College football: USC at Notre Dame

When: 2:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium

TV: Channel 5; Radio: WLS 890-AM

Series: Notre Dame 42-33-5.

Coaches: Pete Carroll (92-16, ninth year at USC); Charlie Weis (33-22, fifth year at Notre Dame).

Players to watch: True freshman QB Matt Barkley is back after missing the loss at Washington. In his 4 games, he has hit 59 percent of his passes with 958 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INT. Elusive RB Joe McKnight is the offense's linchpin with 473 rushing yards, 11 catches and 6 TDs. All-American safety Taylor Mays, who also missed the Washington loss, owns 28 tackles and 1 interception in 4 games. Freshman DE Nick Perry has 6 sacks in limited snaps.

Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen leads the nation in passer efficiency (179.3 rating) because he's hitting 67 percent of his throws and owns 12 TDs vs. 2 interceptions. WR Golden Tate is another All-American candidate with 33 catches for 602 yards and 4 scores. S Kyle McCarthy continues to lead the defense with 49 tackles and 3 INTs.

The skinny: The sixth-ranked Trojans own seven straight wins in this ballyhooed series. With that recent history providing context, Clausen can put his nascent Heisman Trophy campaign into overdrive by leading the 25th-ranked Irish to victory. USC coach Pete Carroll had nothing but awestruck things to say about Notre Dame's passing game - as well as Golden Tate's ability to run the "Wildcat" offense as necessary. What Carroll didn't mention? His Trojans are averaging more than 4 sacks and allowing just 8.6 points per game.