After five consecutive .500 or below seasons under Joe Kuharich, first-year Irish coach Ara Parseghian takes the Irish from unranked at the start of the season to 9-0 and No. 1 entering the Coliseum. The Irish lead 17-13 and USC faces fourth down on the Irish 15 with 1:33 remaining. Then Trojan quarterback Craig Fertig finds Rod Sherman in the end zone for the game-winner, spoiling Parseghian's bid for a national title.
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