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LOS ANGELES — No. 5 Notre Dame punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff with a 49-35 victory over Southern California for its 10th consecutive win. Christian Gray returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown with 3:39 to play, and Xavier Watts returned another interception 100 yards for a score with 1:18 left. Riley Leonard threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another score for the Fighting Irish, who completed an impressive regular season by holding off the persistent Trojans for their sixth win in the last seven editions of this famed intersectional rivalry. Maiava rushed for two touchdowns and passed for 360 yards in his first loss as the starter for USC.
