SOUTH BEND, Ind., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Quarterback Carlyle Holiday rushed for 98 yards and a score and Julius Jones added 95 yards on the ground Saturday as Notre Dame won its third straight with a 27-16 victory over Southern California.
The traditional powers were meeting for just the third time with both sporting losing records in 73 all-time meetings. The two previous such contests came in 1960 and 1997.
Behind Holiday and Jones, Notre Dame (3-3) racked up 208 yards rushing. Holiday also threw for 138 yards as the Fighting Irish rallied from a 10-point, first-half deficit.
A pair of touchdown passes from Carson Palmer staked Southern California (2-5) to a 13-3 lead 52 seconds into the second quarter.
USC's offense was weakened by the absence of starting tailback Sultan McCullough, who sat out with a strained abdominal muscle suffered in last week's victory at Arizona State.
The Trojans tried a fake punt late in the half, but Notre Dame snuffed it out and took over at the USC 28. Four plays later, the Irish scored on a four-yard run by Terrance Howard to make it 13-10 at halftime.
Notre Dame took the lead for good, 17-16, on a 35-yard touchdown run by Holiday with 5:07 left in the third quarter. Holiday has rushed for 350 yards in Notre Dame's last three games.
A 29-yard field goal by Nick Setta extended the lead to 20-16 with 2:48 remaining in the fourth quarter.
On the Trojans' ensuing possession, Palmer was sacked on third down by strong safety Abram Elam and free safety Donald Dykes recovered a fumble at the USC 22.
Jones carried four times on a drive he capped with a five-yard touchdown run with 1:21 left for the final margin.
Palmer completed 19 of 30 passes for 230 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
