At USC, time to rethink another rivalry

The ongoing discussions about continuing the expired USC-Notre Dame football rivalry should begin with one basic truth.

- BILL PLASCHKE

Notre Dame needs USC more than USC needs Notre Dame.

One need look no further than Sunday, when the Fighting Irish will be selected as one of the 12 teams to compete in this season’s College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame needs to profusely, profoundly thank USC.

Notre Dame would not be in this position without USC.

The 10-2 Irish lost their first two games of the season before embarking on their usual cupcake schedule. Somewhere in the muck of forgettable games against the likes of Boise State and Boston College and Navy, they needed a marquee win.

USC showed up in October and gave them the opportunity for that marquee win. Every year USC shows up in the middle of the season and gives them a chance at collecting that marquee win.

Notre Dame can’t get that win from a strong conference foe because the Irish refuse to join a conference.

Notre Dame can’t get that win from another national powerhouse in late October or November because nobody in their right mind would risk their high ranking at such a late date to play such a strong independent.

USC is Notre Dame's safety net. USC is Notre Dame's ace in the hole. USC is Notre Dame’s blue-and-golden ticket.

And what is Notre Dame to USC?

This season, as in the past, the Irish were a poorly timed roadblock that unnecessarily stifled USC’s hopes.

Just as USC handed Notre Dame a spot in this year’s playoff, one reasonably could argue that Notre Dame kept the Trojans out of this year’s playoff.