SoCal NCAA Preview

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Sophomore Mark Sanchez, who led Southern California to a victory over Arizona last week, will start at quarterback Saturday against Notre Dame, according to a report Monday on the web site of the Los Angeles Times. The report stated that USC coach Pete Carroll chose the third-year sophomore quarterback over senior John David Booty, who is still nursing a broken finger on his throwing hand.

Sanchez took all of the first-team snaps during a short practice Friday at Michigan City High's football facility, according to the report. It will be the second start for Sanchez, who completed 19-of-31 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in USC's 20-13 victory over Arizona at the Coliseum last Saturday. Two of Sanchez's passes were intercepted in the first half, but he rebounded to throw the game-winning touchdown pass to senior tight end Fred Davis in the fourth quarter.

USC (5-1) trails 42-31-5 in the rivalry with Notre Dame that began in 1926, but has won the last five games between the teams by an average of 23.2 points. Notre Dame slipped to 1-6 on the campaign with a 27-14 loss to then-No. 4 Boston College last Saturday.