Notre Dame-USC: 10 To 1 Countdown

10 Times USC has visited Notre Dame Stadium after 1995 — which marks the last time the Irish defeated a ranked Trojans team, home or away. That 38-10 win over No. 5 USC occurred on Oct. 21, or 22 years to the day of today’s matchup

9 Ranking of Notre Dame nationally in turnover margin, while USC quarterback Sam Darnold already has thrown nine interceptions this season (and fumbled three times in the win versus Utah last weekend) after tossing nine all of last year.

The Irish have generated 14 turnovers in only six games this season after producing the same amount in 12 games last year. Notre Dame also has committed only eight turnovers this season while USC has 16.

8 It has been eight years since USC has last been able to defeat Notre Dame in back-to-back seasons (2008-09), and has never achieved the feat against eighth year Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly, who owns a 4-3 career mark against the arch rivals. The Trojans will attempt to end it this season after winning 45-27 in last year’s regular season finale.

7 Notre Dame has won seven consecutive games under Kelly the week after a bye (8-1 overall), but the last four all were tight: 14-10 versus USC in 2013, 49-39 versus Navy in 2014 after trailing 31-28 entering the fourth quarter, 24-20 at Temple in 2015 on a game winning TD with 2:09 left, and 30-27 last year versus Miami after falling behind 27-20 with 6:49 left. Kicker Justin Yoon kicked the game winning field goal with 30 seconds remaining.

The last time the Irish lost the week after a bye was Oct. 22, 2011 — 31-17 to USC.

6 Notre Dame is seeking its sixth win this season (to become bowl eligible) and 6th straight victory on Oct. 21, dating back to 1978 when it defeated Bill Parcells’ Air Force team. Two of the wins came against top-10 ranked and eventual Rose Bowl champion USC squads: 28-24 in 1989 and the aforementioned 38-10 blowout in 1995.

The last time Notre Dame played on Oct. 21 was also against a team from Los Angeles, a 20-17 win versus UCLA in 2006 when Jeff Samardzija caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Brady Quinn with 27 seconds left.

Since rescinding its non-bowl policy in 1969, when the Irish played on Oct. 21 in all six years thereafter from 1972 through 2006, they went to a major bowl (now known as Big Six).

5 Times since NCAA stats were first officially recorded in 1946 that Notre Dame has averaged at least 300 yards rushing per game, with the most recent the school record 350.2 by the 1973 national champs. This year’s 308.0 average ranks No. 6. USC is currently 57th in rushing defense, allowing 146.7 yards per game.

4 Consecutive wins by USC in this series when both teams are ranked. This is the first year both are ranked since 2009 when No. 6 USC won at No. 25 Notre Dame (34-27). The other three occurred in 2006, a 44-24 win by No. 3 USC versus No. 6 Notre Dame; the epic 2005 showdown when the No. 1 Trojans rallied to a 34-31 win at No. 9 Notre Dame; and 2002, when No. 6 USC defeated No. 7 and 10-1 Notre Dame, 44-13.

As noted, Notre Dame’s last such win occurred in 1995.

3 There are only three Power 5 Conference teams — Notre Dame, Alabama and TCU — among the 65 to rank in the top 30 nationally in both red zone offense and red zone defense. The Irish are 19th on offense and 27th on defense.

Even more impressive is the touchdown percentage. Notre Dame ranks No. 4 nationally in lowest percentage of TDs allowed in the red zone at .350 (seven in 20 tries). It also is No. 7 in the country in best percentage of touchdowns scored in the red zone at .808 (21 out of 26, including 20 of 22 with starting quarterback Brandon Wimbush for a .909 figure).

2 Notre Dame junior running back Josh Adams ranks No. 2 nationally in yards per carry with a 9.02 average (86 carries, 776 yards), highlighted by six attempts that have gone for at least 59 yards. Only Stanford’s Bryce Love ranks ahead of him with a 10.27 average (135 carries, 1,387 yards).

Adams is on pace to break the Irish single season mark of 8.11 set by George Gipp in 1920 (102 carries, 827 yards).

1 Notre Dame has won only one of its last 10 games that were decided by one possession, most recently the 20-19 loss at home to current No. 3 Georgia on Sept. 9. Prior to this swoon, the Irish were 16-6 in their previous 22 contests in one-score finishes, including 10 wins in a row in 2012-13.

The pendulum needs to start swinging back Notre Dame’s way (although it doesn’t have to be close tonight).