2005 USC vs. Notre Dame football game
On June 10, 2010, the NCAA retroactively declared Bush ineligible for the entire 2005 season and forced USC to vacate its victory.
[4] Finally, the Notre Dame pep rally, with officials expecting large crowds, was moved to the stadium and was broadcast nationally on ESPNEWS.
[5][6] For the rally, Weis asked several Notre Dame legends to speak; including Tim Brown, Joe Montana and Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger.
On Notre Dame's second possession, a Brady Quinn pass was intercepted by Keith Rivers which led to a Reggie Bush 36-yard rushing touchdown during which he hurdled would-be tackler Ambrose Wooden.
Less than a minute later, after a 52-yard pass from Leinart to Dominique Byrd that brought the Trojans to the Irish goal-line, LenDale White ran 3 yards for their second touchdown of the day.
In the second quarter, Quinn led the Irish on a 72-yard drive that culminated in his 32-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Samardzija to tie the game at 14.
The Trojans were forced to punt on their next possession and Tom Zbikowski returned the ball 59 yards for a touchdown to give the Irish their first lead of the game.
On the next Irish drive, Brady Quinn completed a pass to tight end Anthony Fasano who ran it well into USC territory but Darnell Bing punched the ball loose at the Trojans' 27 yard line and Keith Rivers recovered it at the 6 to end the drive.
USC didn't answer, but on Notre Dame's next drive, Fitzpatrick missed a 34-yard field goal that would have extended the lead.
With five minutes left in the game, Bush finished a Leinart-led 80 yard drive, with a 9-yard touchdown to give the Trojans a 28–24 lead.
Leinart was able to complete an 11-yard pass to Bush to give the Trojans a fourth down and nine situation on their own 26-yard line with only 1:32 left in the game.
When he was stopped by a large group of Irish players, Bush pushed him into the end zone for the winning score.
After an excessive celebration penalty, a missed extra point, and a final, unsuccessful last-ditch attempt at a kickoff return for touchdown by Notre Dame with only 3 seconds left, the game ended with the Trojans winning 34–31.
The next season, the NCAA changed the rule and made it mandatory for all Division I-A (now Football Bowl Subdivision) games.
USC would go on to win the rest of its regular season games, and play in the 2006 Rose Bowl to defend their national championship.
The Irish also won the rest of their regular season games and accepted a berth in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, where they were beaten by Ohio State.
