It wasn’t too long ago that the Notre Dame-USC matchup had yearly national title implications. Both programs have fallen quite a ways in recent years, with the loser of this game headed for a 7-5 regular season record.
How to watch Notre Dame vs. USC: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
Which struggling power will notch win No. 8?
The Irish started the season 6-0 before a complete collapse, turning possible national title hopes into a disappointing campaign. Notre Dame has lost five of its last six games, with a win over Navy and losses to Florida State, Arizona State, Northwestern and Louisville. The Irish played strong defense through their first five games of the season but have been exposed on that end of the ball since.
Like Notre Dame, USC opened the season with high expectations after a victory over Stanford. Turns out the Cardinal weren’t actually all that good this year! The Trojans followed that up with a loss to Boston College, a win over a marquee Pac-12 team in Arizona, and losses against Arizona State, Utah and UCLA. The Trojans have one of the top quarterbacks in the nation in Cody Kessler, but are still struggling with their depth in the wake of NCAA sanctions.
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How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Radio: Here’s a list of affiliates for Notre Dame. For USC, ESPN710LA.
Online streaming: Fox Sports GO
The numbers
Rankings and records: Neither team is ranked. Both are 7-4 on the season.
Vegas: USC opened as 7-point favorites. The over/under is 62.5 points, per Odds Shark.
Weather forecast: High of 73 and partly cloudy
Two things at stake
A win for USC would signal positive progress in Steve Sarkisian’s first season.
A loss for Notre Dame would not help Brian Kelly’s job security.
One big matchup
USC secondary vs. Everett Golson. The Trojans have one of the best defensive playmakers in the country in Su’a Cravens (and one of the best pass rushers in Leonard Williams). That could cause problems for Notre Dame’s senior quarterback, who has had plenty of turnover issues this season.
Further reading
For more on Notre Dame, head over to One Foot Down. For USC coverage, check out Conquest Chronicles.
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