Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/193620
✦ on paper By andrew owens USC Running Game Vs. Notre Dame Run Defense During the nine years of success under former head coach Pete Carroll, USC's rushing attack often stood among the nation's best. After finishing 25th in rushing yards per game (189.3) under Lane Kiffin in 2010, that production gradually tapered off and contributed to the coach's dismissal Sept. 29. When Kiffin was let go, the Trojans were ranked No. 56 nationally (190.6 yards per game). Former Penn State running back Silas Redd bolted to USC when the NCAA hammered the program with Redshirt sophomore running back Tre Madden became the first Trojan to begin a season with three consecutive 100-yard rushing games since Marcus Allen had 11 in a row to open his 1981 Heisman Trophy season. photo by Pierson Clair/courtesy usc sanctions during the summer of 2012. He finished his last year with 905 yards and nine touchdowns, but suffered a torn meniscus during spring practice and did not dress until the 62-41 loss to Arizona State Sept. 28. His first action came Oct. 10 when he rushed 19 times for 80 yards in a 38-31 win over Arizona. With the standout senior sidelined, redshirt sophomore Tre Madden (115 carries for 611 yards, 5.3 yards per attempt and three touchdowns) and true freshman Justin Davis (51 rushes for 349 yards, 6.8 yards per carry and six touchdowns) carried the load at the position with inconsistent results. The Trojans have yet to rush for fewer than 100 yards, but performances against Washington State (139 yards) and Utah State (118) resulted in underachieving results with a stagnant offense: a 10-7 loss to the Cougars and a 17-14 win over the Aggies. Notre Dame has held only Purdue (38 yards) and Arizona State (65 yards) under the century mark through six games after doing so eight times in 2012, but it checks in at No. 23 nationally at a clip of 122.33 rushing yards allowed per contest. Advantage: Even USC Passing Game Vs. Notre Dame Pass Defense A year ago, Notre Dame limited then-freshman Max Wittek and his powerful arm to 186 passing yards and a touchdown while intercepting him twice in a 22-13 victory at the Los Angeles Coliseum. In place of the injured Matt Barkley, Wittek had the first chance to make a strong impression in that game and in the Sun Bowl loss to Georgia Tech, but a pair of mediocre performances (14 of 37 for 107 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in the Sun Bowl) led to redshirt sophomore Cody Kessler earning the job late in fall camp in 2013. Except for an outstanding game against Boston College (15-of-17 passing for 237 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions) in a 35-7 romp, Kessler's accuracy was inconsistent while being limited to short and intermediate throws. However, in the first game under interim coach Ed Orgeron, the playbook opened a bit for Kessler, who finished with 297 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in the victory. During the 62-41 embarrassment at Arizona State, USC's thin receiving corps faced another setback with junior wide receiver Marqise Lee's knee injury. However, the go-to pass catcher — he caught 118 passes for 1,721 ✦ Page 3 yards (14.6 yards per reception) and 14 touchdowns last year en route to unanimous All-America, Biletnikoff Award (nation's top receiver) and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors — expects to return for the Notre Dame game after sitting out the win over Arizona. The Irish held Lee (five catches for 75 yards) in check in 2012, due in large part to settling for pass interference flags when he had a chance of snagging big catches. With a thin Trojans receiving unit — they were down to two scholarship receivers at one point in the Arizona State loss — Notre Dame's focus will be on Lee if he suits up. Advantage: Notre Dame Notre Dame Running Game Vs. USC Run Defense Amidst a poor start to the season in the running game, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and his staff sat junior George Atkinson III down in the film room and showed him the way they wanted him to run. The result: a season-high 148 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run, against Oklahoma. Notre Dame's 220-yard rushing output was its best performance to that point and provided reasons for optimism after failing to record 100 yards on the ground against any of the three Big Ten teams on the schedule. Junior Cam McDaniel emerged again in the win over the Sun Devils with 82 yards on 15 carries, but Notre Dame continues to use a number of options from its stable of running backs. If there's one unit that has lived up to expectations for the Trojans, it's their rushing defense. They are allowing an average of 107.2 yards per game, which ranks 15th nationally. A year ago, USC allowed 167.0 rushing yards per game — the program's worst output since 1996 — and Notre Dame gained 222 yards against the Trojans in its 22-13 victory. Much of the improvement is due to the three returning starters along the defensive line and two among the linebacking corps. The front seven is highlighted by sophomore defensive end Leonard Williams, who has built upon an excellent 2012, when he finished with 64 total stops and 13.5 for loss. Through six contests in this fall, he was tied for the team with 36 overall stops and had 3.5 sacks among 7.5 tackles for loss. Advantage: USC Notre Dame Passing Game Vs. USC Pass Defense This year's game will mark senior quarterback Tommy