The Turning Point?

Notre Dame faces their traditional rival, the Trojans of Southern California, Saturday night. This game is more than a football game for Notre Dame. A victory, both on and off the field, could represent the turning point in the program. A loss could lead to further despair.

First, Notre Dame has the opportunity to win their fifth straight game after losing their first two. Most likely, this would mean that Notre Dame would enter the Stanford game with an opportunity to play for a BCS bowl bid. The Trojans stand as the largest test before that game. This is a must-win for the Irish if they want to be playing in a BCS game come January.

Second, an enormous amount of visitors will be watching the Irish take on the Trojans. If Brian Kelly's club plays well, they will have a great opportunity to land the best talent in the country. If they lose, this recruiting class could fall flat on its face. Notre Dame might not get commitments immediately from the visitors but they will create a lot of buzz. This applies not only to the 2012 class but also the 2013 class. This game will go a long way in recruiting.

Third, night games draw the most attention. With the first night game since 1990, all eyes will be on Notre Dame. The national perception of the program could hinge on this game. Beating USC at night will hold a lot of value nationally. If the fans and students behave well and the ratings are high, Notre Dame will have more night games. More exposure is good for any program.

Ultimately, this game can be summed up in the words of the late Al Davis, "Just win baby."