USC football: Josh Pinkard comes up big in final seconds against Notre Dame

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USC cornerback Josh Pinkard was not happy about giving up the first passing touchdown by the Trojans defense this season.

But that’s what happened in the sixth-ranked Trojans’ 34-27 victory over No. 25 Notre Dame.

The sixth-year senior was covering Notre Dame receiver Golden Tate in the third quarter when Fighting Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen lofted a high pass down the left sideline to the end zone. Tate made a spectacular catch to pull Notre Dame to within 20-14.

‘Jimmy threw a great ball -- I’m going to have to talk to him about that,’ Pinkard said, chuckling. ‘I was in good coverage. He tossed it up there. ... I thought I made a play on it, got my hand on it, but he caught it and made a play.’

Pinkard redeemed himself in the final seconds when he broke up a pass that appeared to end the game. Game officials, however, reset the clock to one second and Clausen’s final pass skidded incomplete through the end zone.

-- Gary Klein