USC vs. LSU final score, results: Brian Kelly loses another season opener, Miller Moss shines as Trojans upset Tigers

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Daniel Mader
• 13 min read
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One of college football's best Week 1 matchups was set for Sunday night, and it lived up to the hype from start to finish.

With No. 23 USC facing No. 13 LSU at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the Trojans claimed a 27-20 win behind 378 passing yards from quarterback Miller Moss and a late-game touchdown from running back Woody Marks. 

The upset win gave USC a 1-0 start in its post-Caleb Williams era. Moss, a junior who had waited in the reigns behind Williams, stepped into the starting role and made the most of it.

While he ended with just one passing touchdown, Moss consistently led the Trojans down the field in key moments. 

Now in its first season as a member of the Big Ten, USC claimed an early lead after a quiet first quarter, but Garrett Nussmeier and the Tigers came storming back to keep things neck-and-neck through the fourth quarter. 

WR Kyron Hudson, who hadn't been a major contributor for the Trojans in past seasons, made a name for himself with a pair of highlight-reel catches in the game. His first came early in the second quarter when he made an acrobatic one-handed grab to set up USC's first score, and his second came late in the fourth quarter when he made a juggling, physical catch to set up the game-winning touchdown. 

While LSU didn't finish with the win, Nussmeier, also stepping in as the starter for a Heisman winner, had a strong starting debut with 304 passing yards and two touchdowns. His only interception of the night sealed his team's loss, but Nussmeier looked like a strong starter for the Tigers moving forward. 

Despite both starting quarterbacks replacing high-end talent, each had a big-time performance on Sunday. USC will take its 1-0 record further into its new-look schedule after a strong win in Las Vegas. 

LSU, meanwhile, will try to pick up the pieces after dropping its third straight season opener in the Brian Kelly era. The Tigers finished 10-3 last season and 10-4 the year before, but they haven't been in the CFP since they won the National Championship in 2019. However, with this year's expanded 12-team playoff, LSU still has a chance to make some noise in the title discussion.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from USC's Week 1 matchup with LSU. Check out all the action you might have missed below. 

STREAM: Watch USC vs. LSU live with Fubo (free trial)

USC vs. LSU football final score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
USC 0 10 3 14 27
LSU 0 10 7 3 20

USC vs. LSU results, highlights from Week 1 college football game

(All times Eastern)

11:14 p.m. — That'll do it. Only having eight seconds to work with anyway, Nussmeier throws an interception on his first attempt of the drive, sealing the 27-20 win for USC. The Trojans assert themselves in their first game post-Caleb Williams, upsetting LSU. 

USC 27, LSU 20

11:10 p.m. TOUCHDOWN— Forget the field goal. Woody Marks powers through LSU defenders to put his squad up with just eight seconds remaining. A statement late-game drive from the Trojans in this Week 1 matchup.

11:06 p.m. — For the second time tonight, Kyron Hudson has made a big-time catch. Hudson's 20-yard juggling grab, which also drew a targeting penalty, sets the Trojans up well inside field goal range with 13 seconds left. Hudson took a big hit, but made the catch first. 

11:03 p.m. — Moss is taking what LSU gives him with quick passes. Five plays, 33 yards to bring USC to the LSU 42-yard line with under 30 seconds remaining. 

USC 20, LSU 20

10:59 p.m. FIELD GOAL— Nussmeier can't complete a pair of passes, setting up 4th & 8. LSU plays it safe with the field goal to tie, and now, Miller Moss and USC have a chance for a go-ahead drive. 

10:53 p.m. — Moss and Nussmeier are both over 300 passing yards on the day, and both have looked poised from start to finish. Backing up two of the best QBs in college football for a few years seems to be a good strategy. 

10:49 p.m. — Garrett Nussmeier finds Anderson for 41 yards, then Zavion Thomas for 12 yards. LSU is threatening to tie or take the lead with just over three minutes remaining. 

USC 20, LSU 17

10:43 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — A big-time play for Miller Moss. He gets a free play after a couple of 15+ yard completions, and throws it up for Ja'Kobi Lane on the outside. Lane goes over his shoulder for the grab in the end zone, and USC takes the lead. 

10:38 p.m. — It's a quick three-and-out for LSU. USC's defense gets its job done.

10:35 p.m. — We have yet another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, this time on Major Burns for taking his helmet off on the field. 

10:32 p.m. — Moss got USC to the LSU 33-yard line, but things fall apart for the Trojans from there. An incomplete pass and loss of three yards sets up 4th & 9, and Lincoln Riley goes for it. The Tigers nearly take it away after batting away Moss' pass, but it results in a turnover on downs anyway. LSU ball with under nine minutes left. 

10:28 p.m. — Miller Moss is finding a rhythm. He first completes a 19-yard play to Lake McRee, then barely manages to get a throw off but makes a nice play to find Ja'Kobi Lane for another 17 yards. USC's offense is around midfield. 

10:21 p.m. — LSU can't get much going on it's own drive. Emery Jr. picks up some small chunks, but Brian Kelly's team will punt on 4th & 3. The Trojans are looking to reclaim the lead late in this game, with just over 13 minutes remaining. 

End of third quarter: LSU 17, USC 13

10:14 p.m. — Garrett Nussmeier has 231 yards on 24/29 passing and two touchdowns so far. A strong starting debut for the Tigers' QB:

10:11 p.m. — The LSU defense has a big drive, first holding Marks to a loss of eight yards, then drawing a false start. USC can't overcome a 2nd & 23 and will punt it away. 

