Playoff play-in, tough out: Notre Dame vs. USC storylines

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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the USC Trojans get into a scuffle during pregame at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. (Matt Cashore-Imagn Images)

The College Football Playoffs don’t officially begin until Dec. 20, when the first of the four opening-round games kickoff. But for No. 5 Notre Dame (10-1), its playoffs unofficially begin today against USC (6-5) in a win-and-in game. Beat the Trojans, and the the Irish will host a first-round playoff game on either Dec. 20th or the 21st.