SOUTH BEND, Ind. – USC fought back valiantly against Notre Dame in its first game under interim coach Clay Helton. But when the Fighting Irish counterpunched, the Trojans crumpled.
Notre Dame put together back-to-back 90-plus-yard touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to put away USC on Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium. The final was 41-31 – USC’s second consecutive loss and third in its past four games.
The defeat dropped USC – picked in the preseason to finish in the top 10 and win the Pac-12 Conference – to 3-3. No. 14 Notre Dame improved to 6-1.