USC's Big Win over Notre Dame Shows Trojans Will Be Strong Contender in 2015

LOS ANGELES — If USC’s 49-14 rout of rival Notre Dame in Saturday’s regular-season finale was a preview of the 2015 season, get ready for the Trojans to make a run at Pac-12 title contention.

USC gave exiting seniors like linebacker Hayes Pullard a fond farewell in the last game at the Coliseum this season, while simultaneously setting the tone for the future.

And "the future is bright," according to head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Foremost among those returning next season was redshirt junior quarterback Cody Kessler, who continued to scrawl his name all over the record books.

He put together his sixth game of four-plus passing touchdowns this season and became the first player ever to throw six scores against Notre Dame.

If it wasn't clear before Saturday's showing, it should be now: Assuming UCLA's Brett Hundley and Oregon's Marcus Mariota leave for the NFL draft, Kessler will be the face of the Pac-12's 2015 quarterback class.

"He has thrown 36 touchdowns and gave up just four interceptions [on the year]. Those are ridiculous numbers," Sarkisian said. "At some point, people will recognize it."

As Kessler adds to his lofty career numbers next season, he'll have plenty of help from a deep, talented and young receiving corps.

Of the nine Trojans to catch passes Saturday, six are likely to be back in 2015.

Among them was speedy George Farmer, who hauled in two of Kessler's six scores, and Darreus Rogers, who notched a third.

Running back Justin Davis scored the Trojans' sole rushing touchdown to cap his 83-yard day, one of the sophomore's best individual performances of the season. That sets him on course to take over for Javorius "Buck" Allen as the team's No. 1 ball-carrier, should Allen forego his final season of eligibility to pursue the NFL.

"Throughout all the ups and downs of the season, it's always a good feeling to finish out on top, in this fashion," Davis said. "That gives us some good momentum heading into the bowl game and hopefully carries over into next season."

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As Davis begins asserting himself as a No. 1 option at running back, John "JuJu" Smith continued to show why he's primed to be the future of USC's rich wide-receiver lineage with five catches.

He almost had his sixth touchdown catch, diving through the back of the end zone on the Trojans' opening drive, but the play was overturned on official review.

"I think a lot of my catches are being reviewed," Smith said with a chuckle. "But it's alright."   

Not to worry—he'll get plenty more scoring opportunities in the years to come.

Fellow freshman phenom Adoree' Jackson sat out the second half with a concussion, but not before catching a touchdown pass.

Jackson became the Trojans' top cornerback as 2014 progressed, but he saw his two-way role expand in recent weeks. Jackson became the first player in program history to start on both sides of the ball since USC began tracking the statistic.

Jackson keys a secondary that was among the Pac-12's youngest in 2014, but with the experience gained this season, it figures to be one of the toughest units in the conference next year.

First-year players Chris Hawkins and John Plattenburg, as well as sophomore Kevon Seymour, all started for a secondary that did not allow a passing touchdown until Oct. 4.

The back end of USC’s defense is set for 2015, but the Trojans’ front is more of a question mark, with linebackers J.R. Tavai and Pullard are on their way out.

Defensive lineman Leonard Williams is a potential No. 1 pick in next spring's NFL draft. He said he will evaluate his decision in the coming weeks and make a declaration following the Trojans' bowl game.

While Williams has accomplished much in his time at USC, a win over rival UCLA eludes him. He hinted after last week's defeat against the Bruins that claiming the Victory Bell could be motivation enough to return for his senior season.

Williams, Allen and wide receiver Nelson Agholor are the most likely early entrants into the draft. But should any of the three return, USC could very well be the preseason pick to win the Pac-12.

Returners like Smith recognize that.

"I've tried to talk to them [about returning]," Smith laughed. "But at the end of the day, they're going to do what's best for them and I support them."

While Williams and his contemporaries are winless against UCLA, getting an elusive win over Notre Dame—winner of the last two contests—sweetens their careers.  

Dominating the Fighting Irish also makes this campaign sweeter for the entire roster, putting an exclamation point on a season that had what Sarkisian described as some “gut-wrenching losses.”

Those losses contributed to an 8-4 finish—disappointing for a program with championship aspirations. But given how close the Trojans were to claiming the divisional title amid the disappointment, USC doesn’t have far to go to be in contention.

With the departing seniors handing the reins to a talented crop of youngsters, USC is well positioned to bridge that gap in 2015.  

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics via the USC athletic department.