Notre Dame Football: Brian Kelly Talks Injuries, Rivalries Before USC Game

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Coach Brian Kelly briefed the media in advance of Saturday’s matchup against the 11th-ranked USC Trojans.

This is the first time since 2009 that both programs are ranked at the time of the game.

BRANDON WIMBUSH

First and foremost, what is the status of junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who suffered a grade 1 foot sprain during the Sept. 30 game against the Miami-Ohio Redhawks?

The coach was also asked about Wimbush’s readiness for another high profile game under the lights.

“It doesn’t jump out at you on film, but his production numbers are really, really interesting in terms of big plays with his feet and big chunk throws, conversions on third and fourth down situations,” said Kelly. “So we just want to keep that confidence level in him and his ability to continue to make those plays. This would be another step in that maturation process.”

KEVIN STEPHERSON

After serving a four-game suspension, sophomore wide receiver Kevin Stepherson is poised to have a much bigger role in the offense in the second half of the season.

INJURIES

USC RIVALRY

“It sits up there with the great rivalries of college football,” said Kelly. “It just always seemed to be tightly contested. It caught my attention because there was such a buildup to the game. Growing up in Massachusetts, there wasn’t a local team that you followed. It had such a grasp on you and it was built up even on the East Coast as the football game.”