GAME PREVIEW: USC
sive front has hit the Irish secondary, as well. Fifth-
year senior safety Austin Collinsworth is playing each
game and practice in immense pain as his shoulder
has yet to recover from labrum damage suffered
against North Carolina Oct. 11, and fifth-year senior
cornerback Cody Riggs is battling a stress reaction
in his foot that held him out against Arizona State
Nov. 8 and limited his snaps against Northwestern
and Louisville the following two weeks.
Kessler's accuracy negates Notre Dame's greatest
strength in the defensive backfield. The Irish had
intercepted 15 passes through 10 games.
Advantage: USC
NOTRE DAME RUNNING GAME
VS. USC RUN DEFENSE
Aside from duds against Michigan (54 yards) and
Arizona State (41), Notre Dame's running game has
consistently supplemented the Irish passing attack
this season, averaging 189.0 yards per game in the
eight other contests to open the season. Sophomore
Tarean Folston led Notre Dame with 668 yards on 132
carries (5.1 yards per attempt) through 10 games, and
he had scored four touchdowns on the ground.
Senior quarterback Everett Golson had tallied a
team-high eight rushing scores, including a 61-yard
breakaway off the read option against Northwestern
Sophomore linebacker/safety Su'a Cravens had 52 total stops, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and two
interceptions during USC's 7-3 start.
PHOTO COURTESY USC ATHLETICS
