Miller Moss leads No. 23 USC to last-minute win over No. 13 LSU

USC wide receiver Kyron Hudson makes a spectacular, one-handed catch for 24 yards in front of LSU safety Major Burns during the second quarter of the Trojans’ 27-20 victory Sunday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

LAS VEGAS — Fatigue was setting in. Faith, ever fragile, was wavering. USC’s revamped defense had held mostly tough. Its new quarterback looked mostly comfortable. But USC’s grasp on its season opener had been slipping away since halftime. One drive, done in by a botched trick play. Another swallowed up by a fourth-down swat.

Still, Miller Moss remained undeterred. More than nine months had passed since the quarterback’s memorable Holiday Bowl debut, long enough to wonder seriously if his six-score performance was merely a bowl season mirage. But Moss never wavered, even as LSU defenders charged at him on third down in the fourth quarter and he fired an unlikely pass toward the corner of the end zone, where Ja’Kobi Lane had his arms outstretched for the touchdown.

Moss pumped his fists in jubilation, roaring to highest reaches of Allegiant Stadium, his gutsy performance having secured a critical, season-opening, 27-20 win against an SEC opponent, their first against the conference in almost 50 years.

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After the touchback, LSU started on its 25-yard line with eight seconds left and three timeouts.

Garrett Nussmeier’s pass was intercepted by Mason Cobb with four seconds remaining, setting off a celebration on the USC sideline.

Miller Moss immediately waved goodbye to LSU fans who were rowdy all game and taunting the Trojans.

USC took one snap to run out the clock and seal the marquee win to open the Trojans’ Big Ten era.

After the win, Moss held back tears while speaking with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. Moss had waited for years to get his chance to be the Trojans’ starter, watching Caleb Williams lead the offense for two seasons.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Moss said when asked what it meant to him to get a win in a venue where he previously struggled filling in for Williams. “I’m just really happy for our team. I think the identity we tried to create really showed up today.”

No. 23 USC 27, No. 13 LSU 20, 8 left in the fourth quarter

USC starts on its 25-yard line after the touchback with 1:47 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans have one remaining timeout.

Miller Moss passed to Woody Marks for a five-yard gain. Moss passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for a five-yard gain for a first down.

Moss passed across the middle to Zachariah Branch for a nine-yard gain. Marks then ran for four yards and a first down.

Moss passed to Kyron Hudson for a 10-yard gain and stepped out to stop the clock with 22 seconds left.

Moss looked to pass and the ball was batted down with 18 seconds left. The clock stopped on the play.

USC was called for a false start.

On second and 15 with 18 seconds left, Hudson extended his arm for a one-handed catch and was hit near the left sideline. The play was for a gain of 15 yards.

LSU was called for targeting and the play was under review. The targeting call was confirmed and the ball was moved half the distance to the goal.

USC has the ball at its 14 with 13 seconds left. Marks surged forward for a 13-yard touchdown with eight seconds left. Michael Lantz hit the extra point.

USC used eight plays to go 75 yards and take the lead.

No. 23 USC 27, No. 13 LSU 20, 8 seconds left in the fourth quarter

LSU started on its 25-yard line after the touchback.

The Tigers were called for a false start and then USC was called offside.

Garrett Nussmeier passed to Aaron Anderson for three yards. Josh Williams ran for three yards to set up third and four. Nussmeier found Anderson cutting across the field for a 41-yard gain.

John Emery Jr. then ran for no gain. Nussmeier passed to Zavion Thomas for a 12-yard gain. The officials called for review with 2:40 left in the fourth quarter.

On first down at the USC 16, Emery ran for two yards.

The two-minute timeout was triggered.

On second and eight at the USC 13, Nussmeier threw behind his receiver.

On third and eight, Nussmeier threw out of bounds to the left side of the field. LSU was called for illegal shift on the play and USC declined the penalty.

On fourth and eight, Damian Ramos hit a 31-yard field goal to tie the score.

No. 23 USC 20, No. 13 LSU 20, 1:47 left in the fourth quarter

USC started on its 36.

Miller Moss faked a handoff and passed across midfield to Kyron Hudson for a gain of 20 yards.

Woody Marks gained 16 yards on the next play, moving the ball to the LSU 28.

Moss passed to Ja’kobi Lane along the right side of the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown. LSU was offside on the play and USC declined the penalty.

USC hit the extra point to take the lead.

No. 23 USC 20, No. 13 LSU 17, 5:44 left in the fourth quarter

LSU started on its 21-yard line after a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

John Emery Jr. rushed for a loss of five. Garrett Nussmeier’s next pass was complete for 14 yards.

On third and one, Emery rushed for a one-yard loss and was stuffed by Eric Gentry.

LSU punted and Zachariah Branch collected the ball at the USC 36 and did not return it.

No. 13 LSU 17, No. 23 USC 13, 6:57 left in the fourth quarter

USC started on its 15-yard line after the punt.

Woody Marks rushed for a loss of one yard. Miller Moss faked a handoff and passed to Lake McRee along the right side of the field for a 19-yard gain.

Moss then found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 17-yard and then tossed to McRee again for a seven-yard gain to the LSU 43.

Moss passed to Kade Eldridge for a six-yard gain and Quinten Joyner rushed for four yards, moving the ball to the LSU 33.

Miller Moss’ pass toward Kyle Ford was deflected and nearly intercepted before falling incomplete.

On third-and-six at the LSU 33, USC called timeout.

Woody Marks rushed for a loss of three yards to set up fourth-and-nine at the LSU 36.

USC lined up to go for it and called timeout. Noise has become an issue for the Trojans with the pro-LSU crowd howling.

Moss’ pass was batted away and it was nearly intercepted before it was eventually collected by USC. The ruling on the field was an incomplete pass and LSU took over on its 36.

LSU was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play, costing it 15 yards.

No. 13 LSU 17, No. 23 USC 13, 8:38 left in the fourth quarter

LSU started on its 23-yard line.

John Emery Jr. ran for six yards and Garrett Nussmeier passed to Emery for 10 yards to the LSU 39 as time expired in the third quarter.

After the end of quarter break, Nussmeier’s pass was incomplete to set up third-and-six at the LSU 43. Nussmeier passed to Josh Williams for a three-yard gain.

On fourth-and-three, LSU punted.

Zachariah Branch called for a fair catch at the USC 15 and a flag was thrown, but the officials said here was no penalty.

No. 13 LSU 17, No. 23 USC 13, 13:25 left in the fourth quarter

Makai Lemon returned the kickof after the Trojans’ penalty to the USC 20.

Miller Moss handed off to Woody Marks, who was poised to toss a reverse to Zachariah Branch, but Marks held the ball for too long and then fumbled. USC offensive lineman Elijah Paige recovered for a loss of eight yards.

On second-and-18 at the USC 12, the Trojans were called for a false start and five yard penalty.

On second-and-23, Marks ran for five yards.

On third-and-18, Moss passed to Duce Robinson for 11 yards.

USC punted and got a friendly bounce to the LSU 23.

No. 13 LSU 17, No. 23 USC 13, 1:07 left in the third quarter

LSU started on its 22-yard line after a 14-yard kickoff return.

On first down, the Tigers were called for a false start.

On first-and-15, Garrett Nussmeier passed to Mason Taylor for a 15-yard gain.

John Emery Jr. gashed the previously stout USC defense for a 39-yard gain, rumbling to the Trojans’ 29.

Nussmeier’s next pass to Kyren Lacy was incomplete. Emery then took a shovel pass for a 10-yard gain. He tacked on another three-yard run, reaching the USC 16-yard line.

Kaleb Jackson rushed for three yards, setting up third-and-four at the USC 13.

Nussmeier passed to Aaron Anderson along the right sideline to take the lead. Damian Ramos hit the extra point.

USC was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, which will be enforced on the kickoff.

No. 13 LSU 17, No. 23 USC 13, 3:42 left in third quarter

USC started at its 23-yard line.

Miller Moss opened with a dangerous pass to Zachariah Branch in traffic that fell incomplete. Moss’ pass to Kyle Ford across the middle was broken up by LSU’s Ashton Stamps.

On third-and-10, Miller Moss had time and found Ford darting across midfield for a 41-yard gain. The pass appeared to be intended for Branch, but Ford crossed a few yards in front him and pulled the ball out of the air and kept running for the big gain.

On first down at the LSU 36, Woody Marks ran for three yards. USC was then called for a false start. On second-and-12 at the LSU 28, Moss rolled away from pressure and passed to Ford for four yards.

On third-and-8, passed along the left sideline to Duce Robinson and LSU’s PJ Woodland was called for pass interference.

USC moved to LSU’s 20-yard line. Moss went back to the left sideline to Kyron Hudson, but the pass was broken up by Woodland.

Quinten Joyner ran for five yards, setting up third-and-five at the LSU 14.

Moss scanned for options and was sacked by Sai’vion Jones.

Michael Lantz hit a 35-yard field goal to give USC the lead.

No. 23 USC 13, No. 13 LSU 10, 7:13 left in third quarter

LSU started on its 28-yard line after the USC punt.

Josh Williams ran for three yards. Kaleb Jackson then rushed for four yards, setting up third-and-three. Garrett Nussmeier passed ot CJ Daniels for two yards to set up fourth-and-one at the LSU 37.

The Tigers punted and Zachariah Branch was dropped for no return at the USC 23

No. 23 USC 10, No. 13 LSU 10, 11:27 left in third quarter

USC starts on its 25-yard line after a touchback.

Woody Marks carried the ball for six yards. Quentin Joyner appeared to dropped for a big loss, but he stayed on his feet and managed a one yard gain.

On third-and-three at the USC 32, Miller Moss’ pass to Makai Lemon was broken up and the Trojans punted.

The ball was returned to the LSU 28.

No. 23 USC 10, No. 13 LSU 10, 13:29 left in third quarter

USC coach Lincoln Riley spoke with ESPN’s Holly Rowe before halftime about his team’s play. Here is what he had to say:

On the USC defense’s play during the first half:

“We’re playing gap-sound. We played very physical. We’ve tackled well in the open field. We’ve been pretty resilient a couple of times when they got drives started and we were able to get some big stops.”

On quarterback Miller Moss’ play during the first half:

“He’s doing a good job. He’s made some really good plays. He’s playing his game and that’s what he’s got to do. He’s got to stay true to himself. Not try to be anybody else. Just be Miller and go execute our offense.”

On whether he had any second thoughts about kicking the field goal to end the second half:

“When you miss it, there always is, but we’ll come back out the second half and go play.”

After an LSU touchback, USC started with the ball on its 25-yard line with 1:08 remaining in the second quarter.

Miller Moss passed to Kyron Hudson for a nine-yard gain. Moss shook his hand and it was unclear whether he had any sort of injury issue on the play.

Woody Marks ran for no gain and the Trojans called timeout with 41 seconds left.

On third-and-one, Moss passed to Marks for three yards and a first down. Moss passed to Lake McRee for five yards along the sideline and stopped the clock at 23 seconds.

Moss passed to Makai Lemon for a 22-yard pass and got hit as he delivered the ball.

USC then called timeout with 17 seconds remaining and the ball on the LSU 36.

Marks ran for 17 yards to the LSU 19 and Moss then spiked the ball to stop the clock with 19 seconds left.

Marks ran for seven yards to the LSU 12.

Michael Lantz missed the 29-yard field goal wide right.

No. 23 USC 10, No. 13 LSU 10, halftime

LSU started at its 25 after the touchback.

Garrett Nussmeier passed to Mason Taylor for a five-yard gain and then connected with Kyren Lacy for an eight-yard gain.

After an LSU timeout, Nussmeier passed to Lacy for a 26-yard gain, moving the ball to the USC 32.

Josh Williams ran for no gain and was wrapped up by Nate Clifton before the new college football two-minute left in a half timeout was triggered.

Nussmeier’s next pass toward Zavion Thomas was incomplete.

On third-and-10, Nussmeier passed to Taylor for four yards.

Damian Ramos Jr. hit a 45-yard field goal to close the drive.

No. 23 USC 10, No. 13 LSU 10, 1:08 left in the second quarter

After the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the kickoff, Zachariah Branch received the ball and nearly broke free for a touchdown return.

Branch rumbled 46 yards from the USC 11-yard line before he was tackled by LSU kicker Aeron Burrell.

On first down at the LSU 43, Miller Moss went deep to Deuce Robinson along the left sideline for 38 yards.

On the LSU five-yard line, Moss tossed an incomplete pass and the Trojans’ Jakoby Lane was called for an illegal blindside block personal foul. The play was then reviewed, but the officials determined it was not targeting.

USC faced first-and-goal at the LSU 20.

Moss was swarmed by the LSU blitz and lost the ball, but the Trojans’ Emmanuel Pregnon recovered at the LSU 24.

On second-and-24, Moss passed to Branch behind the line of scrimmage and he gained 19 yards.

On third-and-five, Moss’ pass to Kyron Hudson in the end zone was broke up.

Michael Lantz hit a 22-yard field goal to give the Trojans a lead.

No. 23 USC 10, No. 13 LSU 7, 4:21 left in the second quarter

After the touchback, LSU started at its 25-yard line and the Tigers were immediately hit with a delay of game penalty.

Garrett Nussmeier passed to Mason Taylor for eight yards and another six before Josh Williams ran for 10 yards to move the ball to the LSU 44.

