The 86th meeting between USC and Notre Dame will take place November 29. (ND leads the series, 45-35-5, and has won the last two meetings). As the two programs progress toward rivalry week, we'll take a weekly look at current trends, and the current state of hostilities, between the Trojans and the Fighting Irish.
Days until game: 95
2014 Notre Dame-USC power index: 1. USC 2. Notre Dame
Notre Dame this week: vs. Rice, Saturday, 3:30 (Notre Dame -21)
USC this week: vs. Fresno State, Saturday, 7:30 (USC -22)
Notre Dame storyline: Embattled Brian Kelly and his embattled program will embattle Rice minus the embattling services of WR DaVaris Daniels, CB Keivarae Russell, LB Ishaq Williams, and LB Kendall Moore, who were suspended two weeks ago amid a probe into academic misconduct. None of which will matter this week, but Michigan's up next, so this dress rehearsal will be of interest. Also, the second Everett Golson era begins.
USC storyline: It's the beginning of the Steve Sarkisian era, wherein a man who consistently won five Pac-12 games per year begins coaching at a place where five Pac-12 wins will be fine if the calendar still reads 'October.' Also, USC cornerback Josh Shaw might have hurt his ankles saving Lennay Kekua, or something.
Moment in hatestory: October 23, 1971
Before The Eagles came along and convinced Californians to mellow out, things like this happened. The fight started in the second quarter when USC's John Vella, taking issue with an apparent late hit, went after Notre Dame's Greg Marx and ignited a brawl in which police
involvement was required to restore order in South Bend. USC won the game, 28-14, ending the Irish's national title hopes. Then Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne wrote "Take It Easy."
Hate tweets:
I swear to high Heaven if Notre Dame gets a lighter punishment than USC I'm breaking something.
— Robert Ortiz (@DraftOrtiz) August 15, 2014
The USC-ND rivalry lives on!! The Trojans will see your Manti Teo story and raise you a Josh Shaw!! http://t.co/1h3P95YZ6L
— TriState Sports Guys (@TriState_Sports) August 26, 2014 So we have another FAKE in college football with USC's Josh Shaw...no drowing nephew....tops FAKE Girlfriend. ND you are off the hook.
— Joe Kapp (@937Catfish) August 26, 2014 If Josh Shaw is found to be lying, his punishment should be transfering to Notre Dame.
— James David Dickson (@JamesDDetroit) August 26, 2014 Give us your thoughts on the USC/Notre Dame rivalry below, or @EyeonCFB. If your tweet is selected for "Countdown to Notre Dame at USC" next week, you will be the lucky recipient of some retaliatory anger from strangers on the internet.
MORE RIVALRIES: Alabama-Auburn | Florida-FSU | Michigan-Ohio State