The 86th meeting between Southern California and Notre Dame will take place Nov. 29. (ND leads the series, 45-35-5, and has won the past 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: 60
2014 Notre Dame-USC power index: 1. Notre Dame (4-0); 2. USC (3-1)
Notre Dame last week: Notre Dame earned its second straight sloppy win, committing five turnovers in a 31-15 victory over Syracuse that was closer than it should have been. The Irish did move the ball at will when they weren't turning it over, finishing with 517 yards, including 362 with four touchdowns on 32-of-39 passing for Everett Golson.
USC last week: USC had two long weeks to think about an ugly loss at Boston College, and responded to the tune of a 35-10 handling of Oregon State. The defense that had played so poorly in Chestnut Hill responded in a big way, limiting the Beavers to 181 yards of offense.
Notre Dame this week: vs. Stanford, 3:30
USC this week: vs. Arizona State, 7:30
Notre Dame storyline: Notre Dame's season pivots on this game. A win over favored Stanford opens the floodgates on the College Football Playoff talk, two weeks in advance of a huge matchup at suddenly-shaky-looking Florida State. A loss might not be a death knell, but the expectations and the conversation would change. A win that includes a high-impact performance from Golson will also ratchet up that Heisman talk. Meanwhile, at least one member of "The Marooned Five" -- the group of players suspended amid an academic probe -- is getting restless.
USC storyline: Would you believe 2006 was the last time USC started 3-0 in the Pac-12? That streak could end this week, if the seemingly resurgent Trojans defense can handle ASU QB Mike Berkovici, likely subbing again for the injured Taylor Kelly (foot). In a league that saw the narrative change immensely with Oregon's home loss to Arizona on Thursday night, a 3-0 Pac-12 start would be meaningful, and set up a critical USC/AU matchup in Tucson next Saturday. But first things first, and the Trojans have a pretty big demon to exorcise given the thrash that last year's 62-41 loss to ASU caused.
Moment in hatestory: Oct. 23, 1993
The longest win streak in the history of this series belongs to Notre Dame, and it was this matchup that marked the final chapter in the Irish's 11-season stranglehold on the rivalry. Notre Dame was ranked No. 2 entering this game, in a season that would later be defined by a stunning 41-39 loss to Boston College that knocked them out of the national title picture. USC wound up 8-5 with a win over Utah in the Freedom Bowl. Check the vintage video for former players both obscure (ND QB Paul Failla and RB Lee Becton) and eventually prominent (Notre Dame's Jeff Burris, USC's combo of Rob Johnson and Johnnie Morton). USC wouldn't beat Notre Dame again until 1996, but a 17-17 tie in the 1994 game ended the win streak.
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