This is the moment Notre Dame defensive lineman Rylie Mills put the Fighting in Fighting Irish with a shocking sucker-punch of his USC opponent on Saturday.
Notre Dame traveled to USC for college football’s Rivalry Week on Thanksgiving weekend, but things turned ugly early in the second quarter of the game.
With the score at 7-0 Notre Dame and with USC in the red zone, Fighting Irish lineman – and team captain – Mills aimed a shocking punch at rival Emmanuel Pregnon.
A replay on CBS showed the moment Mills turned round and slammed his fist into the face mask of the offensive lineman, rocking his head back as he tried to get up.
It appears Pregnon was holding onto Mills’ leg, which he took exception to and retaliated with the violent act.
Incredibly, there was no on-field punishment for Mills, though he could yet still face retrospective action after the game.
Rylie Mills (center left) turns to punch USC rival Emmanuel Pregnon during the second quarter
Mills connected with Pregnon’s face mask in a shocking moment – but he wasn’t punished
Mills is a graduate on Notre Dame’s roster and is one of the team’s captains for the 2024 season
In the booth, rules expert Gene Steratore said of the moment: ‘I don’t think that this is reviewable as they’re looking, but I can tell you what… that look right there, that swing, that would be an instant disqualification if they would see it, I can tell you that for sure.’
Notre Dame are enjoying a brilliant season and went into the USC game with a 10-1 record, looking to further improve their playoff credentials on the west coast.
Taking to social media, fans reacted strongly to the Mills punch, with one writing: ‘Rylie Mills needs to get kicked out. That is unacceptable behavior.’
Another added: ‘What the f*** is Rylie Mills doing there?’ but one defended the player and insisted: ‘Guy had his leg pinned in. Kind of a dirty play!’
At the half, the game was tied at 14-14, before Notre Dame took a lead midway through the third quarter.
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