Brady Quinn describes favorite Notre Dame-USC memory

The Notre Dame-USC rivalry is one of college football’s most historic rivalries. Fans on both sides have fond memories, but former Fighting Irish quarterback Brady Quinn remembers a lot of pain.

From 2003-2006, Quinn went 0-4 against the Trojans, in the middle of USC’s eight-game win streak against Notre Dame. The Fox Sports college football analyst brings detailed memories of the Pete Carroll era, and how things changed.

“Back then they were rolling,” said Quinn. “It’s been 1,790 days now since USC beat Notre Dame – Notre Dame has won the last three, I think six of the last eight – so it’s been a different deal. That’s how rivalries are, a lot of times you get the ebbs and flows of rivalries between two teams. And that was USC’s hay day. After Pete (Carroll) left, obviously, I think the S in USC standed for sanctions at that point. They haven’t really been able to recover since.”

Brady Quinn’s USC joke aside, the Notre Dame-USC features plenty ups and downs. With an all-time record of 47-5-36, the Fighting Irish lead the series, but USC has six win streaks of three games or more. In addition to Notre Dame’s series lead, it holds the longest win streak at 11, an era which ran from 1983-1993.

Brady Quinn’s favorite Notre Dame-USC memory

Despite the pain, Brady Quinn remains fond of the Notre Dame-USC rivalry. However, even his favorite moment brings back the aftermath of a USC win.

Brady Quinn joined the Dan Patrick Show this week, talking all-things Notre Dame and USC, including his favorite memory.

“It was probably the ’05 game,” said Quinn. “We called a play – it was a quarterback draw – and Charlie (Weiss) told me early that week ‘I’m gonna call this play and you’re gonna run it for a touchdown and we’re gonna win the game.’”

He continued: “But it was – that play – reaching across the goal line, putting us ahead at that moment. It was everything coming to fruition. But at the same time, looking at the scoreboard going ‘we left them too much time.’ That’s honestly how I felt in my heart is – knowing how good Matt (Leinhart) and Reggie (Bush) are and the entire offense – I knew we left too much time on the board.”

Notre Dame and USC renew their rivalry Saturday in South Bend, Indiana. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.