Tunnel Fission

USC is feeling right at home.

The top-ranked Trojans, who have won 19 consecutive games, start today’s against Notre Dame with a 20-game winning streak at the Coliseum.

USC has not lost in its venerable stadium since Sept. 29, 2001, when a coach on the rise, Tyrone Willingham, guided Stanford to a 21-16 victory over the Trojans and first-year Coach Pete Carroll.

Much has changed since then. Carroll has guided USC to two consecutive bowl championship series game appearances and a share of the 2003 national title. A win today would keep the 10-0 Trojans on track to play in their first BCS title game, the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami.

Willingham, meanwhile, is in his third season coaching the Fighting Irish, who are unranked and barely bowl eligible at 6-4.

The last time Willingham walked the sideline at the Coliseum, in 2002, USC rolled up 610 yards and Carson Palmer clinched the Heisman Trophy in a 44-13 rout of the Irish. The victory propelled the Trojans to the Orange Bowl.

A USC victory today, and another over UCLA at the Rose Bowl next week, would most likely send the Trojans back to Miami for a chance to win the national championship outright.

Carroll, though, said his team was not focused on the tradition surrounding the 76th meeting in one of college football’s greatest intersectional rivalries, or the Trojans’ prospects of ending the season ranked No. 1.

“Right now, this is about finishing this opportunity at home at the Coliseum,” said Carroll, who is 12-0 in November games at USC. “We’ve accomplished a great deal for our program by the way we’ve played at home.”

Both teams are well rested after open dates last weekend. But during his weekly news conference, Willingham said the Trojans’ break gave them a “huge” advantage.

“This is the third bye week that somehow has been worked into their schedule,” Willingham said. “This is about the third time they’ve had this break. They’ve been able to really split their season up. I think it really benefits them.”

The Trojans can thank Notre Dame for an assist.

Before the season, Notre Dame coaxed Brigham Young and USC to switch a game between the schools from Sept. 4 to Sept. 18. The Fighting Irish wanted to play BYU on Sept. 4 so they could have a game under their belt before playing Michigan on Sept. 11.

The switch provided USC with an open date after its season opener Aug. 28 against Virginia Tech. The Trojans also had an open date before playing California.

Last week’s open date gave the Trojans time to heal for their final regular-season push.

“It just seems like it worked out just right,” said Carroll, who coached the Trojans to a 45-14 victory over Notre Dame last season at South Bend, Ind.

USC receivers Steve Smith and Chris McFoy, offensive lineman John Drake and cornerback Kevin Arbet are among the players who used the extra week to heal.

Smith’s return from a broken leg suffered against Cal on Oct. 9 bolsters a receiving corps that has recently been led by tight end Dominique Byrd and split end Dwayne Jarrett. Jason Mitchell also emerged in Smith’s absence and running back Reggie Bush is a pass-catching threat from multiple spots on the field.

“I have trust in five or six receivers that can make plays,” said quarterback Matt Leinart, a Heisman Trophy candidate who has completed 66% of his passes and thrown for 23 touchdowns with only five interceptions.

USC ranks second nationally against the run, but the Trojans still expect Notre Dame to hand the ball to freshman tailback Darius Walker and senior Ryan Grant.

Walker rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns in 16 carries in Notre Dame’s last game, a 41-38 loss to Pittsburgh.

Notre Dame defeated Michigan and Tennessee, but the Fighting Irish lost to BYU, got blown out by Purdue and lost by a point to Boston College.

“They have shown the ability to beat big teams in big settings,” Carroll said. “They didn’t have a great season and I know this would be a great opportunity for them to put an exclamation point at the end of their season.”

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Peristyle Substance

USC has won 20 consecutive home games since losing to Stanford, 21-16, on Sept. 29, 2001. A look at the Trojans’ home winning streak:

2001 (6-6 overall record)

Oct. 13 d. Arizona State, 48-17

Nov. 3d. Oregon State, 16-13 (OT)

Nov. 17d. No. 20 UCLA, 27-0

2002 (11-2)

Sept. 2d. Auburn, 24-17

Sept. 28d. No. 23 Oregon State, 22-0

Oct. 12d. California, 30-28

Oct. 19d. No. 22 Washington, 41-21

Nov. 16d. Arizona State, 34-13

Nov. 30d. No. 7 Notre Dame, 44-13

2003 (12-1)

Sept. 6d. Brigham Young, 35-18

Sept. 13d. Hawaii, 61-32

Oct. 11d. Stanford, 44-21

Nov. 1d. No. 6 Washington State, 43-16

Nov. 22d. UCLA, 47-22

Dec. 6d. Oregon State, 52-28

2004 (10-0)

Sept. 11d. Colorado State, 49-0

Oct. 9d. No. 7 California, 23-17

Oct. 16d. No. 15 Arizona State, 45-7

Oct. 23d. Washington, 38-0

Nov. 13d. Arizona, 49-9