With less than two minutes left in regulation time and one timeout remaining, most teams would expect to play an additional five minutes in overtime.

Not so for USC. Coach Lincoln Riley had other plans for his offense. The Trojans stormed 75 yards down the field in eight plays and scored on a 13-yard run by Woody Marks – without a timeout.

LSU got the ball back with eight seconds left, but any hope the Tigers had was dashed by USC linebacker Mason Cobb’s interception on the first play. Coach Brian Kelly is now 0-3 in season-opening games since joining LSU in 2021.

Moss shined in his second career start, completing 27-36 passes 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 the game with 447 yards to LSU’s 421.

The Tigers fail to capitalize on Nussmeier’s 41-yard pass to Aaron Anderson, leading to a 31-yard field goal by Damian Ramos.

The score is 20-20 between LSU and USC, with less than two minutes of regulation time left to play.

USC quarterback Miller Moss realized he had free play after LSU safety Major Burns was thrown offside.

And the redshirt junior took advantage of the opportunity, throwing wideout Ja’Kobi Lane down the right sideline for a 28-yard touchdown pass. The Trojans took the lead again with less than six minutes left in the game.

Keep fighting!

Miller Moss hits Ja’Kobi Lane in the run for 6… and the lead!

Question 4: 5:44@uscfb 20@LSUfootball 17#VegasKickoffClassic #FightOn #GeauxTigers @ModeloUSA pic.twitter.com/mx5rtlAcbO

— Model of the Vegas Kickoff Classic (@LasVegasBowl) 2 September 2024

USC quarterback Miller Moss dismantled the LSU defense during the Trojans’ first drive of the fourth quarter. After running back Woody Marks’ one-yard run, Moss completed four consecutive passes for 49 yards. USC worked its way to the LSU 37-yard line on six plays.

But suddenly the Tigers’ defense came to life, intercepting two passes from Moss and pushing Woody back three yards on one tackle. The second deflection by Sai’vion Jones came on fourth-and-9, giving the LSU offense the ball back and a chance to extend its lead.

Big 4th down stop

📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/UgflsoqUoV

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) 2 September 2024

LSU’s seven-play, 75-yard drive is capped by a 13-yard pass from quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to wide receiver Aaron Anderson, giving the Tigers the lead.

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

Nussmeier to Anderson puts LSU in the lead!

📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/XM2Baxqt5J

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) 2 September 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, 7:13 minutes left in the third quarter.

Since USC’s Lantz missed his second field goal attempt wide to the right, LSU-USC went into the break with a 10-10 tie.

Both teams totaled over 200 yards on offense, thanks largely to passing from Moss and Nussmeier — 176 passing yards for USC and 191 for LSU. Both offenses seemed to gain momentum as the half progressed, as the Tigers scored on their final two drives while the Trojans did the same on two of their final three drives.

Tigers and Trojans tied at halftime pic.twitter.com/UDHjmGCuwd

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) 2 September 2024

It didn’t take the Tigers long to recover from USC’s rushing touchdown. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier led LSU’s offense on nine plays for 75 yards and connected with wideout Kyren Lacy in the upper left corner of the end zone for a 19-yard receiving touchdown.

Lacy quickly became Nussmeier’s favorite target with five pass catches for 60 yards and a touchdown grab.

pic.twitter.com/AZRgaTlBP1

— College Football Without Context (@nocontextcfb) 2 September 2024

Building on LSU’s pass interference by safety Ryan Sage that brought the Trojans to the two-yard line, USC running back Woody Marks scored the game’s first points moments later.

The Tigers led 7-0 after nearly ten minutes in the second quarter.

There goes @JoquaviousMarks 💪

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

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) 2 September 2024

Although he plays for USC, Trojans wide receiver Kyron Hudson did his best impression of Odell Beckham Jr. with his 24-yard pass.

At the LSU 41-yard line, USC quarterback Miller Moss attempted to tackle the redshirt junior in double coverage. Hudson reached out with his right hand and grabbed the ball one-handed. After further review of the catch, the call on the field stood.

The reception put USC in the red zone.

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

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) 2 September 2024

The LSU offense and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier started the game at full speed and marched down the field and into the USC red zone in nine plays. On the 13th play, coach Brian Kelly decided to let his offense go on fourth down at the Trojans’ three-yard line.

However, USC’s defense held firm, stormed forward and forced Nussmeier to make an incomplete pass, keeping the game 0-0.

Las Vegas 🎰 is known as a gambling city…sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.@uscfb takes over at Downs, stops @LSUfootball‘s opening drive on fourth down near the goal line.#VegasKickoffClassic #FightOn #GeauxTigers @ModeloUSA pic.twitter.com/sR81B1PQIq

— Model of the Vegas Kickoff Classic (@LasVegasBowl) 2 September 2024

No. 13 LSU and No. 23 USC prepare for the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. It will be the third-ever meeting between the two schools – the first time in 40 years. The series is tied 1-1.

After losing both starting quarterbacks in 2023 and having to reshape their defense and team, the Tigers and Trojans want to start their journey to the expanded College Football Playoffs with a good feeling.

.@ModeloUSA Mood before the game 📈 #VegasKickoffClassic | #FightOn | #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/NOn0avg6is

— Model of the Vegas Kickoff Classic (@LasVegasBowl) 1 September 2024

LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier (left) and Southern Cal’s Miller Moss (right) will compete in Sunday’s game for the second time in their careers.

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

👉 Click here to watch live