Notre Dame football: Irish have bye before facing Temple Owls

No. 11 Notre Dame gets this weekend off to recuperate and reflect before resuming play on Halloween Night at Temple.

And it should be a generally satisfying look back for a 6-1 team coming off last Saturday's 41-31 victory over USC.

The 41-31 victory over USC featured a rally from a seven-point fourth quarter deficit with back-to-back scoring drives of 90 and 91 yards.

"Just your normal USC Notre Dame football game I guess," Irish coach Brian Kelly said. "Even when we got down in the second half, you know, fighting back and eventually going up by 10 points, I just never sensed that our football team didn't believe that they were going to win today."

Notre Dame's 41 points were the most in the series since a 49-19 victory over USC in 1977.

The 31 points allowed might also be a cause for concern, but Kelly said there's been strong defensive efforts when asked about it.

"I really think it's individuals refusing to give in and elevating their play and demanding it from the other players," he said. "I hear it on the sideline. I hear Jalen (Smyth, OLB) speaking, 'Coach, we've got you on this. It's our time to step up. ...'

"I think it goes to our seniors. I think it goes to our leaders that when it's time for them to really pick up their play, we see them turn the notch up."

Notre Dame's only stumble this year was a 24-22 setback at Clemson on Oct. 3.

The nationally televised Oct. 31 game against the Owls will be played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH

--RB C.J. Prosise recorded his fifth 100-yard game, rushing for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He's had multiple rushing TDs in four of the past five games.

--WR Will Fuller collected 131 yards on three receptions, including a 75-yard TD catch vs. USC, for his eighth career game over the century marches now sixth in program history.

--QB DeShone Kizer's 75-yard TD pass to Fuller against USC was the longest of his Irish career. He also recorded his first two career punts against USC, averaging 40.5 yards per attempt with both punts downed inside the 20.

--A five-yard TD run by Amir Carlisle on a blocked punt was the first of his Irish career on special teams.

--WR Corey Robinson had his seventh career TD reception and first of the season against the Trojans.

--DL Romeo Okwara had a team-high two tackles for loss and a full sack against USC.

--WR Torii Hunter Jr. completed the first pass of his career, finding Alize Jones for a 35-yard gain in the fourth quarter against the Trojans.