The USC Trojans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish will write another chapter in one of college football's most storied and intense rivalries on Saturday when they face off in South Bend. Notre Dame pulled out a 20-16 victory over the Trojans last year as they ended an eight-game winning streak by USC, and the Trojans will look to avenge that loss and possibly rejoin the AP Top 25 with a win.
The Trojans have a 5-1 record so far this season and face a Notre Dame squad (4-2) that is starting to find its stride after an 0-2 start. Both teams can make big statements in this game by beating a quality opponent.
USC head coach Lane Kiffin may have some extra motivation in this game after last year's loss. The head coach watched his team fall for the first time in nine seasons as the Trojans first-year head coach, and he will certainly want to secure a win here before the Irish start piecing together a win streak of their own.
According to a report by the Washington Post, Kiffin had this to say about the game: "It was heartbreaking at the time to lose that game and to lose the streak of wins over them when you know how hard the players and catches in the past had worked to get to that point."
A win would give USC a 6-1 record and two respectable road wins in back-to-back weeks (the Trojans beat Cal 30-9 last week). That may be enough to get them back into the AP Top 25 for the first time since Week Four.