What must USC do to go into South Bend and beat top-10 Notre Dame?

Notre Dame Insider Bryan Driskell of Sports Illustrated poses five questions on the Trojans and where they stand in multiple areas heading into Saturday's game against the Fighting Irish.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

USC's averaged 11 more points per game, 71 more yards per game and over a half more yard per play with Kedon Slovis in the lineup for an entire game. What is it about him that makes the offense better? 

Adam Maya: "Simply put, he’s USC’s best passer. That goes a long way in the Air Raid. Offensive coordinator Graham Harrell has gushed about Slovis since he arrived, particularly for his arm talent and ability to deliver the ball accurately from the pocket. He can make every throw necessary and will wow you on occasion. 

"But the numbers skew in favor of Slovis because the dropoff from original starter JT Daniels to him was negligible -- I’d even argue he’s better -- while the gap between Slovis and Matt Fink is significant. The caveat is that the sample size is smaller than it already would be after five games because Slovis has played just 10 quarters, Fink eight and Daniels two." 

What makes Graham Harrell’s offense so effective? What are the strengths of the system and what areas still need development? 

Maya: "It seems that most Air Raid attacks are effective. Harrell quietly fronted one of college football’s better offenses while at North Texas. If you have a quarterback that can be disciplined with his reads and deliver the ball on time, you’re going to move the sticks in this system. There aren’t a ton of plays or verbiage, a stark contrast from the previous seasons. Instead, there’s a clear identity. 

"It just hasn’t completely taken shape given the QB carousel. The Trojans are light on experience at that position. Consider, Ian Book has played more this season than Slovis and Fink have combined at this level. They’ve no doubt been propelled by one of the top receiving corps in the country. It’s so good that it probably tempts Harrell to throw more than USC should. The run game has been inconsistent and sometimes neglected, despite some teams daring the Trojans to pass on passing. Knowing when and how much to run looks to be a work in progress. But the staff will tell you the biggest factor for their success on offense is the QB being disciplined and patient with his reads. USC has thrown nine interceptions, and you could argue all of them were preventable." 

USC is giving up 175 rushing yards per game, which is surprising considering how good the defensive line is. What has been the issue defending the run for the Trojans? 

Maya: "Teams are attacking the perimeter and breaking off chunk plays at a concerning rate. Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast is quick to boast that opposing backs aren’t getting much when running between the tackles. He’s not wrong. But it overlooks the fact that USC is getting burned by fly sweeps, crack tosses and QB runs. It suggests a weakness in the scheme given how USC’s run defense has gotten progressively worse since his first season back at USC. 

"The defensive line, though, has done its part against the run. A lot of the big gains fall on the linebackers and defensive backs. Missed tackles have been a lingering issue. That includes completing sacks, which would involve the down linemen. Pendergast noted the other day he felt like USC should have 10 more sacks. That would put a huge dent in the rushing totals, even though it doesn’t directly pertain to the run game. Also, as good as the secondary has been in coverage, I think its inexperience has really manifested against the run." 

USC’s secondary is very talented but also very young. What has that unit showed so far in the season, and what areas have they had issues, if any? 

Maya: "The defensive backfield has been a relative bright spot. Coming into the season, USC had hardly any experience at cornerback and only slightly more at safety. That also meant depth was a serious issue at both positions. But many of them have grown up fast, with safety Talanoa Hufanga picking up where he left off after a strong freshman season. He was recently rated as the best tackler in the Pac-12 by Pro Football Focus. Cornerbacks Olaijah Griffin, Isaac Taylor-Stuart and Chris Steele have essentially split snaps three ways, and each has been above average in pass defense. 

"Where the Trojans have been vulnerable in coverage is at safety and nickel. Opponents haven’t taken too many deep shots, instead opting for safer throws underneath. BYU managed to turn some of those into bigger gains because of the tackling miscues. Given how effective Notre Dame is on intermediate throws, I wonder if USC will adjust its coverage a bit. As I noted above, the secondary has struggled against the run as well." 

What must USC do to go into South Bend and beat a top-10 team? 

"There’s a realistic roadmap to USC victory: approach your best game on offense and play your best game on defense. The latter hasn’t really fluctuated over the first five games. USC has allowed between 20-30 in each one. Trying to stop the run is typically its first order of business, and that probably won’t change Saturday given Notre Dame’s imposing offensive line. But the offense is so balanced, I don’t think the Trojans can afford to sell out to one thing. They’re going to have to make plays in space or else they’ll be in a shootout. 

"In a vacuum, I could see the offense being comfortable with that. It’s just impossible to predict what version shows up in South Bend. Slovis was out for two weeks and hasn’t played a full game in four. Did I mention he’s only played 10 quarters? And he’s 18. BYU was hardly a simulation for Notre Dame Stadium, and even didn’t even have the benefit of playing in Husky Stadium. He and Harrell asserted that his rough outing on the road had a lot to do with general inexperience and little to do with environment. There obviously isn’t enough evidence to say which is true. But he’ll have to protect the ball better for USC to have a chance. The offense has moved pretty consistently otherwise when he’s been on the field. 

"I’m of the mind that the Trojans should establish the run early and commit to a more balanced attack for this particular game. Riding former Notre Dame commit Markese Stepp would be my drink of choice. But I don’t get the sense that they’ll do that. Their best players are pass catchers and the staff is determined to get the ball in their hands. USC might need to get a bit more creative if the Fighting Irish employ a Cover 3, which has flummoxed the offense thus far. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Trojans have generally underperformed away from the Coliseum for the better part of two years. It’s become something of a predictable phenomenon. Thus, few on this side are expecting a win, although I do believe this is a winnable game. I’m just not going to put any money on it."