It's not an overstatement to say that the clash against USC is the biggest game of the year for the Notre Dame football team. It's also worth admitting the Irish hoped their game against the Trojans would have such season-defining implications, but they put themselves in the situation, so it's time to make the best of it.
Unfortunately, they'll have to square off against Lincoln Riley's squad, playing their best football of the season, without one of the best defensive linemen on the Irish able to go.
Notre Dame football defense loses veteran tackle Gabriel Rubio ahead of USC game
Senior defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio was ruled out for Saturday night's game with a left arm injury in the updated Notre Dame injury report, released Thursday.