![]() That 2020 game would have been played in Los Angeles, but Pac-12 teams played an abbreviated schedule featuring only conference opponents due to the COVID-19 pandemic. *For the first time since the World War II years of 1942 to 1945, USC and Notre Dame did not play each other last season. USC has lost in its last 4 trips to South Bend (its longest streak since dropping 7 consecutive there from 1983 to 1995), but Troy had won the previous 5 times there and 6 of the previous 8. *In South Bend, USC is 13-27-1 (not including the 2005 vacated game original record: 14-27-1), with 2 other USC losses in Chicago. Since 1967, USC has gone 25-24-3 (not including the 2005 vacated game original record: 26-24-3). Including that 2005 vacated game, USC has won 11 of the last 18 meetings and 14 of the last 24 (including 8 in a row from 2002 to 2009), but ND has won 7 of the last 10. The jeweled shillelagh series#*Notre Dame leads the series with USC, which began in 1926, 49-36-5 (not including Troy's 2005 victory that was later vacated due to NCAA penalty original record: 49-37-5). Notre Dame is 13th by both AP and USA Today SERIES *USC is not ranked in the current AP sports media and USA Today coaches polls. PK Jonathan Doerer's late 48-yard field goal beat Virginia Tech. Top tacklers include LB JD Bertrand, S Kyle Hamilton and DL Isaiah Foskey, who are Top 20 ranked nationally in tackles, interceptions and sacks, respectively. ND's defense is in the national Top 25 in interceptions, pass efficiency defense and turnover margin. RB Chris Tyree has scored a TD this year rushing, receiving and returning kickoffs. QB Jack Coan directs the Irish offense, with RB Kyren Williams topping a ground attack that averages less than 100 yards per outing and TE Michael Mayer (in the national Top 25 in receptions) the leading pass catcher. Head coach Brian Kelly, in his 12th season at Notre Dame, recently became the winningest coach in school history. The Irish have won their past 36 games against unranked opponents. ![]() *Notre Dame rebounded from its first loss of 2021 (to Cincinnati at home) with a last-minute victory at Virginia Tech before its bye. PK Parker Lewis has missed just one field goal this season and most of his kickoffs have been touchbacks. Aussie P Ben Griffiths, in the national Top 20 in punting, had a 71-yard boot last game (the longest by a Trojan since 2002). The USC defense features top tacklers in ILB Kana'i Mauga and S Chase Williams, sack meister OLB Drake Jackson (10.5 career sacks) and emerging QB-chasing freshman DL Korey Foreman, along with solid play from DLs Jacob Lichtenstein and Tuli Tuipulotu and S Isaiah Pola-Mao. TB Keaontay Ingram has emerged as the top ball carrier (he averages nearly 6 yards per carry) and he gets spelled productively by TBs Darwin Barlow and Vavae Malepeai (he has more than 1,700 career rushing yards). ![]() He is coming off a 400-yard passing outing (his USC record fifth). The Trojan offense is directed by QB Kedon Slovis, a 68% career passer (above the USC record) who is in the school's all-time Top 8 in completions and total offense. London's astounding 64 receptions (many of the eye-popping variety) and 832 receiving yards are both second most in the nation. USC features one of the nation's best players in All-American nominee WR Drake London, the leading candidate for the Biletnikoff Award. *The Trojans, with interim head coach Donte Williams at the helm, are looking to bounce back from their first-ever Coliseum loss to Utah before the bye. *USC and Notre Dame did not play each other last season (due to COVID-19 scheduling limitations), marking the first time since World War II that the rivals didn't meet. *This is just the sixth Trojan night game at Notre Dame Stadium (2011 was the first) and also ties for the latest USC-ND kickoff time ever. *This will be the seventh time since 1961 that USC goes to South Bend with 3 or more losses, but the Trojans have won several of those games. *Historically, USC has held the upper hand against Notre Dame whenever either team is coming off a bye, and particularly in the rare instances (like this year) when both teams enter the game following an off week. Troy has dropped its last 4 games in South Bend. *The Trojans have lost only 7 of the past 18 contests with the Irish, but the losses all have been since 2010 (including in the past 3 meetings). *Will form hold true for the Trojans, who are undefeated on the road this season (but struggle mightily at home) and who have gone W-L-W-L-W-L so far in 2021? The winner gets year-long possession of the jeweled Shillelagh. ![]() *The game is a battle between schools with glorious gridiron heritages. 13 Notre Dame for the 92nd edition of the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football. *USC takes a break from Pac-12 play and starts the second half of its regular season when it goes to No. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |