SOUTH BEND — In the shadow of Hollywood’s back lots, Notre Dame football defensive backs Christian Gray and Xavier Watts played their version of the old TV show, “Can You Top This?” to close out Saturday’s 49-35 win over USC.

Both ended up in the school’s gaudy record book.

As USC drove for the potential tying touchdown in the fourth quarter, Gray made an acrobatic snag of Jayden Maiava’s back-shoulder throw for Kyron Hudson at the goal line. Gray, a sophomore cornerback, scored on a 99-yard return down the home sideline.

That made it 42-28 with 3:39 remaining and marked the longest interception return for a Notre Dame player since Luther Bradley’s 99-yarder at Purdue in 1975.

On USC’s next possession, All-America safety Xavier Watts intercepted Maiava three yards deep in the end zone and raced the distance with no Trojan pursuers in sight. That pushed the lead to 49-28 with 1:18 to play.

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Officially, Watts’ 12^th career interception counts as a 100-yard return, tying Jack Elder’s return from 1929 against Army at Yankee Stadium for the longest pick-six in program history.

Watts had been shaken up on the play before Gray’s interception as he made the tackle along the sideline of USC running back Quenten Joyner.

On the next series, Watts reentered the game and gave the Notre Dame defense its sixth touchdown of the season, including five interception returns.

The others were by Boubacar Traore (at Purdue), Adon Shuler (at Georgia Tech) and Luke Talich (Florida State). Linebacker Jaylen Sneed also recovered a fumble in the end zone against Navy.

Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.