Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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38 OCT. 23, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: USC Junior Chris Steele is another talented corner- back who ranks among USC's secondary leaders in tackles. Advantage: Even SPECIAL TEAMS Improved performance from Williams on punt returns and the same from speedy teammate Chris Tyree on kickoff returns — which included his 96-yard touchdown against Wisconsin — has the Irish return teams trending upward, though, Tyree suffered a turnover on a muffed kickoff return against Cincinnati. After converting both of his field goal tries in the season opener against Florida State — which included a 41-yard game-winner in the 41-38 over- time win — graduate student Jonathan Doerer missed a field goal try in each of Notre Dame's next four games and also shanked an important extra point in the fourth quarter against Cincinnati which ended his steak of 117 straight makes. Through five games, USC had neither scored nor allowed a touchdown return, leaving its coverage teams ranked in the middle of the NCAA. The special teams strength for the Trojans comes in its kicking game. Sophomore placekicker Parker Lewis had made all nine of his field goal attempts in five games with a long of 49 yards, while red- shirt junior punter Ben Griffiths ranked in the top 50 nationally at 45.7 yards, including five kicks of more than 50 yards, and eight tries spotted inside the 20-yard line. Advantage: Even COACHING After spending his entire seven-year career seemingly on the hot seat as USC's head coach, Clay Helton was fired two games into this season on Sept. 13, after a disappointing 42-28 home loss to Stanford two days prior. Considered the favorite along with Oregon to win the 2021 Pac-12 title, USC under Helton's leadership lasted only two games into that quest. Trojans cornerbacks coach Donte Williams, who was promoted to associate head coach after last season, is serving in the interim role the rest of this season. With three straight victories and a 7-3 overall record against USC, Kelly has dominated a proud rivalry that was played in every season since 1946 before the pandemic canceled the 2020 game. When Kelly came to Notre Dame in 2010, the Irish had lost eight straight in this series. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES For USC, preseason expectations of winning the Pac-12 title and making a push to join Oregon from 2014-15 as the only two teams from the confer- ence to ever reach the College Football Playoff were dashed early after two September losses. Instead, a team ranked No. 15 in the preseason was already out of the top-25 by Week 3 and hadn't won consecutive games through Oct. 2. For Notre Dame — once its College Football Playoff hopes were essentially dashed after the loss to Cincinnati — chasing a fifth-straight double- digit winning season and earning a chance to win its first prestigious postseason game since the 1993 Cotton Bowl remain attainable and impor- tant goals. Advantage: Notre Dame Staff Predictions Todd D. Burlage: Notre Dame 27, USC 20 With three straight victories and a 7-3 overall record against USC, Kelly has taken control of this proud rivalry that dates back to 1926 and was played in every season since 1946 before the pandemic canceled the 2020 game. When Kelly came to Notre Dame in 2010, the Irish had lost eight straight in this series. For USC, preseason expectations of winning the Pac-12 title and making a push to reach the College Football Playoff were dashed early after two September losses. Steve Downey: Notre Dame 28, USC 24 Five weeks into the season, the Trojans had yet to put together two good performances in a row. USC alternated wins and losses, with the two defeats coming at home against less talented foes Stanford (42-28) and Oregon State (45-27). The biggest culprit for the Trojans' uneven start has been the defense. USC ranked 70th nationally in scoring defense (24.4 points allowed per game), 99th in sacks per game (1.60) and 125th in tackles for loss per game (3.8). The latter two numbers are even more damning when you consider USC notched five of it eight sacks and seven of its 12 tackles for loss against Colo- rado, which ranked 129th out of 130 FBS schools in total offense. The Irish offense should finally gain some traction and help Notre Dame pull out another victory over their rival at home. Patrick Engel: Notre Dame 31, USC 23 This is one of the more uninteresting Notre Dame-USC matchups of the Brian Kelly era. The Irish are on the outside looking in of the College Football Playoff picture. The Trojans fired their coach and twice lost to unranked teams at home in September. USC quarterback Kedon Slovis and wide receiver Drake London remain early round NFL Draft prospects who should have some good moments against a decent but unspectacular Notre Dame secondary. The Trojans' leaky and tackling-averse defense, though, provides a nice path for Notre Dame's offense to find its way. Tyler Horka: Notre Dame 27, USC 16 Stability in this series reigns supreme. Notre Dame has it with Brian Kelly at the helm in his 12th season. USC does not with its fifth head coach going against Kelly in that span. Notre Dame has a slight advantage on the field, too. That starts with the Irish defense, a unit that should be well rested and ready to get after USC quarterback Kedon Slovis. The junior has had an inconsistent season, throw- ing three interceptions in a loss to Oregon State in Week 4 but three touch- downs the next week against Colorado. Like most Notre Dame games this season, it won't be too pretty at times. But if the Irish can get any semblance of a ground game going to take pres- sure of their passing attack, the home team should be able to outscore the visitors in the end. Mike Singer: Notre Dame 33, USC 28 Notre Dame has had its ups and downs this season, but so has USC. The Trojans cruised to big wins against Colorado and USC but had double-digit losses against Oregon State and Stanford. I have a hard time seeing this USC team that is in turmoil going into Notre Dame Stadium and leaving with a win. Redshirt senior safety Isaiah Pola-Mao ranked third on the team with 24 tackles while seeing action in four of the Trojans' first five games. PHOTO COURTESY USC ATHLETICS