No. 23 USC downs No. 13 LSU 27-20 winning the Kickoff Classic (2024)

With less than two minutes to go in regular time and one timeout remaining, most teams would prepare for an additional five minutes of play in overtime.

Not USC. Coach Lincoln Riley had different plans for his offense. The Trojans charged down the field on eight plays for 75 yards and scored on a 13-yard rush by Woody Marks — no timeout needed.

LSU got the ball back with eight seconds left, but any hope for the Tigers was smothered by USC linebacker Mason Cobb's interception on the first play. Coach Brian Kelly is now 0-3 in season openers since coming to LSU in 2021.

Moss shined in his second career start, going 27-36 for 378 yards and a passing touchdown, while Marks rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns in his debut for the Trojans. USC's offense finished with 447 yards to LSU's 421.

The Tigers can't capitalize off of Nussmeier's 41-yard pass to Aaron Anderson, leading to a 31-yard field goal by Damian Ramos.

LSU-USC are tied at 20 with less than two minutes remaining in regular time.

USC quarterback Miller Moss noticed he had a free play after LSU safety Major Burns' offsides.

And the redshirt junior took advantage of the opportunity, fading up wideout Ja'Kobi Lane down the right sideline for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The Trojans retake the lead with less than six minutes left in the contest.

Fightin' On!

Miller Moss hits Ja'Kobi Lane in stride for 6 ... & the lead!

Q4: 5:44@uscfb 20@LSUfootball 17#VegasKickoffClassic #FightOn #GeauxTigers @ModeloUSA pic.twitter.com/mx5rtlAcbO

— Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic (@LasVegasBowl) September 2, 2024

USC quarterback Miller Moss was carving up LSU defense during the Trojans first drive of the fourth quarter. Following running back Woody Marks' rush for a negative yard, Moss completed four straight passes for 49 yards. USC worked its way to LSU's 37-yard line six plays into the drive.

Out of nowhere, though, the Tigers' defense came alive, deflecting two of Moss' passes and pushing Woody back three yards on a rush. The second deflection by Sai'vion Jones came on 4th and 9 to give LSU's offense the ball back and chance to extend their lead.

Big 4th Down Stop

📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/UgflsoqUoV

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 2, 2024

LSU's seven-play, 75-yard drive is capped off with a 13-yard pass from quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to wide receiver Aaron Anderson to give the Tigers the lead.

LSU leads 17-13 with less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Nussmeier to Anderson to give LSU the lead!

📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/XM2Baxqt5J

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 2, 2024

After missing a 29-yard field goal attempt just before halftime, Michael Lantz kicks a 35-yard field goal to redeem himself and give the Trojans a three-point lead.

13-10 USC with 7:13 left in the third quarter.

With USC's Lantz missing his second field goal attempt wide right, LSU-USC enter the break knotted up at 10 apiece.

Both teams have produced over 200 yards of offense, particularly carried by Moss and Nussmeier's arms— 176 passing yards for USC and 191 for LSU. Each offense seemed to gain momentum as the half continued, as the Tigers put points on the board on the last two drives while the Trojans did the same on two of their final three drives.

Tigers and Trojans Even At Half pic.twitter.com/UDHjmGCuwd

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 2, 2024

The Tigers even it up at 10 following Damian Ramos' 45-yard field goal.

USC gets the ball back with just over a minute left before halftime.

We're knotted up, once again.@lsufootball's Damian Ramos drills a 45-yarder to even it up!

2Q: 1:08
Trojans 10
Tigers 10#VegasKickoffClassic #FightOn #GeauxTigers@ModeloUSA pic.twitter.com/cUiGSuctNs

— Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic (@LasVegasBowl) September 2, 2024

Behind 38-yard and 19-yard catches from wide receivers Duce Robinson and Zachariah Branch, respectively, the Trojans regained their lead with Michael Lantz's 22-yard field goal.

USC leads 10-7 with less than five minutes remaining before the half.

.@uscfb reclaims the lead with a 22-yard FG from Michael Lantz.

2Q: 4:51
Trojans 10
Tigers 7#VegasKickoffClassic #FightOn #GeauxTigers@ModeloUSA pic.twitter.com/z4QCikn1VF

— Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic (@LasVegasBowl) September 2, 2024

The Tigers didn't waste much time bouncing back from USC's rushing touchdown. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier led LSU's offense on nine plays for 75 yards, connecting with wideout Kyren Lacy in the top left corner of the end zone for a 19-yard receiving touchdown.

Lacy has quickly become Nussmeier's favorite target with five receptions for 60 yards alongside the touchdown grab.

pic.twitter.com/AZRgaTlBP1

— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) September 2, 2024

Building off of LSU's pass interference by safety Ryan Sage that moved the Trojans to the two-yard line, USC running back Woody Marks punched it in moments later for the game's first points.

The Tigers lead 7-0 nearing the 10-minuter mark of the second quarter.

There goes @JoquaviousMarks 💪

📺 ABC
📱 https://t.co/M1RwFNxzJl pic.twitter.com/jAeQP6nzpB

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) September 2, 2024

Although on USC, Trojans wide receiver Kyron Hudson did his best Odell Beckham Jr. impression on his 24-yard reception.

At LSU's 41-yard line, USC quarterback Miller Moss took a chance on the redshirt junior in double coverage. With his right hand, Hudson reached up and made a one-handed snag.After further review of the catch, the ruling on the field stood.

The reception moved USC into the red zone.

THIS ANGLE OF KYRON HUDSON'S ONE-HANDED GRAB 😳😱 pic.twitter.com/lrnVSFKuCV

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 2, 2024

LSU offense and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier had a head full of steam to start the game, marching down the field and into USC's red zone in nine plays. By the 13th play, coach Brian Kelly decided to let his offense go for it on 4th down at the Trojans' three-yard line.

However, the USC defense held firm, blitzing and forcing a Nussmeier incompletion to keep the game at 0-0.

Las Vegas 🎰 is known as a gamblin' town ... sometimes you win & sometimes you lose.@uscfb takes over on downs, stopping @LSUfootball's opening drive on 4th down near the goal line.#VegasKickoffClassic #FightOn #GeauxTigers @ModeloUSA pic.twitter.com/sR81B1PQIq

— Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic (@LasVegasBowl) September 2, 2024

No. 13 LSU and No. 23 USC are readying to square off in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. It’s the third-ever meeting between the two schools — the first time in 40 years. The series is tied at 1-1.

Losing both starting quarterbacks from 2023 and introducing revamped defenses and staffs, the Tigers and the Trojans look to begin their journeys toward the expanded College Football Playoffs on a high note.

.@ModeloUSA pregame vibes 📈 #VegasKickoffClassic | #FightOn | #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/NOn0avg6is

— Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic (@LasVegasBowl) September 1, 2024

• 🗓️ Date: Sunday, Sept. 1
• ⏰ Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• 📺 TV: ABC
• 💻 Stream: ESPN+
• 📍 Location: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas

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