Quick Hits from Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly's N.C. State Week press conference

Notre Dame beat USC ... but the season is far from over.

The Irish face perhaps a more significant test on Saturday when they host No. 14 N.C. State at 3:30 p.m. inside Notre Dame Stadium.

Eighth-year head coach Brian Kelly discussed the match up in his weekly press conference on Tuesday. Here are the highlights from Kelly's address.

-- Kelly called N.C. State hybrid running back/receiver Jaylen Samuels "a match up nightmare." He was also complimentary of quarterback Ryan Finley, who has yet to throw an interception this season, and running back Nyheim Hines.

-- Kelly said that N.C. State defensive end and midseason All-American Bradley Chubb "obviously has the ability to rush the passer and plays with a great motor." Chubb has 6.5 sacks thus far this season.

-- The reason for junior linebacker Te'von Coney's recent success? "The trust factor in the coaching," Kelly said. "It's like anything else. He's trusting the teaching, and that trust is starting to show itself on the field."

-- Kelly said that Notre Dame's safeties need to communicate better going forward, but "those guys are giving us all that they have every single snap."

-- Kelly said there's nothing his team can garner from watching last season's N.C. State game. "We didn't even look at the film," Kelly said. "It wasn't even part of our breakdown." "It was a poorly designed game plan by me."

-- Notre Dame has an established identity of physicality, Kelly said. "We know who we are now. Once you know who you are, you take great pride in that."

-- Kelly reiterated that the only goal is a national championship. "We've been in the playoff since we lost to Georgia. Every game's a playoff."

-- Kelly, on Coney's growth since his arrest prior to the 2016 season: "He's grown off the field in the decisions that he makes on a day-to-day basis, and now he's growing on the field."

-- Kelly vocalized the improvement he saw from junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush in practice last Thursday. "He became decisive. What he saw, he believed in," Kelly said.