If the USC Trojans are going to pull an upset over No. 1 Notre Dame on Saturday night, they'll need to find a way to slow down rapidly improving Irish quarterback Everett Golson. After a slow start to his redshirt freshman year, Golson has quietly improved over the last few weeks and now has the Irish one game away from playing for a national championship.

Golson enters Saturday's game off one of his best performances of the season last week in the Irish's 38-0 win over Wake Forest.

Against the Demon Deacons, Golson finished the afternoon with three touchdown passes, including deep throws of 50 and 34 yards, in addition to a two-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. In his last five games, Golson has thrown for eight touchdowns and just two interceptions after throwing just three touchdown passes and three interceptions in his first five games .Golson sat out a Notre Dame victory against BYU will a concussion.

And with the way USC's defense has played of late, it could be another big day for Golson and the Irish offense on Saturday.

The Trojans enter the game with three losses in their last four games and have allowed at least 38 points in each of those defeats.

Currently, USC ranks just 59th nationally in total defense, allowing 392 yards per game.