Just before National Signing Day, the Notre Dame football team had hoped to add one more Top candidate in his class. Unfortunately, it looks like the Irish lost their battle with USC for the 4-star linebacker, even though they beat the Trojans right in front of him on the field.

Top-100 linebacker Madden Faraimo was in attendance to see the Blue and Gold defeat the newest Big Ten team, but that had no bearing on his choice, according to some of the country’s best-known personnel analysts. Instead, he is leaning towards the Californian school, although that was previously suspected Steep slope towards South Bend.

On Monday, National Analysts Blair Angulo and Tom Loy of 247Sports gave crystal balls for Faraimo choosing USC on signing day. This decision effectively closes Notre Dame football’s recruiting class with the Signing kicker Erik Schmidt.

Him going to USC is a bit of a surprise, as all predictions so far were that Faraimo would end up in South Bend, but with the early signing period fast approaching, it looks like the Irish will have to end up Let the class work some magic for him.

Currently, Notre Dame football only has one linebacker signed in the 2025 class, Ko’o Kia, so getting another one was a big recruiting goal. Now it looks like the Irish will have to look to whoever doesn’t sign on Wednesday to fill that spot.