After back-to-back nine victories, Marcus Freeman and his team are all set to face the rival USC Trojans. Fighting Irish will be entering the game with a solid 10-1 record with the only intention to win and solidify their place in the playoffs.

See, Notre Dame’s quarterback carries the legacy of excelling in college football and Riley Leonard continued the legacy by leading the team in the right direction and helping them stand at No. 5 in the College Football Playoffs.

On November 30, the CBS Sports College Football X account shared Marcus Freeman‘s interview just before they entered the rivalry game as they sit in prime position for a potential CFB berth. Freeman could not stop himself from appreciating his new starting quarterback and said, “I think this season is a great reflection of Riley Leonard’s progress.” Well, it has. How can a quarterback join Notre Dame and not shine? Duke’s former player has improved a lot this season and his biggest plus point is his speed.

Marcus further added, “He didn’t get the spring and summer development that you usually tend to get when you’re the starting quarterback. And then, as you go into the first game of the year, he played well enough to help us win. And now he’s playing with such confidence, and he is leading.”

This season Leonard has played 38 games combined with the Blue Devils and Notre Dame’s records are exceptional. He has passed for 6,387 yards and scored 38 touchdowns only with 14 interceptions. Not just that, he has rushed for 1,895 yards and 32 TDs. Riley is very determined and filled with extraordinary skills. His dual threat abilities make him standout and Marcus Freeman‘s statements can clearly tell that he is fortunate to have him on the team.

Moving forward, let’s see what USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn said about Riley Leonard before facing him and the team.

Riley Leonard vs. USC Trojans

This season has been a rollercoaster ride for Riley and the Trojans; it didn’t go as per expectations. Although they do not have much to lose entering the game with a 6-5 record with their playoff hopes shatter last week. They have a lot more to prove to the world of college football as they play against their rivals, Notre Dame. But what can be their biggest threat?

Answer is Riley Leonard! Earlier this week, D’Anton Lynn made it clear that stopping Riley’s run game can be a problem for them. “He’s very, very fast,” he added, “and he’s so tall that he doesn’t look that fast on tape. But he covers a lot of ground.” He also mentioned that stopping him on 3rd down and in the red zone “is going to be critical.” 

This shows Leonard’s improvement with Notre Dame and his skills to win games. Although USC is out of the 2024 race, they will surely not hand the victory easily as they are playing against their rivals. Meanwhile, Riley and the head coach very well understand the importance of winning, as they aim to win the national championship. Who do you think is winning: Trojans OR Notre Dame?