Riley Leonard, No. 5 Notre Dame Beat USC as CFB Fans Hype Irish's CFP Title Odds

In what has been a topsy-turvy season near the top of the college football rankings, one thing has become a constant—No. 5 Notre Dame just keeps on winning.

The Fighting Irish made it 10 in a row on Saturday, beating USC 49-35 in what proved to be a stiffer challenge than expected despite the final scoreline.

While the defense didn't continue its dominant ways, the offense kept on rolling, led by quarterback Riley Leonard (17-of-23 for 155 yards, two touchdowns and an interception) and the dynamic duo at running back of Jeremiyah Love (99 rushing yards, one touchdown; three catches for 38 yards) and Jadarian Price (111 rushing yards, one touchdown).

Notre Dame is now off to the College Football Playoff and will enter as one of the steadier teams in the country, likely locked into the No. 5 seed unless a major upset during the conference championships shakes up the rankings yet again.

All in all, Notre Dame's CFP prospects are looking promising, with fans excited about the team's future after Saturday's tough win:

Throughout the team's winning streak, the defense has been rock solid, holding teams to two touchdowns or less in eight of the past nine games. That didn't happen on Saturday, as the USC offense managed 557 yards and five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) from quarterback Jayden Maiava.

But the defense did come up big when it mattered most, as Christian Gray and Xavier Watts had a pair of pick-sixes late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory, stifling USC's comeback bid:

Whether Notre Dame is among the favorites to win the title this season is up for debate. At the moment, teams like Oregon or Texas are probably safer bets, while the talent of teams like Ohio State and Georgia makes them dangerous.

But Notre Dame turned its season around after a brutal upset loss to Northern Illinois in early September. The reward will be hosting a playoff game in three weeks and the chance to pursue a national championship.