USC football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2023

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Nov 26, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Tahj Washington (16) catches a pass against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Benjamin Morrison (20) in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

On to the rivalry game that took a few years off from being competitive and now should be back on the national radar.

Notre Dame will host USC in a huge mid-October battle that will feel like a playoff game in South Bend. It might actually be a playoff elimination game, at least for Notre Dame, as the Trojans will come in with a 6-0 record and the Irish, too, should be one of the best teams in college football.

The two rivals will go back-and-forth all game and I think this one ends up being a shootout with Caleb Williams and Sam Hartman exchanging haymakers.

USC gets the knockout punch late, however.

Prediction: Win (7-0)

Fresh off an emotional high with a rivalry win in South Bend, a home game against the two-time reigning Pac-12 champion might end in a letdown — or hangover — game.

But Lincoln Riley and Williams aren’t going to let that happen. This game will be another hard-fought battle with potential playoff implications for both teams and it could even be a preview of the final Pac-12 title game to potentially feature USC.

The Trojans get a huge win and improve to 7-0 thanks to a Heisman performance from Williams.

Prediction: Win (8-0, 5-0)

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