FInal Score: No. 5 Trojans defeat No. 13 Notre Dame 38-27, finish regular season at 11-1, now head to Pac-12 title game in Las Vegas next Friday night

The No. 5 USC Trojans put their College Football Playoff hopes on the line tonight against No. 13 Notre Dame. The Trojans have already clinched a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game in Las Vegas next Friday. Wins tonight and next week will put the Trojans in an incredibly strong position for one of the four playoff spots. All year, the Trojans have taken a one-game-at-a time approach and sit here now with a 10-1 record.

Follow along tonight as WeAreSC provides live updates throughout the night of the scoring plays and significant events. And be sure to check out the WeAreSC message board game thread to chat with fellow Trojan fans throughout the game.

Pregame

* Check out The Huddle ahead of the game for all the news, notes, names and numbers you need to know in a handy one-sheet.

#USC has Arrived at the Coliseum❕🏟️

The Trojans face Notre Dame at 4:30pm

🎥 @On3USC #FightOn✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/NBNLrIFOWH

— Scott Schrader (@Scott_Schrader) November 26, 2022

* The USC Game Day Notebook offers some pregame reading, including a tribute to two significant seniors in offensive linemen Brett Neilon and Andrew Vorhees.

* The recruiting visitor list for this game is extremely long and very impressive. Here’s a running list of some of the top names in attendance.

* USC looks to be as healthy as its been in weeks heading into this one. Linebacker Eric Gentry participated in early warmups with the linebackers. We’ll see what he looks like when he comes back out in full uniform. Wide receiver Mario Williams was active and moving well during early warmups. Wide receiver Jordan Addison is showing no ill-effect from his huge game against UCLA last week after missing nearly all of the previous three games.

* Notre Dame will be without starting cornerback Cam Hart tonight. He came out early in his jersey but has his arm in a sling as he deals with a shoulder injury. That’s a big blow to the Fighting Irish defense looking to match up against the high-scoring USC offense.

* Former USC linebacker Brian Cushing leads the team out of the tunnel tonight.

First Quarter

* More Caleb Williams magic as the USC quarterback buys time in the pocket and finds Tahj Washington. The Trojan receiver makes a defender miss and gets into the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown. USC scores on its opening possession to take a 7-0 lead with 10:36 remaining in the first quarter.

* USC catches something of a break when Jordan Addison fumbles the ball as he’s tracked down from behind after a catch. But he’s able to bring it back in to keep USC possession.

* The Trojans make a bit of a mess of a goal-to-go situation. USC had a first-and-goal at the two-yard line that turned into third-and-goal from the 26-yard line. The Trojans eventually get a 31-yard field goal from Denis Lynch to stretch the lead to 10-0 with 3:29 remaining in the first quarter.

Second Quarter

* USC’s defense gets a huge fourth-down stop. They stuff a Notre Dame quarterback sneak at the 26-yard line with 13:52 left in the second quarter. That’s two Irish possessions with no points.

* Notre Dame goes 80 yards in nine plays to score a touchdown on a 22-yard pass from Drew Pyne to standout tight end Michael Mayer. It’s 10-7 USC with 6:14 remaining in the first half. That was a four-minute, 53-second drive by Notre Dame, the longest of the game so far.

* USC quarterback Caleb Williams goes in from five yards out for another rushing touchdown this season. It’s 17-7 Trojans with 34 seconds left in the first half. Williams now owns the single-season USC record for touchdowns in a season. He hits the Heisman Trophy pose coming off the field.

Third Quarter

* USC takes advantage of a Notre Dame fumble and drives 74 yards in seven plays for a touchdown. True freshman running back Raleek Brown goes in from five yards out. USC pushes its lead to 24-7 with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter.

* Notre Dame quarterback Drew Pyne hits wide receiver Deion Colzie for a 23-yard touchdown pass. That cuts the USC lead to 24-14 with 5:54 remaining in the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

* Caleb Williams scrambles in from three yards out for this second rushing touchdown of the game and ninth of the season. That pushes the USC lead to 31-14 with 14:53 remaining in the game.

* Notre Dame running back Logan Diggs carries it in from five yards out to cut the USC lead to 31-21. USC linebacker Ralen Goforth remains down on the field but eventually gets up and walks off under his own power. The play was reviewed and confirmed.

* With 4:56, Trojans safety Calen Bullock intercepts pass at the ND 24.

* With 2:35 remaining in the game, Trojans QB Caleb Williams runs 16-yards up the middle for a touchdown, and the Trojans expand their lead over Notre Dame. PAT is good: USC 38, Notre Dame 21

* With 1:02 remaining, Irish march down field 56 yards and score on a 24-yard TD pass from QB Drew Pyne to tight end Michael Mayer. Two-point conversion fails. USC 38, ND 27

* Trojans run out the clock: Final score USC 38. Notre Dame 27