How Several Key Recruits Changed the Course of the Notre Dame-USC Rivalry

There may be 2,000 miles between the University of Notre Dame and University of Southern California. But as the two programs square off for the 86th time in the series' storied history, the Irish and Trojans look more alike than ever on the field.

Few will confuse the two schools. Notre Dame's tree-lined campus features multiple lakes and acres of greenery. USC's campus sits in the middle of urban Los Angeles, the campus carved into the center of America's second-largest metropolis.

But the differences are just part of what makes this weekend's battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh so special. It's a rivalry that dates back to Knute Rockne's barnstorming Irish squad visiting the West Coast in 1926, with the two teams playing every season since, taking off only 1943-45 due to travel restrictions during World War II.

That's why even amidst four-loss seasons for both the Irish and Trojans, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly acknowledged the special status of this annual tilt. 

"I still think it's the rivalry game," Kelly said Tuesday, according to Emily Evans of ABC 57. "How many times can you match up two teams, one from the West Coast and one from Indiana, at the end of the year? I just think the significance of it historically, tradition‑wise [and] geographically, there's no game like it."

Adding to this rivalry is the fact that these two rosters continue to intersect more and more. As Kelly has made the West Coast—and Southern California, in particular—a recruiting priority, we see a matchup that football players, Irish and Trojans coaches and the fans have been following since high school. 

Notre Dame's roster features 12 players from the state of California, more than any other state in the country. Seven of them come from Southern California. But it's not just geography that makes this rivalry a familiar one: it's the battles on the recruiting trail. 

Since Mike Denbrock returned with Kelly for his second stint as a Notre Dame assistant coach, Denbrock has fronted the recruiting efforts on the West Coast. That's meant spending times in the living rooms of many USC players competing in Saturday's game. 

Matt York/Associated Press

The Irish have their share of victories. Starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley is a rare recruit pulled out of the Pac-12 after attending Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman Catholic High School. He was also one of the first recruiting targets for the Trojans, receiving a phone call from the Trojans staff as it prioritized its targets. 

"They were the first school to call me, too," Stanley told TrojanSports.com on April 15, 2011, the first day of the recruiting contact period (subscription required). "I appreciated it because I was one of the first linemen the coaches spoke to today."

The Irish also had some key losses in that same recruiting cycle. One is Trojans starting right tackle Zach Banner. The 6'9", 350-pound right tackle took an official visit to South Bend to watch the Irish take on the USC during a recruiting weekend that featured some elite talent, including nine California prospects. 

Notre Dame lost that football game 31-17, failing to close on Banner. It lost another tough recruiting battle later in February, losing out on USC star Nelson Agholor, who was a recruit the Irish hosted later that fall and invested a ton of time and effort in.

Given the opportunity to be the next Michael Floyd, Agholor decided to sign with Lane and Monte Kiffin. Agholor decided to follow in a long line of talented Trojans wide receivers instead of giving his commitment to Kelly and Irish recruiting coordinator Tony Alford, who Agholor and his family grew close to. 

"I'm very privileged that I got to deal with somebody like [Alford]," Agholor told Pete Sampson at Irish Illustrated (subscription required) as his recruitment was winding down. "He's done everything first class with myself, my coaches, my family. We couldn't ask for a better recruiter from over there. I think Notre Dame did a good job sending him."

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

That's how Saturday will go with nearly a dozen players. Making just the third start of his career, Irish defensive tackle Justin Utupo will play against a school that's just 20 minutes from his hometown. A broken ankle will be all that keeps Joe Schmidt from competing against two other former Mater Dei High School stars.

The Notre Dame staff will have to account for Agholor and freshman receiver JuJu Smith, who very nearly picked the Irish on national signing day last February before deciding to stay home in Southern California. Smith already has 610 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman. 

Likely trying to stop Smith will be Max Redfield. While the blue-chip safety has gotten off to a slow start to his career, he was a key piece to USC's recruiting efforts, only to back away from his commitment and head to South Bend. Notre Dame cornerback Cole Luke looked destined for Southern Cal as well, only to pick Notre Dame in the end. 

Harry How/Getty Images

The merry-go-round spins on and on. George Farmer and Adoree Jackson were both early Irish targets. So was freshman guard Damien Mama, who'll see playing time on Saturday. Notre Dame features freshman tight end Tyler Luatua, who was an early in-state target for the Trojans, but he decided to head to South Bend. 

And that's before getting to Amir Carlisle, who actually played a season for the Trojans before transferring to Notre Dame. Then there's KeiVarae Russell, who is suspended this season. For a long time, he considered picking USC before ending up with the Irish. 

After the game on Saturday, the weekend won't likely be over for Notre Dame's staff. Expect Kelly, Denbrock, quarterback coach Matt LaFleur and defensive assistant Bobby Elliott to stay on the West Coast.

They'll try to persuade recruits like Iman Marshall, Frank Buncam and Equanimeous St. Brown to be the final pieces of the 2015 recruiting class. Those are recruiting battles that'll include—you might have guessed it—USC. 

It's a rivalry that never ends.