Notes from USC's 41-31 loss at Notre Dame on Saturday night ...
USC (3-3) is off to its worst start since opening the 2001 season 2-4.
The loss marked the first time the Trojans have lost two in a row since the final two games of the 2012 season.
USC's last win at Notre Dame was in 2011, which is also the last time it wasn't playing in South Bend under an interim coach.
Cody Kessler eclipsed 300 yards passing for the third time this year. He threw two interceptions for the second straight game, which is a first in his career. (His five interceptions match last season's total.)
Adoree’ Jackson’s 83-yard TD reception was a career long. Jackson had 193 all-purpose yards on seven touches.
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s 75-yard TD reception from Jalen Greene was a career long and his fifth TD reception of at least 41 yards this year. (It was also Greene's first TD pass.)
JuJu has a TD catch in five of six games this year. He surpassed 100 receiving yards for the fourth time. He had 175 all-purpose yards on eight touches.
TB Ronald Jones II’s 65-yard rush was a career long. He led USC in rushing for the third time with 73 yards on just six carries. (He is averaging 8.6 yards per carry this season but only 7.3 carries a game. He has yet to carry the ball more than 10 times in a single game.)
USC has received the opening kickoff each game this year and has been the first team to score each game (scoring a TD five times).
Alex Wood’s 42-yard field goal in the first quarter was a career-best.
The last time USC had a punt blocked and returned for a TD was against Notre Dame in 2002.
USC scored at least 31 points against Notre Dame for the 10th time since 2002. (USC had failed to score at least 30 in the previous 15 meetings.)
USC had 590 yards of offense, but only 127 over its final five drives of the second half.
USC averaged 7.7 yards per play. Notre Dame averaged 7.9 yards per play.
Cameron Smith had a game-high 11 tackles, leading the team for the fourth time this season. His team-high 53 tackles on the season are 12 more than the next player.
Su'a Cravens had 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, a pass break-up and a hurry. His 5.5 TFLs lead the team.
USC registered four sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Notre Dame tailback C.J. Prosise's 143 rushing yards were a season-high by a USC opponent, topping Myles Gaskin of Washington from last Thursday (134).
The Fighting Irish's 476 total yards of offense and 214 rushing yards were both opponent season highs. They became the fourth team to top 180 yards rushing vs. USC.
The Trojans committed 10 penalties for 105 yards. This is the fifth consecutive game they committed more penalties than their opponent.
The Trojans converted 6 of 15 third downs. They've converted 25 of 71 third downs (35 percent) this season.
USC has been outscored 41-13 in the fourth quarter of its past four games.
USC (3-3) is off to its worst start since opening the 2001 season 2-4.
The loss marked the first time the Trojans have lost two in a row since the final two games of the 2012 season.
USC's last win at Notre Dame was in 2011, which is also the last time it wasn't playing in South Bend under an interim coach.
Cody Kessler eclipsed 300 yards passing for the third time this year. He threw two interceptions for the second straight game, which is a first in his career. (His five interceptions match last season's total.)
Adoree’ Jackson’s 83-yard TD reception was a career long. Jackson had 193 all-purpose yards on seven touches.
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s 75-yard TD reception from Jalen Greene was a career long and his fifth TD reception of at least 41 yards this year. (It was also Greene's first TD pass.)
JuJu has a TD catch in five of six games this year. He surpassed 100 receiving yards for the fourth time. He had 175 all-purpose yards on eight touches.
TB Ronald Jones II’s 65-yard rush was a career long. He led USC in rushing for the third time with 73 yards on just six carries. (He is averaging 8.6 yards per carry this season but only 7.3 carries a game. He has yet to carry the ball more than 10 times in a single game.)
USC has received the opening kickoff each game this year and has been the first team to score each game (scoring a TD five times).
Alex Wood’s 42-yard field goal in the first quarter was a career-best.
The last time USC had a punt blocked and returned for a TD was against Notre Dame in 2002.
USC scored at least 31 points against Notre Dame for the 10th time since 2002. (USC had failed to score at least 30 in the previous 15 meetings.)
USC had 590 yards of offense, but only 127 over its final five drives of the second half.
USC averaged 7.7 yards per play. Notre Dame averaged 7.9 yards per play.
Cameron Smith had a game-high 11 tackles, leading the team for the fourth time this season. His team-high 53 tackles on the season are 12 more than the next player.
Su'a Cravens had 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, a pass break-up and a hurry. His 5.5 TFLs lead the team.
USC registered four sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Notre Dame tailback C.J. Prosise's 143 rushing yards were a season-high by a USC opponent, topping Myles Gaskin of Washington from last Thursday (134).
The Fighting Irish's 476 total yards of offense and 214 rushing yards were both opponent season highs. They became the fourth team to top 180 yards rushing vs. USC.
The Trojans committed 10 penalties for 105 yards. This is the fifth consecutive game they committed more penalties than their opponent.
The Trojans converted 6 of 15 third downs. They've converted 25 of 71 third downs (35 percent) this season.
USC has been outscored 41-13 in the fourth quarter of its past four games.
