Greg McElroy adds USC vs. Notre Dame in Week 7 to ultimate 2023 college football schedule

College football expert Greg McElroy has broken down the 2023 college football schedule, looking for the best games of each weekend. As the season hits full swing, Week 7, McElroy has deemed the showdown between USC and Notre Dame, the ultimate game for that week.

“This will be our trip to Notre Dame,” said McElroy. “Had the opportunity a little earlier in the season to maybe visit South Bend, IN. But this is really the only chance that we’ll get to see the USC Trojans. So we want to see Caleb Williams. We want to see this matchup.”

Last year against Notre Dame, Williams had what many believe to be his Heisman-winning performance. Williams had to work for every inch. He would finish the game, completing 18 of his 22 pass attempts for 232 yards, one touchdown through the air, and zero interceptions. Williams also had three rushing touchdowns in the game on nine rushing attempts.

According to McElroy, Week 7 might be a huge one for the Pac-12. The conference has taken heat over the past few years because of its lack of quality teams. But this year, there might be too much talent in the Pac-12.

“It was actually a tough call because I think the game between Oregon and Washington, also in Week 7, is a terrific matchup that might very well position one of those two teams with the inside track. It could be an eliminator game if you will. The Pac-12 is so dang deep this year, so dang difficult, so many landmines, and there might be so much carnage by the end of it, the Pac-12 championships involving two teams with multiple losses. But either way, if you look at SC, I think SC is the class of the Pac-12. I think Washington’s a very, very, very close second. Utah is in the mix, and then, of course, Oregon is also in the mix.”

Washington, both Oregon schools, USC, Utah, and even UCLA could all be in the might for a championship game appearance. And that only make USC versus Notre Dame that more enticing of a Week 7 showdown.

“So, it will be very interesting to see how this whole thing plays out. But in Week 7, I feel like I have to go to South Bend for Caleb Williams’s trip to play against Marcus Freeman. This was his Heisman moment a year ago. Will it materialize again here in 2023?”