Even so, it didn’t appear his job was in jeopardy until last weekend’s 24-23 loss to woeful Syracuse at home, prompting talk of a buyout. The embarrassment of this game for Weis, a reputed offensive specialist, could be the crowning blow.

He has seven years left on the 10-year contract he signed in 2005, his first season, right after the Irish nearly upset Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and USC in South Bend.

Weis’s predecessor, Tyrone Willingham, was dismissed after three years on the job in the wake of a 41-10 loss to USC that left him 21-15 with the Irish.

Sanchez completed 22-of-31 passes with two interceptions. Damian Williams had seven receptions for 86 yards and Patrick Turner caught six for 83 yards. Joe McKnight gained 63 yards on four carries.

Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, who grew up in nearby Westlake Village, completed 11-of-22 passes for 41 yards with two interceptions and was sacked four times by the nation’s best defense.

“Is this the best group we have had? Well, it’s the best we’ve ever played on defense,” said Carroll, whose team has allowed just 10 touchdowns in 11 games and an NCAA low 7.8 points per game this season.

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“They’re nasty, they fight hard, they don’t want to give up an inch,” Sanchez said of the Trojans’ defense.

The Trojans took a 7-0 lead on their second possession, scoring on a 2-yard run by Stafon Johnson.

USC scored on its last three possessions of the second quarter to make it 24-0 at halftime.

McKnight ran 55 yards on the first play after an interception by Kaluka Maiava, and Sanchez threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Williams before David Buehler added a 35-yard field goal with 24 seconds left in the half.

C.J. Gable’s 1-yard run with 5:03 left in the third quarter made it 31-0.

The Irish crossed midfield for the first time on the second play of the fourth quarter, and got as far as the USC 23 before Brandon Walker kicked a 41-yard field goal to prevent USC from recording its fourth shutout of the year.

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