First, you’d think that the Southern Cal players would be a little tense about Saturday’s game.  Maybe?  Just a little?  Uh, Nope.

(I love how PeteCarrollTV goes to bars before the video ends.  Dammit.  Just dammit.)

For the Irish to win Saturday, they’re going to have to put some pressure on Matt Barkley, both with large men chasing him and by putting points up on the board.  Everything you’ll watch and read about Barkley leads you to believe he’s not easily rattled.  The Tribune and the LA Times weigh in.

ESPN is giving the game wall-to-wall coverage, anchored by this Ivan Maisel piece.  If you have Insider, check out the Scouts, Inc. preview. (Also, ESPN, do we need to automatically start videos on every page?  What a great idea.)

From the South Bend Tribune, a fun little A to Z on the series (did anyone clear it with Orson?).  I barely made it past A, but it’s solid.

While the Irish are getting some players back from injury, the Trojans are maximizing the bye week as well.  Ronald Johnson will make his season debut for the wide receiving corps, while Armond Armstead will be entering the already terrifying defensive line rotation after missing the first five games with a broken bone in his foot.

Stafon Johnson won’t be playing on Saturday – although he is out of the hospital now – but that doesn’t mean he won’t be on the minds (and helmets) of his teammates: