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USC football isn't in a very good place right now.

The Trojans lost 41-31 to rival Notre Dame on Saturday night, their second straight defeat and third in the last four games. They also need to find a new long-term head coach after firing Steve Sarkisian earlier in the week amid reports of a drinking problem.

One potential candidate for USC is New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning that the Trojans are interested in the former Super Bowl winner.

Payton has an 82-50 record in 8-plus seasons as Saints head coach. He's 6-4 in the playoffs, including a Super Bowl XLIV victory over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in 2009.

USC hasn't fared very well in the post-Pete Carroll era (2009 to the present). The Trojans were 44-21 from 2009 through 2014, and they haven't played in a major bowl since winning the 2008 Rose Bowl.

Thumbnail photo via Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports Images