Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts (0) scores a touchdown in front of USC Trojans wide receiver Mario Williams (4) after a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 48-20. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Did Notre Dame safety predict his big game against USC?

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 10/15/23

On Saturday, No. 21 Notre Dame crushed No. 10 USC 48-20, but the story was the struggles of QB Caleb Williams. Irish safety Xavier Watts was the main culprit responsible for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner's down night, and he may have predicted it.

Earlier in the week, Watts, who hadn't been playing up to his standards thus far, talked to reporters about being too indecisive and vowed to change that against USC.

"I feel like lately I've been a little too hesitant," Watts said via Irish Sports Daily. "I just need to shoot my shot and show I'm capable of what I've been known to do, what I've done before. Just thinking too much out there."

Xavier Watts on Tuesday: "I feel like lately I’ve been a little too hesitant. I just need to shoot my shot."

Watts on Saturday: 2 picks and a fumble return for a touchdown.
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) October 15, 2023

Watts turned his words into action, having the game of a lifetime against the Trojans.

The senior recorded a pair of interceptions against Williams, who'd been picked off only once in six games entering play Saturday.

Watts added even more to the stat sheet, posting six solo tackles, one pass defense, a forced fumble and later a fumble return for a touchdown, adding an exclamation point on Notre Dame's blowout victory.

I mean what more can you say about this Notre Dame defense!@NDFootball | #BigSaturdayNight pic.twitter.com/2fdvhfxzCs
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 15, 2023

After his tremendous outing, Watts gave the credit to his teammates but picked the scoop-and-score touchdown as his favorite big play of the night.

Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman was so impressed by Watts that he paused his press conference to shout him out. While standing at the podium, Hartman yelled, "Hey guys, that guy is really good at football," pointing at Watts as he entered the room.

The victory helped the Irish improve to 6-2 (3-1), and following arguably one of the best individual defensive performances in the program's history, it's a contest Watts won't soon forget.

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