Technology Slice Blog

Notre Dame USC - It had all the makings of a storybook finish. USC trailed late in the fourth quarter Saturday night against Notre Dame, needing a touchdown to win at the Coliseum. Quarterback Mitch Mustain, a patient fifth-year senior making his first start for the Trojans, converted a fourth-down pass as his team drove toward a come-from-behind victory. But Mustain's final attempt was intercepted at the goal line, giving Notre Dame a 20-16 win that ended the Trojans' near-decade of domination in the intersectional series. The loss was USC's first in the last nine games against the Fighting Irish and dropped the Trojans to 7-5. A few weeks ago, USC was considering the possibility of a 10-win season. Now after losses to Oregon State and the Irish, Coach Lane Kiffin will try to salvage his first season with a victory next week over UCLA. "That was a tough locker room," Kiffin said on his way out of the stadium. "We had a chance to send off the s...