USC vs. Notre Dame: D’Anton Lynn’s defense faces its toughest test

When D’Anton Lynn inherited one of the worst defenses in college football, it was assumed that even a mediocre performance would make a big difference at USC. Especially in combination with one of the most electrifying offenses.

A year later, Lynn’s defense has made significant progress. USC jumped from 121st to 32nd in point defense, from 119th to 43rd in rush defense, and from 119th to 65th in total defense, while its third-down conversion rate, The defense’s red zone conversion rate, missed tackles, and explosive plays given up all dropped significantly. But the Trojans (6-5, 4-5 Big Ten) still struggled, barely qualifying for the bowl.

This is no fault of Lynn, whose defense peaks just when it should.

“We’re playing our best ball right now,” cornerback Greedy Vance said. “We communicate at a high level. We play fast. We have fewer mental errors. And you know, we’ve been together for a while now. This makes us feel more comfortable playing together.”

No. 5 Notre Dame is playing its best ball since mid-September. No team in college football has been more dominant since the Fighting Irish were upset by Northern Illinois earlier in the season. Notre Dame leads the nation by a margin of plus-301 points despite being ranked No. 10 on the schedule according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, and has won each of its last six games by an average margin of nearly 34 points.

For Lynn, Notre Dame is “the best offense we’ve ever played.” That should be an ideal benchmark for the conclusion of his first year as defensive coordinator.

“They are very talented,” Lynn said. “Their offensive line is probably going to be the best offensive line we’ve played all year. Both defenders are very good defenders. They have great tight ends. They have outside speed.”

Here’s what else to watch during Saturday’s USC-Notre Dame game (12:30 p.m. PST on CBS) at the Coliseum: