USC’s Pat Haden will get a different view of Notre Dame

USC is unranked despite a 5-1 record and Notre Dame is unranked despite four consecutive wins. The Trojans lost to the Fighting Irish last season, their first loss in the series since 2001. Staff writer Gary Klein examines the game’s issues and matchups:

Flip side

Pat Haden has seen the rivalry from both sides in South Bend.

Haden played for the Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium in 1973, when the Irish won, 23-14. He also worked as a color commentator on Notre Dame television broadcasts before resigning from the position to become the Trojans’ athletic director.

“It will be a little different,” Haden said of his return to South Bend. “I’ll see the ticket-taker, John, who’s been there 40 years. I always ask him where the Golden Dome is. He’ll point it out.

“I’ll see a lot of old folks and friends and light a candle at the grotto for my mom — I always did that every week I was back there. It’s a very special place.”

The evening start, the first at Notre Dame since 1990, could make for a raucous crowd that will have had all day to imbibe in favorite beverages.

“We have 7 o’clock games and you see how our fans handle them,” Haden said. “It will be the same.”

At the controls

USC quarterback Matt Barkley guided the Trojans to a 34-27 victory two years ago.

The junior missed on several potential big plays last week against California but has completed 68% of his passes and passed for 16 touchdowns with four interceptions.

Notre Dame’s Tommy Rees helped lead the Irish to their 20-16 victory at the Coliseum last November. The sophomore has completed 66% of his passes and passed for 14 touchdowns with six interceptions.

Running threat Andrew Hendrix rushed for 111 yards in six carries and completed all four of his passes two weeks ago when Notre Dame routed Air Force.

But USC Coach Lane Kiffin did not have his team spend much time preparing for a platoon.

“It’s not like he’s a true, running, 4.4 quarterback or something,” Kiffin said of Hendrix, “So it doesn’t drastically change what we would do if he went in.

“So it’s not that big a deal to us.”

On the run

USC tailback Marc Tyler has visited South Bend as a prospect and a Trojan. He was an observer both times.

In April 2006, Tyler accompanied Westlake Village Oaks Christian High teammate Jimmy Clausen to the College Football Hall of Fame for an over-the-top news conference announcing Clausen’s decision to attend Notre Dame.

Tyler has said he was also ready to join the Irish. But without his mother in tow to give her blessing, Tyler returned to Los Angeles, talked to Pete Carroll, and decided Indiana was too far from home.

“It would have been nice to go to school with Jimmy,” Tyler said this week. “He had a nice house out there, but it was just too far, it was cold out there and there wasn’t much to do. I don’t think I would have lasted.”

Tyler was at Notre Dame Stadium two years ago but did not play in the Trojans’ victory. He rushed for only 48 yards in 17 carries in last season’s defeat.

Tyler suffered a dislocated left shoulder against Cal but said he would play. Junior Curtis McNeal probably will start if Tyler is held out.

The Trojans’ depth at running back is depleted with Dillon Baxter not making the trip. Baxter, a high profile recruit out of San Diego in 2010, has only nine carries this season and did not play in the last two games. Reached by cellphone, he declined to comment, as did Kiffin.

Baxter and his family had met with Kiffin earlier this season to discuss the running back’s role with the Trojans.

Up front

USC end Nick Perry and his fellow defensive linemen are hoping for more opportunities for sacks, but there may be few against a Notre Dame offensive line that has given up only five. Perry has four of USC’s 13 sacks.

The Trojans rank 19th nationally in rushing defense.

USC’s offensive line has given up only four sacks and will try to hold off a Notre Dame defense that has recorded 15, four by middle linebacker Manti Te’o.

Notre Dame ranks 48th in rushing defense.

Turnover time

USC intercepted three passes and forced two fumbles last week against Cal, helping the Trojans improve from 104th to 84th nationally in turnover margin.

Notre Dame has not committed a turnover in its last two games. But the Fighting Irish rank 113th in turnover margin.

Quick hits

Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood played at Oxnard Santa Clara High. He is averages 5.8 yards a carry and 108.3 a game. … Notre Dame leads the series, 43-34-5. USC is 13-23-1 at South Bend. The Trojans also lost twice in Chicago. … Saturday’s game, which is set for 7:30 p.m. local time, is the latest start for the rivalry game. Night starts at the Coliseum have been at 5. … No USC players are from Indiana. The Irish have 12 Californians.

gary.klein@latimes.com

twitter.com/latimesklein