opponents. #NDInsider

— Dave Hodges (@Big_DHodges) October 22, 2017

O-LINE U! #NDInsider

— J.J. Gregg (@Mr_Gregg) October 22, 2017

Let's slow our roll everyone. Four score leads are the worst leads. (Kinda serious) #NDInsider

— Donald (@Fresno_Domer) October 22, 2017

Wimbush putting on a clinic as well as both lines just dominating #NDInsider

— Yimmy (@Jim_e312) October 22, 2017

Just a reminder that USC has scored 43 percent of its points this season in the fourth quarter or overtime. #NDFB #NDInsider pic.twitter.com/Xw98nHE6M5

— Jude (@andrewwinn) October 22, 2017

– @NDFootball Fan, probably#NDInsider

— ND Club of Miami (@NDMiami) October 22, 2017

USC's offense showed some signs of life in the third quarter with Darnold making plays for the Trojans. He put USC on the board with a touchdown pass to Steven Mitchell. Wimbush responded with another touchdown run.

Another Darnold touchdown pass, this time for 16 yards to Deontay Burnett, put the score at 35-14 and threatened to put some game pressure on Notre Dame. What little pressure existed evaporated in one play: an 84-yard, untouched run by Adams for a touchdown.

@TJamesNDI I heard Sam Darnold just tried to force his way into the Notre Dame locker room. Live look in of the confrontation #NDInsider pic.twitter.com/ckvivaae9V

— Jude (@andrewwinn) October 22, 2017

Darnold is going to put up a boatload of "garbage time" stats in the second half... #NDInsider

— Paul_In_Maple (@CLE_CLCFan) October 22, 2017

He Gawn #NDinsider

— Pat, from Texas (@elbigpadre) October 22, 2017

Adams should have did the Heisman pose on the end of that run. #ndinsider #NDvsUSC

— Carleton Butler (@carleton_butler) October 22, 2017

That Josh Adams run was a thing of beauty. The right guard made that hole for him!#NDvUSC #NDInsider

— Robert (@REMMER1551) October 22, 2017

When is Josh Adams going to start getting some national recognition!?!?! @NDFootball #NDInsider

— Th3Bill (@Th3Bill) October 22, 2017

How can Josh Adams from Notre Dame NOT be in the talk for Heisman? Look at the strength of schedule, stats! #NDInsider

— James Dunkelberger (@jdunkirish7) October 22, 2017

@TJamesNDI is Kelly going to try to return the favor for all the points Carroll put up on ND? #NDinsider

— Pat, from Texas (@elbigpadre) October 22, 2017

#AdamsForHeisman #AdamsForHeisman #AdamsForHeisman #AdamsForHeisman #NDInsider #AdamsForHeisman #NDinMiami #AdamsForHeisman

☘️

— ND Club of Miami (@NDMiami) October 22, 2017

Thanks to USC, Josh Adams just keeps running and running and running... #NDInsider pic.twitter.com/XM2hYFlzIK

— Dave Hancock (@dhancock110) October 22, 2017

Coaches talk about playing for each other. ND is a an unselfish a team as they have had in a while. Everyone blocks for each other all over the field. #NDInsider

— Dave Hodges (@Big_DHodges) October 22, 2017

Adams added another touchdown to complete the rout and make way for the backups to receive some action. The 49-14 victory would propel the Irish into the Top 10 of the AP Poll for the first time since the the 2016 preseason rankings.

game ball goes 2 brian kelly #NDInsider

— Patrick (@mpatrick_24) October 22, 2017

Great Win!!! Need to stay focused and not let success get in the way of the final goal #CFBPlayoff #NDInsider #GoIrish☘️☘️

— CR33 (@Craigr_33) October 22, 2017

Final takeaway: LOL @ USC. #NDInsider

— Brandelion (@Sir_Brandelion) October 22, 2017

How am I supposed to sleep tonight. #NDInsider

— Go Irish (@IrishRVA) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider Still concered about sub 50% vompletions, sub 7 YPA from Wimbush. With running game strong, play action should yield better

— Eric Ruethling (@ericruethling) October 22, 2017

ND looked good today... Need to keep it up for the rest of the season... #NDInsider

— Paul_In_Maple (@CLE_CLCFan) October 22, 2017

Notre Dame has solidified themselves a top 10 ranking and another showdown next week at home against a rank opp. #NDInsider

— The Buzzer Beater (@AlwaysShootThe3) October 22, 2017

Physically didn’t just compete, dominated #ndinsider

— Kevin Fitzgerald (@DocFitz47) October 22, 2017

Comprehensive beatdown. Full credit to Kelly & co. There is a long way to go but I have a good feeling about this team. #NDInsider

— yo murphy (@rofeal1) October 22, 2017

*BONUS GIFS* Just in case you didn't get a sense for how Irish fans were reacting to a blowout of USC, here are some more submissions that should do the trick.

#NDInsider pic.twitter.com/J6jti2UTv8

— Bryan Taylor (@BTaylorND50) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider ☘️☘️☘️ (post INT) pic.twitter.com/4RjRIXe4aY

— Nicole Becker (@Crazy4OReilly90) October 22, 2017

#NDinsider pic.twitter.com/Mta4rTufmF

— Chris Williams (@chrisjwill84) October 22, 2017

@TJamesNDI #ndinsider pic.twitter.com/47uIuw7gE6

— Kevin Hyde (@Go_Irish1) October 22, 2017

#NDInsider is it too early for some Cobra Kai? pic.twitter.com/LFtWhF0kgl

— ChicksDigScars (@Chezhdchick) October 22, 2017

#NDinsider pic.twitter.com/Er6pBhxEQq

— Mitch McCabe (@mmcCabe111) October 22, 2017