Los Angeles, CA

A shoulder injury will prevent USC quarterback Matt Barkley from playing in the Trojans' final regular season game against No. 1 Notre Dame Saturday at the Coliseum.

Barkley suffered the injury late in the game against UCLA after a sack by linebacker Anthony Barr. He left the Rose Bowl with his arm in a sling and USC did not disclose the nature of the injury.

"I feel bad for him and his family," Trojans coach Lane Kiffin said. "This is obviously not how you want it to be."

Barkley will be replaced in the starting lineup by freshman Max Wittek, who has played in six games this season, mostly in garbage time. He has completed 8-of-9 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.

Luckily, there's nothing at stake for the Trojans as they are already out of the hunt for the Pac-12's South Division title after losing to rival UCLA.

However, the game is crucial for the Fighting Irish, who are ranked No. 1 for the first time since 1993 and a win away from playing for their first national championship since 1988.

The injury ends Barkley's season season on a low note, despite passing for 3,273 yards and 36 touchdowns with a career-worst 15 interceptions.

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