LSU 17, USC 13

10:05 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Nussmeier tosses his first touchdown of the day and the Tigers take their first lead of the day. It's to sophomore receiver Aaron Anderson, who had wide open space to find the right corner of the end zone. 

10:01 p.m. — LSU running back John Emery Jr. broke free for a 39-yard gain. That sets the Tigers up at the USC 29. 

USC 13, LSU 10

9:57 p.m. FIELD GOAL — A pass interference call gave USC's drive a little more life, but it ultimately settles for a field goal. The Trojans take the lead about halfway through the third quarter. 

9:50 p.m. — Kyle Ford puts the juice back in this game. A Moss-Ford completion puts USC inside the LSU 40-yard line. 

9:48 p.m. — Offense has slowed on both sides. The Trojans punt it away, but LSU doesn't make much more progress. The ball is going to USC for the second time in the quarter already. 

9:35 p.m. — The second half is under way. USC starts with the ball and begins the drive with a six-yard run from Woody Marks. 

9:27 p.m. — For everything that's been made about Moss and Nussmeier replacing superstar quarterbacks, they both produced pretty good numbers in the first half. 

Halftime: USC 10, LSU 10

9:12 p.m. — No good. Miller Moss gets the Trojans within field goal range, but Michael Lantz misses the kick. This game remains tied at 10 heading into the break. 

9:08 p.m. — USC has just over a minute to work with before halftime. Moss starts the drive with a nine-yard completion to Hudson. 

USC 10, LSU 10

9:04 p.m. FIELD GOAL—The Tigers get inside the USC 30-yard line, but can't complete the drive. Damian Ramos knocks a 45-yard field goal through to knot it up once again. 

8:57 p.m. — Kyren Lacy is having a day. Make it seven catches for 94 yards for Lacy, plus the touchdown. He's emerged as Nussmeier's go-to receiver in this game. 

USC 10, LSU 7

8:53 p.m. FIELD GOAL— LSU's defense makes a stand, sacking Moss to then limit USC to three points instead of seven. 

8:47 p.m. — Now, we're rolling. Duce Robinson gets in on the big plays, as Miller Moss finds him for a 38-yard gain that sets up 1st & Goal. 

8:43 p.m. — Lacy got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after his touchdown, which is enforced on the kickoff. Zachariah Branch gives USC a boost with a 46-yard return. Here's a look at what earned Lacy the penalty:

USC 7, LSU 7

8:37 p.m. TOUCHDOWN—There's been yet another big-time catch. Kyren Lacy turns around in mid-air, grabs a pass and gets a foot in the end zone for his fifth catch of the game and six points for LSU. It's a 19-yard score from Nussmeier to Lacy. 

8:33 p.m. — Looking to match USC on the scoreboard, Nussmeier has found Mason Taylor for three catches and 25 yards on this drive. The Tigers are at the USC 19-yard line. 

USC 7, LSU 0

8:25 p.m. TOUCHDOWN— Hudson's catch is confirmed, and USC draws a pass interference on the play after. That sets the Trojans up for their first score of the evening, as Woody Marks punches it in. 

8:19 p.m. — Kyron. Hudson. The USC junior makes an otherworldly one-handed catch over two LSU defenders, and we have an early catch of the year candidate!

End of first quarter: USC 0, LSU 0

8:12 p.m. — Third-down defense is quickly becoming a theme. USC gets a key stop on 3rd & 6 that closes out the first quarter, and the Trojans offense will return to the field.  

8:08 p.m. — After a 13-play opening drive that resulted in zero points, the Tigers are chipping away once again. They have a pair of first downs, including a nine-yard completion to Kaleb Jackson. 

8:03 p.m. — Both defenses have already come up big. USC gets a first down on an eight-yard catch from Lake McRee, but on third down, LSU is all over Miller Moss and Woody Marks. The Trojans punt it away. 

7:57 p.m. — Picking between either six points or a loss of downs, LSU got the latter. Nussmeier's pass is incomplete to CJ Daniels, and the Tigers turn it over despite a solid opening drive.

7:55 p.m. — Kyle Parker is stopped on the USC three-yard line, which sets up 4th & Goal. Brian Kelly is once again opting to go for it.

7:51 p.m. — LSU is driving early. Lacy snags his third pass already to convert on 4th down, then his fourth on an eight-yard gain. The Tigers have 1st & Goal coming up. 

7:47 p.m. — Nussmeier got the ball rolling with two 15-yard completions to Kyren Lacy, but USC got a stop on 3rd & 3. LSU is going for it though, even this early in the contest.

7:45 p.m. — The Tigers receive the kickoff, and the game is under way in Las Vegas.

7:41 p.m. — If you're watching the game and see a dog in the booth, that would be Kirk Herbstreit's. 

7:12 p.m. — The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is in the building. Daniels, who Nussmeier is replacing at QB for LSU, is at tonight's game and was in the Tigers' locker room pregame.

6:30 p.m. — Now an hour out from kickoff, here's a look at Allegiant Stadium, where each team has its primary color in an end zone.

6:02 p.m. — This is the first time USC and LSU have met since 1984, and it's just their third all-time matchup. 

5:45 p.m. — LSU is favored by four points heading into tonight's Week 1 matchup. Luckily, Allegiant Stadium is fully enclosed and climate controlled, because it's over 100 degrees in Las Vegas. 

How to watch USC vs. LSU

  • Date: Sunday, Sept. 1
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
  • Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

USC vs. LSU will air on ABC on Sunday night. The network will broadcast the game from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. local time). 

Viewers seeking a streaming option can turn to ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users. 

Author(s)
Author Photo
Daniel Mader
Daniel Mader is an editorial intern for Sporting News.
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