Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas was rocking on Sunday night with college football action. Two trademark programs, both ranked in the Top 25 in the Associated Press poll to start the season, brought loads of fans for a great Sunday Night affair. In the end, it was Lincoln Riley and his USC Trojans that came away with a victory. The Trojans topped Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers by a final score of 27-20.
Following a thrilling first half of action that saw both teams head to the locker room tied at 10, the Trojans needed 14 fourth-quarter points to pick up their first win of the 2024 season.
LSU took the lead with a Gus Nussmeier pass to Aaron Anderson with 3:42 left in the third. Miller Moss drove the Trojans down the field in the middle of the fourth quarter to give the Trojans the lead. The touchdown went to Ja’Kobi Lane on a 28-yard strike.
The Tigers then tied the game with a field goal with under 2:00 to go. But, back came Miller Moss, and some poor, undisciplined defense from the Tigers. The final straw came when Woody Marks rushed 13 yards into the end zone. The clock read 0:08 when he got into the end zone. It was the second touchdown of the game for Marks.
He finished the game with 68 yards on the ground, and an additional seven via the air. Moss was 27 of 36 for 378 yards and a touchdown. Kyron Hudson was the top receiving threat for the Trojans. He finished with five receptions for 83 yards.
For the Tigers, Nussmeier was 29 of 38 for 304 yards and two touchdowns. John Emery, who threatened to leave the program via the transfer portal, got 10 carries for 61 yards. His longest was a 39-yard scamper. Kyren Lacy scored the other touchdown for LSU. He led the team with both seven receptions and 94 yards in the game.
The LSU Tigers host Nicholls State on Saturday, while the USC Trojans will look to move to 2-0, as they host Utah State on Saturday as well.