Eyes are on Irish, but not with the same intensity

Notre Dame week officially begins for USC tonight when the Trojans reconvene for a meeting after a weekend off.

But don’t expect Coach Pete Carroll to make much of one of college football’s most noteworthy rivalries.

After playing up the tradition in his first season in 2001, and then losing at Notre Dame, Carroll has treated the game like any other and won six in a row.

“We’re not going to talk a whole lot about it,” Carroll said of a series that dates to 1926.

Notre Dame fell to 6-5 on Saturday with a 24-23 defeat by Syracuse.

The Fighting Irish led, 23-10, in the fourth quarter but were unable to hang on at South Bend, Ind.

Along with the game plan for Notre Dame, Carroll will focus this week on the fact that the game will be the last at the Coliseum for Trojans seniors.

“They get introduced [before the game] and all that kind of stuff -- those are the things that we will deal with during the week because that’s something we don’t want to miss,” Carroll said.

Eager Ellison

After ramping up his rehabilitation effort last week, senior safety Kevin Ellison hopes to practice and play against the Fighting Irish.

Ellison has been sidelined since the beginning of the month because of torn cartilage in his right knee that required surgery.

“Everything’s going well,” Ellison said. “I would not like to miss my last game at the Coliseum, but if I’m not ready, I’m not ready.

“Moral of the story? I’ll be playing.”

Quick kicks

Defensive lineman Clay Matthews, who did not practice last week because of an ear infection, is expected to return this week. . . .

The Trojans are tentatively scheduled to practice on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 4 p.m., and on Thursday at 11:45 a.m.

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gary.klein@latimes.com