No. 5 Notre Dame (11-1) is certain to move up in the College Football Playoff rankings after a thrilling 49-35 victory over USC (6-6) on Saturday. What that means is that Notre Dame, the same Fighting Irish squad that lost to Northern Illinois on Sept.

The stage was set for another great battle between Notre Dame and USC, and after a four quarter battle the Irish did what was needed and earned the victory. Notre Dame and USC battled it out for the Jeweled Shillelagh Trophy, but the Irish won it with a 49-35 victory. The win secures a spot for Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff.

LOS ANGELES — Christian Gray returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown with 3:39 to play, Xavier Watts returned another interception 100 yards for a score with 1:18 left, and No. 5 Notre Dame punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff with its 10th consecutive victory, 49-35 over Southern California on Saturday.