The USC Trojans pulled off an exciting 27-20 win against the LSU Tigers in their Big Ten season opener at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The victory was secured by a decisive 13-yard touchdown run from running back Woody Marks, who made his debut for USC after transferring from Mississippi State. Marks commented on the broadcast, “Transferring to USC paid off… We found a way to get the job done.” The game was highly anticipated, featuring two ranked teams competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. The atmosphere was electric, with a record-breaking crowd of 63,963 in attendance at Allegiant Stadium.
The noise level reached 107 decibels, leading USC head coach Lincoln Riley to call a timeout so quarterback Miller Moss could hear the play call. Moss, who is from Las Vegas, expressed his pride in leading his team to victory in front of his hometown fans. He said, “The two-minute drill is something we practice all the time. Those are the types of situations Coach Riley always talks about—situations that can win or lose games.
I thought we executed well at the end of the half.” When asked why they didn’t opt for a field goal to win, Moss explained, “We wanted to finish the game on our terms and not leave anything to chance.
It’s hard to put into words how happy I am for our team. Our effort to build a tough, caring identity really shone through tonight. I couldn’t be prouder of the guys.” Moss demonstrated composure throughout the game, completing 27 of 37 passes for 378 yards and a touchdown. Coach Riley praised Moss, saying, “I have a lot of belief in Miller. He’s a great leader for this team.” LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, replacing the departed Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, also performed well, throwing for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Both teams had new defensive coordinators making their debuts, with USC’s D’Anton Lynn and LSU’s Blake Baker implementing their defensive strategies. The first half ended tied at 10-10, setting up a competitive second half. USC’s next game is at home against Utah State on September 7. Following this strong start, USC seems to be on the right path as they adjust to their new conference.
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