SOUTH BEND, Ind. _ Notre Dame remains a long shot to make the College Football Playoff, even if the Fighting Irish win out. But at least they took down their rival before their home fans on a clear, crisp night.
Notre Dame beat USC, 30-27, and as the score indicates, it wasn't easy.
The Irish didn't lock it up until tight end Brock Wright fielded an onside kick with 63 seconds to play.
USC scored after the Irish went ahead 30-20 with 3:33 to play. Ian Book scrambled for 17 yards on a third-and-10 and two plays later scampered home on a quarterback draw from 8 yards out.
Book went 17 for 32 for a modest 165 yards but rushed for another 49 as the Irish improved to 5-1. The Trojans fell to 3-3.
As the teams headed toward the same tunnel at halftime, a little skirmish broke out. It wasn't much, but it did result in all the players receiving the equivalent of a warning _ get another unsportsmanlike conduct foul, and you'll be ejected.
The funny part: The referee announced that the infractions were on Notre Dame and ... UCLA.
Notre Dame's strength of schedule took a hit before kickoff when Georgia lost as a three-touchdown favorite to South Carolina. That result will make the Irish's 23-17 loss to the Bulldogs harder to justify to the College Football Playoff selection committee.
And with USC at .500 and Michigan struggling, the Irish are basically out of chances for a signature win.
But they still did get a satisfying win Saturday.
The Irish were plodding along in the second quarter, scoreless and facing a third-and-7 at their 6. Book fired a pass to Chase Claypool, who made a diving catch at the sticks.
From there, the Irish took off. They started playing so fast, USC committed an illegal substitution. Tony Jones rushed for 12 yards, then 43. Next thing you knew, tight end Cole Kmet got flipped by cornerback Isaac Taylor Stuart as he crossed the goal line.
The Irish built on that 7-3 lead with a jaw-dropping play. Book went under center and following some misdirection and pitched it to Braden Lenzy. Those who follow recruiting know all about the speedy Lenzy, a redshirt freshman from Oregon who originally planned to run track and play football for his home-state Ducks.
With the USC defense bunched near the line, Lenzy sprinted into the open field and scored from 51 yards, benefiting from a stubborn block from Chris Finke. It was Notre Dame's longest rushing touchdown of the season.
Jones finished with 176 yards on 25 carries.
Also important: Jonathan Doerer knocked home all three of his field-goal tries, hitting from 45, 52 and 43 yards.
