It's fight on at Coliseum

It started outside the locker rooms before warmups, USC and Notre Dame players exchanging words.

"They were barking at us, so we barked back," USC defensive lineman Fili Moala said.

It continued as the teams made their way down the Coliseum tunnel.

"This is our house, so for them to come in and start something got to us," said USC defensive end Clay Matthews.

It erupted into a near-brawl as the teams got ready to take the field.

"That just adds fuel to our fire," USC defensive end Kyle Moore said, chuckling.

On a night already dripping with it for USC seniors playing their last game at the Coliseum, the Irish unwittingly added an extra dose of emotion.

What transpired afterward might be remembered as one of the greatest defensive performances in the history of this storied rivalry.

Fifth-ranked USC routed the Fighting Irish, 38-3, in front of an announced 90,689 at the Coliseum.

The Trojans did not give up a first down until the last play of the third quarter and lost their second consecutive shutout against Notre Dame only when embattled Irish Coach Charlie Weis opted for a 41-yard field goal while trailing, 31-0, in the fourth quarter.

USC's seventh straight win over the Irish improved its record to 10-1, and Oregon's victory over Oregon State on Saturday put the Trojans in the driver's seat for their fourth consecutive Rose Bowl game appearance heading into their regular-season finale against UCLA at the Rose Bowl.

Saturday's result also might have ended the tenure of Weis, who came into the game on the hot seat and left the Coliseum with the stadium burning with speculation about his future.

"Their defense whipped us pretty good tonight until the end of the third quarter," Weis said.

By then, the outcome had long been decided.

"For all of the seniors, everyone had something extra going," senior linebacker Rey Maualuga said. "Everyone was just having fun."

USC players seemed to enjoy the pregame scuffle, which was reminiscent of a mid-'80s melee in the tunnel at the Coliseum and a 1989 tunnel brawl at Notre Dame Stadium.

But USC, a 32-point favorite, did not allow the Irish a fighting chance.

In the first half the Trojans intercepted two passes, did not give up a first down and limited the Fighting Irish to nine yards en route to a 24-0 lead.

Notre Dame finished with 91 yards and converted only two of 14 third downs.