 In a game that looked to be overshadowed by pre-game hype and assertions of being the newest "Game of the Century", the meeting between perennial rivals, Notre Dame and USC, called by some the second greatest rivalry in college football, would be the 77th meeting between the schools, who play for the Jeweled Shillelagh.The Irish, led by first–year coach Charlie Weis and junior quarterback Brady Quinn, were ranked ninth in the country.The Trojans had won three straight meetings with the Irish, each by 31 points.