"Notre Dame would not be in this position without USC. The 10-2 Irish lost their first two games of the season before embarking on their usual cupcake schedule. Somewhere in the muck of forgettable games against the likes of Boise State and Boston College and Navy, they needed a marquee win. USC showed up in October and gave them the opportunity for that marquee win."
"USC is Notre Dame's safety net. USC is Notre Dame's ace in the hole. USC is Notre Dame's blue-and-golden ticket. And what is Notre Dame to USC? This season, as in the past, they were a poorly timed roadblock that unnecessarily stifled USC's hopes. Just as USC handed Notre Dame a spot in this year's playoff, one could reasonably argue that Notre Dame kept the Trojans out of this year's playoff."
"Imagine if, instead of losing to the Irish during a rainy October evening, the Trojans played a small-time opponent that night at the Coliseum. You know, take a schedule break like those schools in the overrated SEC? You think maybe USC wins that game, finishes 10-2, and it's enough for the buzz-conscious selection committee to let them join football's dance? Of course it would be."
Notre Dame secured a College Football Playoff berth after a 10-2 season that included two early losses and a soft midseason slate. The program needed a late-season marquee victory to resume playoff contention, and USC provided that opportunity in October. Notre Dame’s independent status limits chances to earn such marquee wins from conference opponents or other national powers late in the season. USC functions as Notre Dame’s recurring midseason measuring stick and safety net. Conversely, Notre Dame’s upset of USC can and did hinder USC’s playoff chances, illustrating an asymmetrical dependency in the rivalry.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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