With less than two minutes left in regulation time and one timeout remaining, most teams prepared for five additional minutes of overtime.

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

LSU got the ball back with eight seconds left, but all hopes for the Tigers were dashed when USC linebacker Mason Cobb intercepted on the first play. Coach Brian Kelly is now 0-3 in season openers since joining LSU in 2021.

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

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

LSU-USC is tied 20-20 with less than two minutes left in regulation time.

USC quarterback Miller Moss found himself with a free kick after LSU safety Major Burns was offside.

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

We fight on!

Miller Moss scores 6 points on Ja’Kobi Lane…and takes the lead!

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

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

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

Out of nowhere, however, the Tigers’ defense came to life, 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 a chance to extend their lead.

Big 4th Down Stop

📺 ABC photo.twitter.com/UgflsoqUoV

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 2, 2024

LSU’s seven-play, 75-yard drive was 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 to give LSU the lead!

📺 ABC photo.twitter.com/XM2Baxqt5J

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 2, 2024

After missing a 29-yard field goal just before halftime, Michael Lantz fired a 35-yard field goal to save 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 attempt on goal far to the right, LSU and USC go into halftime tied at 10-10.

Both teams generated more than 200 yards of offense, largely powered by the arms of Moss and Nussmeier — 176 passing yards for USC and 191 for LSU. Each offense seemed to gain momentum as the half progressed, as the Tigers put points on the board on their final two drives while the Trojans did the same on two of their final three drives.

Tigers and Trojans even at half strength pic.twitter.com/UDHjmGCuwd

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) September 2, 2024

The Tigers didn’t waste much time in returning USC’s rushing touchdown. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier led LSU’s offense on nine plays for 75 yards, connecting with wideout Kyren Lacy in the upper 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 and a touchdown.

photo.twitter.com/AZRgaTlBP1

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

After safety Ryan Sage stymied the Trojans down to the two-yard line, it was USC running back Woody Marks who fired in the game’s first points moments later.

The Tigers lead 7-0 approaching the 10th minute of the second quarter.

There it goes @JoquaviousMarks 💪

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

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

Although he played at USC, Trojans wide receiver Kyron Hudson did his best Odell Beckham Jr. imitation during his 24-yard reception.

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

The reception put USC in the red zone.

THIS ANGLE OF KYRON HUDSON’S ONE-HANDED DIGGING PACK 😳😱 photo.twitter.com/lrnVSFKuCV

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

LSU’s 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. 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, blitzing and forcing Nussmeier into an incomplete pass, leaving the score at 0-0.

Las Vegas is known as a gambling city… sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.@uscfb takes over on downs, stops @LSUfootball‘s opening drive on 4th down near the goal line.#VegasKickoffClassic #FightOn #GeauxTigers @ModeloUSA photo.twitter.com/sR81B1PQIq

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

No. 13 LSU and No. 23 USC are gearing up to face off in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. It will be the third meeting between the two schools — the first in 40 years. The series is tied at 1-1.

Now losing both of their 2023 starting quarterbacks and introducing a revamped defense and coaching staff, the Tigers and Trojans are hoping to start their journey to the expanded College Football Playoffs on a high note.

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

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

LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier (left) and Southern Cal’s Miller Moss (right) will get their second career starts on Sunday.

• 🗓️ Date: Sunday September 1st
• ⏰ Time: 7:30pm ET
• 📺 Television: ABC
• 💻Stream: ESPN+
• 📍 Location: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas

👉 Click here to follow live