This week hits differently. Irish coaches and players can insist otherwise, but it just does. It's USC week. It's the biggest game on the schedule for Notre Dame, and the biggest game left in this season. Everyone knows the stakes, but nobody may know them better than former Notre Dame defensive back Tom Zbikowski, who played in this rivalry game and offered Irish fans one of the best moments of the last 25 years.

You know the game. You know the play. We talked with Zbikowski about what it means to play USC and what life is like for him today as a high school coach in Chicago. We preview USC and what the Irish need to do to stretch their win streak to five straight. We close, as always, with one bold statement and predictions.