USC vs. Notre Dame: The 5 Greatest Games in the History of the Rivalry

Like any great rivalry, you can throw away the records when Notre Dame and USC meet.

Regardless of the season or the lot of either team, this game is always special.

This year’s installment should be no different, especially since it’s being played under the lights in South Bend.

Here are the five greatest games in the history of this storied matchup (in chronological order). 

1978: USC 27, Notre Dame 25

With Joe Montana under center, the Irish staked a furious fourth-quarter comeback to take the lead 25-24 after trailing 24-6 through three quarters of play. 

A controversial incomplete pass call on a sack/fumble late in the game kept USC alive, and the Trojans went on to win 27-25 on a late field goal. 

The win allowed USC to claim a share of the national title. 

1986: Notre Dame 38, USC 37

In legendary coach Lou Holtz's first season and first USC-Notre Dame rivalry game, the Irish trailed 37-20 in the fourth quarter. 

Tim Brown and Notre Dame rallied, allowing kicker John Carney to boot a 19-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. 

1989: Notre Dame 28, USC 24

Riding an 18-game winning streak, the No. 1 Irish found themselves trailing 17-7 at the half following a brawl with USC in the tunnel prior to kickoff.  

A Tony Rice QB keeper for a score and a late defensive stand gave the Irish their 19th win a row. 

1999: Notre Dame 25, USC 24

In another big comeback, the Irish trailed the Trojans by 21 points but ended up winning by one after tight end Jabari Halloway recovered quarterback Jarious Jackson's fumble for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. 

The win marked the first victory for Notre Dame over USC since 1996. 

2005: USC 34, Notre Dame 21 (The Bush Push)

This game was a back-and-forth slugfest from the beginning before the Irish took the lead for what seemed like good on a Brady Quinn touchdown run with two minutes left to play. 

However, after a clutch fourth-down conversion and a controversial clock ruling on a Matt Leinart fumble that went out of bounds, the "Bush Push" was born.

With seven seconds to play, the Trojans chose to go for the victory rather than kick a game-tying field goal. 

Leinart went for the sneak, and Reggie Bush illegally pushed his quarterback into the end zone for the winning score.

The refs held onto their flags, and the Trojans went on to play for the national title.