Blue and Gold Illustrated

GAME PREVIEW: USC Irish head coach Brian Kelly said a few days after the Oct. 3 loss to Clemson. The Irish corner tandem of junior Cole Luke and senior KeiVarae Russell was ranked the fifth best nationally by Athlon in the preseason, but was trying to find itself against relatively so‑so passing competition through the first half of the season. With USC, it will face its most difficult passing exam, far more than Virginia and UMass, both of which tallied 27 points against the Irish. "We just need more consistency from Cole," Kelly said. "He does some really good things. We just need to see that on a more consistent basis. "And KeiVarae works so hard in practice. We just need to see that translate itself into games. It hasn't got there yet. We think maybe the year off has been a bit of a transition for him. … The want‑to and the desire is there. We think there's going to be that breakthrough for them." No better place to start than against USC's aerial show. GOING FOR TWO Much was made about Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly's decision to go for two points at Clemson after the Fighting Irish cut their deficit to 21‑9 with 14:13 still left in the game. At Notre Dame this year, USC head coach Steve Sarkisian will have his own version of "going for two." Since the start of the rivalry between Notre Dame and USC in 1926, the Tro‑ jans have hired 14 head coaches — and second‑year boss Steve Sarkisian is at‑ tempting to become the first one who started 2‑0 against the Fighting Irish. No head coach has started his career at USC with two straight wins over Notre Dame. Not John McKay, whose first two USC squads were white‑ washed 17‑0 by a 1‑8 Irish team in 1960 Predictions Bryan Driskell: Notre Dame 37, USC 31 If Notre Dame's defense can get a few early stops and the offense can protect the football, the Irish will win. Notre Dame has matchup advantages across the board on offense. The key on defense is limiting the big plays on the perimeter. Andrew Ivins: USC 38, Notre Dame 34 I've gone back and forth on this pick, but the game is going to come down to Notre Dame's secondary, which has been anything but con- sistent this season. Still, DeShone Kizer & Co. should be able to put points on the board, which will make it interesting down the stretch. Andrew Owens: Notre Dame 34, USC 27 Notre Dame's offensive line was pushed around for much of the 24-22 loss at Clemson. Against USC's inexperienced front seven that has been a weak spot at times, expect the Irish to consistently move the chains and score just enough. Jordan Wells: Notre Dame 35, USC 32 The Trojans certainly don't lack talent across the board, but neither does Notre Dame. The Irish get revenge for last year's 49-14 blowout at the Coliseum in a close one at home. Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 27, USC 26 My preseason pick was Clemson and USC as the losses in a 10-2 regular season, so this goes against my better judgment because I'm gutless. USC will be extra dangerous because of the loss to Washington.

• Cover