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FACTS & STATS: Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795) -- South Bend, Indiana. Television: NBC. Home Record: USC 4-0, Notre Dame 2-1. Away Record: USC 1-1, Notre Dame 2-1. Neutral Record: USC 0-0, Notre Dame 0-0. Conference Record: USC 3-1, Notre Dame 0-0. Series Record: Notre Dame leads, 43-34-5.

GAME NOTES: The USC Trojans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish add another chapter to their long-standing rivalry, as the two prepare for Saturday night's clash in South Bend.

USC will not take part in the postseason this year because of NCAA sanctions, and that is a shame for the current group of Trojans who have done nothing wrong. They are 5-1 to date and certainly worthy of not only a bowl berth but also Pac-12 title contention. Since suffering its only loss of the season to date, Lane Kiffin's USC squad has put together back-to-back wins, the most of which being a 30-9 romp over California last week in San Francisco.

Notre Dame is set to play its first home night game since 1990 and hopes to end USC's school-record streak of 13 consecutive non-conference road wins. The Fighting Irish, under the guidance of second-year head coach Brian Kelly, have won four in a row since a disappointing 0-2 start to the campaign. They have been idle since their best offensive effort of the season, a 59-33 victory over Air Force two weeks ago.

With regard to the all-time series between these storied programs, Notre Dame holds a 43-34-5 advantage, and the Irish halted a streak of eight consecutive losses to the Trojans with a win last season.

The Trojans are generating 30.0 ppg and 430.8 total ypg this season, and it certainly helps that they possess both one of the nation's elite quarterbacks and dominant wideouts. Matt Barkley has been tremendous under center, completing 68.2 percent of his passes for 1,782 yards with 16 touchdowns against only four interceptions. Robert Woods has clearly been the top receiver to date, as he has already made 60 catches for 783 yards and six scores. Marquise Lee has four receiving touchdowns to his credit, and while he will play this weekend despite a sore shoulder, it is doubtful that starting RB Marc Tyler will be able to play due to his own ailing shoulder.

Last week against Cal, Barkley was 19-of-35 for 195 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Lee was more effective than Woods in the passing game, and Curtis McNeal picked up the slack after Tyler went out, rushing for 86 yards and a score.

Charged with the challenge of slowing down the Notre Dame offense will be a USC defensive unit that is limiting opponents to 23.5 ppg and 371.2 total ypg. The Trojans are permitting a mere 99.5 rushing ypg on just 3.4 ypc, but they have struggled at times against the pass, permitting 271.7 ypg with four more passing scores allowed than interceptions recorded. Leading tackler Dion Bailey (48 tackles) is one of two players on the team with two picks thus far.

There was no room for Cal to run against USC last week, as the Trojans held the Golden Bears to 35 rushing yards on 26 attempts -- a minuscule average of 1.3 ypc. Sure, USC did give up nearly 300 passing yards, but the club intercepted three tosses and recovered two fumbles, the most obvious reason that Cal was only able to notch one touchdown.

USC will have trouble keeping Notre Dame to just a single touchdown this weekend, as the Fighting Irish are posting 32.3 ppg and 467.5 total ypg. The fact that they are averaging 6.0 yards per rushing attempt is extremely impressive, and QB Tommy Rees is more than capable of making plays through the air. Rees has completed 66 percent of his passes for 1,503 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. Star receiver Michael Floyd has caught 53 balls for 639 yards and four scores, while Cierre Wood paces the ground attack with 650 yards and six TDs.

Notre Dame scored its most points in 15 years in the 59-33 victory over Air Force. Rees threw TD passes to four different receivers in the first half alone, and he finished 23-of-32 for 261 yards with no INTs.

Opponents are posting 21.0 ppg and 362.2 total ypg against a Notre Dame defense that can best be described as mediocre. The Fighting Irish have been solid against the run, yielding just 3.8 ypc and 136.5 ypg. However, the team has permitted 10 passing scores and over 225 ypg through the air. The man to watch on defense for the Irish is star linebacker Manti Te'o, as he has 59 total tackles to his credit, including 8.5 TFL.

Air Force ran 88 plays against Notre Dame, posting 565 yards in the process. The Fighting Irish certainly could have played better, as they yielded 6.1 yards per rushing attempt and 12.6 yards per pass completion. Most important was the fact that they surrendered four touchdowns, and a better effort will be needed on Saturday.

Expect this matchup to go down to the wire. Barkley to Woods is on par with Rees to Floyd, but it will be a role player who makes the difference in this game. Expect that role player to suit up for the home team.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Notre Dame 23, USC 20