LSU falls to USC in final seconds of season opener

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Lincoln Riley was reminded of an event from three years ago during his time coaching Oklahoma.

Back then, the Sooners were in a deadlock with their fierce rival Texas, and in the final moments of the game, a 33-yard run into the end zone secured the victory for Oklahoma.

Fast forward to the present, with No. 23 Southern California only needing a field goal to win on Sunday night, Riley recalled that particular play. A run play was executed by Woody Marks, who dashed 13 yards up the middle, scoring with just 8 seconds remaining to defeat No. 13 LSU 27-20.

Miller Moss threw for 378 yards and a touchdown, and his 20-yard pass to Kyron Hudson, followed by a targeting penalty on LSU, set up Marks' game-winning score in the season opener for both teams. This marked Marks' second touchdown run.

“We put in a lot of effort during the offseason to establish ourselves as a resilient team that values camaraderie,” Moss remarked.

In a showdown against LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, who completed 29 of 38 passes for 304 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on the final drive, Moss excelled by going 27 of 36. Both quarterbacks had previously waited their turn behind the last two Heisman Trophy winners, Jayden Daniels of LSU and Caleb Williams of USC.

In their first Big Ten Conference game, USC made a statement with this win, showing that they could be a force to reckon with after a disappointing 8-5 season last year.

“That was some quality Big Ten football on display today,” Riley commented with a grin.

This victory came against an SEC opponent, LSU, aiming to prove its worth in the College Football Playoff. Despite LSU's chances to make their case, this loss marked their third consecutive season opener defeat under coach Brian Kelly and their fifth straight overall loss. LSU's four-game winning streak from the previous season also came to an end.

“Our lack of complementary play is concerning. The selfish, undisciplined penalties, particularly the personal fouls, are a reflection on me. We pride ourselves on running a disciplined program, but clearly, we fell short, and it affected the game,” Kelly admitted.

The crowd at Allegiant Stadium, a record attendance of 63,969, was predominantly LSU fans, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Baton Rouge. The presence of LSU legends Shaquille O'Neal and Jayden Daniels, with his Heisman Trophy, added to the star-studded event, alongside former USC Heisman winners Marcus Allen and Matt Leinart.

The first half was defined by two remarkable catches.

Hudson's incredible leap and catch set up Marks' 2-yard touchdown run, giving the Trojans a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. On the other side, LSU's Kyren Lacy made a spectacular catch for a 19-yard touchdown, tying the game midway through the period.

Both teams missed scoring opportunities — LSU failed to convert after reaching the USC 3, and USC's Michael Lantz missed a 29-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. USC could have had more time on their final possession, but Riley chose not to call a timeout before LSU tied the game with a 45-yard field goal by Damian Ramos.

The game continued to see-saw, with USC taking a 20-17 lead with 5:44 remaining in regulation when Moss connected with Ja'Kobi Lane for a 28-yard touchdown. A 31-yard field goal from Ramos leveled the score, leaving 1:47 on the clock.

With Moss leading the Trojans on an eight-play, 75-yard drive in the final moments, they secured the victory.