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An ugly game ended with an appropriately ugly ending as USC fails to reclaim the Jeweled Shillelagh from Notre Dame.
Three possessions that invaded Fighting Irish territory resulted in zero points with a missed Andre Heidari field goal, a Cody Kessler sack and a Nelson Agholor drop. Tight end Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick had a killer false start and drop on the final drive, stifling the Trojans' last-minute desperation that was jolted by a 32-yard Agholor catch and run.
Kessler's performance was pedestrian again, going 20-for-34 and 201 yards and a pick. Silas Redd and Agholor were the offensive "stars" of the game, but that term is used very loosely in game where scoring was at a premium. Notre Dame had 45 net offensive yards.
Tommy Rees left the game with a neck strain, making way for Andrew Hendrix. In that half, the Irish did not complete a pass.
The offense was so dinged up at the end that former intern and walk-on Robby Kolanz was in on the last play. Justin Davis had to be carried off. Tight end Xavier Grimble was hurt, too.
Next week, the Trojans come home for Utah, the same Utah who upset Stanford last weekend (who just beat UCLA).