Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

No. 13 Notre Dame hosts No. 11 USC in primetime this Saturday night on NBC

Submitted

Wed, Oct 18th 2017 07:40 pm
No. 13 Notre Dame (5-1) and No. 11 USC (6-1) will continue college football's greatest intersectional rivalry this Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, when the Fighting Irish host the Trojans in a primetime clash at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Live pre-game coverage begins at 7 p.m. with "Countdown to Kickoff" on NBCSN.
Saturday night's game on NBC marks the first time that both Notre Dame and USC enter the annual battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh as ranked teams since 2009, and the best combined ranking in the game since 2006. Notre Dame leads the all-time series with a 46-37-5 record. The home team has won the past four games in the series, including USC's 45-27 win last season.
Notre Dame has rattled off four straight wins and outscored opponents by a combined 172-65 in those games. The Fighting Irish offense has averaged 308 rushing yards per game, fifth-best in the nation, led by RB Josh Adams, whose 776 rushing yards ranks 10th among all FBS players. Adams rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown in Notre Dame's 33-10 win vs. UNC on Oct. 7, while sophomore RB Deon McIntosh added 124 rushing yards and two scores. Notre Dame's rushing defense has been equally impressive, allowing just one touchdown on the ground this season, the fewest in FBS.
USC is coming off a 28-27 victory at home against Utah last Saturday, after rallying from a 21-7 halftime deficit. QB Sam Darnold threw for 358 yards and three touchdowns, and RB Ronald Jones II accumulated 111 rushing yards and punched in the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. The Trojans clinched the win with a defensive stop against the Utes' two-point conversion attempt in the final minute of the game.
The Notre Dame football on NBC commentary team is led by Mike Tirico, alongside Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie, who serves as lead analyst for Notre Dame Football on NBC, and sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen.
Liam McHugh hosts studio coverage on NBC, alongside former college and NFL quarterback Chris Simms, who is in his first season as a studio analyst for Notre Dame football on NBC. McHugh and Simms anchor pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage on-site at Notre Dame Stadium this season.

Hometown News

View All News