Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: USC Nov. 15. However, he also lost a fumble in the red zone off the read option versus the Wildcats. USC's defensive line will prove to be a deep, expe- rienced challenge, but the Trojans linebacking corps lost two starters from a 3-4 alignment. Regardless, the Trojans ranked 31st in the country in rush defense through Nov. 15, allowing only 135.1 yards per game. During one three-game stretch, the opposition man- aged just 166 yards combined (Oregon State with 58, Arizona State with 31 and Arizona with 77). Fifth-year senior linebacker Hayes Pullard led USC with 75 tackles through 10 games, while sophomore safety/linebacker Su'a Cravens has proven to be a playmaker with a team-best 14 tackles for loss. He also had five sacks among his 52 total tackles, as well as a pair of interceptions. Advantage: Even NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. USC PASS DEFENSE Golson threw for 3,044 yards and 27 touchdowns in the season's first 10 games, while completing 60.7 percent of his passes. Compared to Kessler, however, Notre Dame's signal-caller is extremely loose with the ball, tossing 12 interceptions. Sophomore wide receiver Will Fuller was tied for the national lead with 13 touchdown receptions through Nov. 15, though that distinction did not garner Fuller a spot on the Biletnikoff Award's list of 10 semifinalists. In addition to the touchdowns, Fuller led Notre Dame in receptions (61) and receiv- ing yards (853). While Fuller has been Golson's favorite target, he has spread the ball around by completing passes to 11 different receivers this season. Among those other targets, sophomore wideout Corey Robinson had 34 grabs for 464 yards and four scores. The Trojans secondary lost three starters from 2013 and it has shown this season. USC's first 10 opponents averaged 261.7 passing yards per game, ranking the Trojans pass defense 102nd in the coun- try. USC opened November at Washington State and against Cal, and gave up an average of 332.5 passing yards per game. Arizona also exploited the Trojans' defensive back- field to the tune of 395 yards, while Stanford gashed USC for 285 aerial yards. For comparison's sake, Stanford threw for 158 yards against the Irish two weeks later. Advantage: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS Agholor has built on last season's punt return suc- cesses, when he brought back two to the end zone and averaged a single-season school-record 19.1 yards per return. This year, he has added two more touchdowns while averaging 13.1 yards on 15 at- tempts through 10 games. Freshman Adoree' Jack- son presents a similar threat on kickoffs, returning one 100 yards for a touchdown and averaging 29.4 yards per runback. Notre Dame will rely on senior kicker/punter Kyle Brindza to negate the dangerous USC return men. Through 10 games, he had dropped 13 punts inside the 20-yard line and sent 42 out of 67 kickoffs for touchbacks. Advantage: Even COACHING Steve Sarkisian earned the USC job by turning around the Washington program after former Notre Dame head coach Tyrone Willingham led the Huskies to an 0-12 record in 2008. Brian Kelly had a bad day at the office against Northwestern, but has a 3-1 record against the Tro- jans, including a 2-0 mark in Los Angeles. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES USC undoubtedly wants to end Notre Dame's cur- rent top-dog status in the intersectional rivalry, while the Irish need a win to earn a more desirable bowl bid. Advantage: Even