DOMINATION NO. 7 FIGHTING IRISH FALL FROM GRACE.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

All day long.

On any given Saturday, day or night. On any gridiron in America. Make it St. Patrick's Day, and it wouldn't matter.

USC slapped Notre Dame around Saturday evening at a packed Coliseum like some Pop Warner team that had accidentally wandered through the peristyle end. Not like the other half of the most historic rivalry in college football. Not like a team that had won 10 games.

The Trojans played with the Fighting Irish, toyed with them, made them look like some Midwest freak of a team that had never heard about this thing called the forward pass.

The final was a 44-13 victory for the Trojans, and just as we mentioned in their 52-21 win over UCLA last week, it wasn't nearly as close as the final numbers suggest.

Carson Palmer threw for 425 yards - the most ever by a Notre Dame opponent - and four touchdowns. It looked like he could have thrown for 600. Filling out your tax return should be this easy. Driving to the Coliseum when over 90,000 are jamming the parking lots is comparative brain surgery.

All day long, Palmer dropped back and found receivers so open they battled each other for his affection, frantically waving their arms to draw his attention: Pick me! No, no, pick me!

And then there was the USC defense, which, it is safe to say, dominated Notre Dame. I think that's what it's called when the Golden Dome covers more ground than your entire offense.

To score, of course, you have to be able to advance the football. Yeah, it's a complicated game. Since the not-so-Fighting Irish finished with a grand total of four first downs to USC's 31, and were actually unable to mount a single first down during 11 consecutive possessions, it can safely be put forth that USC kind of did what it wanted.

``We were hoping that at some point we would hit our stride,'' said Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham.

The Irish did; they just didn't recognize it. It was called three plays and punt, and then watch Palmer do whatever he felt like. All day long.

Understand, USC continues to improve by the week. It's still cresting, a team at its peak still looking for that perfect wave.

``We're getting better each game,'' said USC safety Troy Polamalu, ``and there's still a lot of improvement to be made.''

USC completed its regular season and went to 10-2 with the victory. Now comes the waiting to see what bowl game they're invited to, the curiosity, the turning into major UCLA fans.

If the Bruins upset Washington State next Saturday, the Trojans are Pacific 10 Conference champions and go to the Rose Bowl. That part becomes a lock.

But if the Cougars win as expected, then USC has to hope it has already earned a Bowl Championship Series bid, or it's down to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

However - and stay with us here - there is another scenario that is growing more likely. USC is currently ranked sixth in the BCS, but if it can get to No. 4, it automatically gets a BCS bid to either the Orange or Sugar bowls.

Oklahoma was No. 3 and lost Saturday. And with their impressive win Saturday, the Trojans could leap over No. 5 Iowa into fourth.

``Whatever happens, happens,'' Polamalu said. ``We did what we had to do.''

And did it over and over against Notre Dame. The Irish would have had more luck finding a pot of gold than actually driving for a touchdown.

Notre Dame was able to make it a game at the half, thanks to a series of USC mistakes. A missed field goal, six penalties, an interception, a fumble and a blocked punt that went for Notre Dame's only touchdown left USC with a 17-13 lead at the half.

Then five of the next six times USC got the ball, it scored. Notre Dame's offense in the second half: 15 total yards.

``We never could get into the right rhythm,'' Willingham said.

You can only hope. Meanwhile, Palmer was having himself a night. Afterward, reporters did everything but shout, ``Hey, Carson, you just won the Heisman Trophy. Now what are you going to go?''

Palmer completed 10 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns to freshman Mike Williams alone. Williams was open all day long, which hardly made him unique among USC receivers.

The Trojans pounded Notre Dame's offense so relentlessly, there were moments when you found yourself asking, ``Really, seriously, how did this team win 10 games?''

This is No. 7 Notre Dame, which had won some impressive victories, back when it apparently had an offense. A team that beat USC 27-16 last season, back when the Trojans all but played wearing red capes.

Because Notre Dame's following travels so well, and USC's does not, it has been more than suggested that if even if USC won Saturday, the Irish would still get a BCS invite if the Trojans failed to earn an automatic berth.

``I can't imagine how anybody wouldn't want us to play in their game,'' said USC coach Pete Carroll. ``This is a fantastic run.''

USC is so much better than Notre Dame, it would make a mockery of the BCS if the Irish earned a BCS invitation over the Trojans.

``I hope everyone was paying attention and saw the score,'' Palmer said. ``They need to know that we are for real now.''

For the first time in 20 years, USC has beaten UCLA and Notre Dame in the same season. And there's more to come.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Lineman Troy Polamalu stands triumphant on the band leader's platform, celebrating the University of Southern California's lopsided win over Notre Dame Saturday night, 44-13.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) USC quarterback Carson Palmer, center, celebrates a touchdown with freshman wide receiver Mike Williams, left, and tight end Alex Holmes. Williams caught 10 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns, while Palmer threw for 425 yards and four touchdowns.

(3 -- color) USC safety Troy Polamalu brings down Notre Dame quarterback Carlyle Holiday during Saturday's victory at the Coliseum.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer