With the defense forcing five turnovers - three interceptions of two fumbles - Notre Dame had an easy time of it last week in the home final for the 2022 season. The Irish rushed out to a 37-0 halftime lead, and unlike a week earlier, did not have to hang on to win, posting a 44-0 victory over the Boston College Eagles.

The win was the seventh in the last eight games for ND, putting them at 8-3 and moved them up to15h in the College Football Playoff rankings going into tonight’s game against Southern California - the No. 5 team in the country at 9-1.

With the BC win, the Irish are winners of 19 straight in November. The five turnovers were the most forced in a game this season by the Irish, who struggled early in the season in that category, but since the BYU game have turned that around..

Freshman cornerback Benjamin Morrison had three more interceptions against BC giving him a total of five in the past two home games. Isaiah Foskey and Marist Liufau added fumble recoveries in BC territory, giving ND 11 takeaways during its five-game winning streak.

The only streak broken was ND’s failure to block a punt during the BC game. That was a first time in the last six games they had failed to do so.

Despite the recent surge in forcing turnovers, Notre Dame’s numbers pale in comparison to USC. The Trojans are a plus 20 in turnover margin - the best in the country - and hadn’t given up any points off turnovers until last week against UCLA. USC won that game, 48-45.

The ND and USC series is a special one for college football. The two teams have played each other since 1926. The only years the two didn’t play were 1943-45, due to World War II; and 2020, due to Covid and the Pac 12 canceling the season. The two teams have combined for 24 national championships and 14 Heisman trophies.

USC comes into the game at 10-1 with wins over Rice, 66-14; Stanford, 41-28; Fresno State, 45-17; Oregon State, 17-14; Arizona State, 42-25; Washington State, 30-14; Arizona, 45-37; California, 41-35; Colorado, 55-17; and UCLA, 48-45. The lone loss was to Utah, 43-42, three weeks ago.

The Trojans are led by Quarterback Caleb Williams, who has completed 250 passes for 3,480 yards and 33 touchdowns with just three interceptions. A transfer from Oklahoma, he is a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. Top rusher Travis Dye is out for the season with an injury, but Austin Jones (455 yards, five TDs) is a talented replacement. The top receiver is Pitt transfer Jordan Addison (51 catches for 765 yards and eight TDs).

ND leads the series, 48-36-5.

The game will be televised nationally by ABC-TV with a 7:30 p.m. airtime and 7:40 p.m. kickoff. USC is favored by 5.5 points.

IRISH NOTES ... Some BC game notes. The rushing attack (ND had 281 yards on the ground) was in high gear. Logan Diggs had 122 yards on 15 carries and one score; Audric Estime had 71 yards on 11 carries and two scores; and Christ Tyree had 50 yards on six carries and a score. Drew Pyne had 13 completions in 25 attempts for 156 yards and a score. Michael Mayer caught five passes for 64 yards. Blake Grupe was three-for-three in field goals - the longest 46 yards. Defensively, Jaylen Sneed and JD Bertrand had five tackles each with Jack Kiser four ... ND and USC play for the Jeweled Shillelagh - a trophy that goes home with the winning team each year. Despite many close games the series has seen dominant runs by both sides as USC went 12–2–2 from 1967 through 1982; Notre Dame went undefeated (11–0–1) from 1983 through 1995; and USC went undefeated (8–0) from 2002 through 2009 ... In his final game at Notre Dame Stadium, Foskey became NDs all-time sack leader when he brought down Boston College’s Emmett Morehead for an 11-yard loss on the final play of the first half. Foskey, now with 25-career sacks, surpassing former Notre Dame great Justin Tuck (24.5). His next sack - if it comes tonight or in Notre Dame’s bowl game - will put him at double figures for the season ... The snowy conditions in the second half kept both offenses at bay. It was, of course, the type of weather perfect for ND’s run offense ... The bowl picture will clear up after this weekend for those teams not in the running for the national championship ... In my preseason picks I have USC winning tonight and I still feel that way. If ND can run the ball consistently and keep it away from USC’s Williams then the Irish have a chance to win this one ... I will be back with another column prior to the ND bowl game.