South Bend, IN (Sports Network) - Mark Sanchez threw four touchdown passes as 13th-ranked Southern California routed Notre Dame, 38-0.

Sanchez went 21-for-38 with 235 yards and threw touchdown passes to four different receivers for the Trojans (6-1), who have won their last two after their loss to Stanford on October 6. Joe McKnight had seven carries for 65 yards and a score.

"I promised myself, before the game, no interceptions," said Sanchez. "It just can't happen. That's letting the team down- that's taking them out of the game. I didn't want it to happen. Thank God it didn't. We came out with a big time team victory. The offense got rolling a little bit."

Evan Sharpley, named the starter earlier in the week, went 17-for-33 with 117 yards while Armando Allen had 11 carries for 58 yards for the Fighting Irish (1-7), who have dropped two straight after their lone win of the season against UCLA on October 6.

"It was a struggle," said Sharpley. "It was difficult. They're a very good defense, kudos to them, and we had a tough time."

The game got off to a slow start with both teams exchanging a pair of punts, but a Notre Dame turnover led to the first points.

On a punt, the ball hit off the arm of an Irish player and Vincent Joseph jumped on the loose ball at the Notre Dame 10. On the next play, Sanchez pump- faked and then threw the ball over the head of a defender to Fred Davis, who stretched out and caught the ball one-handed in the left corner of the end zone with 3:40 left in the first quarter.

The Trojans upped their lead with a 10-play, 79-yard drive in the second quarter. Sanchez completed the drive on a eight-yard touchdown pass to Allen Bradford for a 14-0 lead with 3:55 left in the first half.

USC got the ball back with 1:22 to play in the second and managed the clock well as the team drove into field goal range and a 30-yard boot that split the uprights from David Buehler gave the team a 17-0 lead.

The Irish started the second half with the ball, but Travis Thomas fumbled as he was hit after a catch and Keith Rivers recovered it at the Notre Dame 13.

Three plays later, Sanchez found Stanley Havili in the end zone from five yards out for a 24-0 lead.

After stopping Notre Dame on its next possession, USC took a 31-0 lead when Sanchez hit Vidal Hazelton with a pass and the receiver broke several tackles on the way to a 48-yard touchdown play with 8:48 left in the third.

McKnight's 51-yard touchdown run with 10:57 to play in the game accounted for the final margin.