Nussmeier’s next pass was incomplete before he found Zavion Thomas for an 11-yard gain and CJ Daniels for a 12-yard gain, moving te ball to the USC 33.

John Emory Jr. rushed for three yards and Nussmeier passed Taylor for 11 yards.

Nussmeier closed the drive with a passed to Kyren Lacy along the left side of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown. After the play, Lacy was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, which was to be enforced on the kickoff. The Tigers hit the extra point to tie the game.

No. 23 USC 7, No. 13 LSU 7, 7:04 left in the second quarter

LSU punted to start the second quarter and USC started at its 13-yard line.

Miller Moss passed to Lake McRee across the middle for 17 yards.

Woody Marks then ran for a loss of one yard. As the pocket collapsed around Moss, he connected with Zachariah Branch behind the line of scrimmage and Branch turned it into a 19-yard gain.

Moss’ next pass to Ja’Kobi Lane was incomplete.

LSU was called for a delay of game and a five-yard loss after trying to bait USC to jump offsides. Moss passed to Quinten Joyner fo a gain of four yards, setting up third-and-one at the LSU 43.

Joyner ran for two yards and the first down at the LSU 41.

Moss lofted a pass into traffic and Kyron Hudson delivered a one-handed highlight catch for a gain of 24 yards. The play was reviewed and ruled a catch.

Moss tossed the ball to Lane in the back right corner of the end zone and LSU was called for pass interference, moving the ball to the Tigers’ two-yard line.

Woody Marks drove straight ahead for a two-yard touchdown run to cap the drive. Michael Lantz hit the extra point secure the lead.

No. 23 USC 7, No. 13 LSU 0, 11:00 left in second quarter

LSU started on its 17-yard line.

Kaleb Jackson ran for four yards and then caught a pass from Garrett Nussmeier for a nine-yard gain and a first down.

Jackson ran for two yards and Zavion Thomas ran for another five, setting up third-and-three. Nussmeier passed to Aaron Anderson along the left side for a gain of six yards.

Josh Williams ran for two yards and USC’s defensive line swarmed.

Williams ran for another two yards and Nussmeier passed along the right sideline to Anderson for a one-yard game. Kamari Ramsey completed an open-field tackle to set up fourth-and-seven at the LSU 47 as time expired in the first quarter.

Ramsey’s stop and the play of the defensive line on the drive was a major improvement over last season’s defense that rarely wrapped up opponents on first touch.

No. 23 USC 0, No. 13 LSU 0, end of first quarter

USC started on its three-yard line after the defense’s fourth-down stop.

Miller Moss passed to Zachariah Branc for nine yards and Lake McRee for another eight yards, moving the ball to a more comfortable spot -- the USC 20.

Woody Marks ran for six yards and then ran for another two yards, setting up third-and-two at the USC 28.

Moss got hit as an LSU’s Harold Perkins reached him quickly and he shovled the ball to Marks for a loss of one.

USC punted and LSU returned it one yard to its 17-yard line.

No. 13 LSU 0, No. 23 USC 0, 4:42 left in the first quarter

USC kicked off the season with a classic bend but don’t break drive for the Trojans.

LSU started on its 23-yard line.

Garrett Nussmeier completed back-to-back 15-yard passes to Kyren Lacy, moving the ball to the USC 47.

Josh Williams ran for two yards and Nussmeier completed a five-yard pass to set up third-and-three at the USC 40.

Mason Cobb dropped the runner after a one-yard gain to force fourth-and-two at the USC 39.

Nussmeier found soft coverage on Lacy for a gain of three yards and a first down.

The quarterback went back to Lacy along the left sideline for eight yards. On second-and-two, LSU was called for false start to make it second-and-seven.

USC brought the blitz, but Nussmeier had time behind his line and passed to Mason Taylor, who broke a tackle and gained 13 yards.

On first down at the USC 20, Josh Williams evaded tackles for a 12-yard gain.

On first-and-goal at the USC 8, Eric Gentry dropped Williams for a one-yard loss. Nussmeier lofted a pass to Lacy in the back right corner of the end zone and it was out of bounds. On third-and-nine, Nussmeier passed to Parker for a six-yard gain.

On fourth-and-goal at the three-yard line, LSU appeared to go for it and called timeout shortly before the play clock expired.

USC’s blitz closed in on Nussmeier, who rolled out of a collapsing pocket and had to throw away the ball and prompt a turnover on downs.

No. 13 LSU 0, No. 23 USC 0, 7:48 left in the first quarter

LSU won the coin toss and deferred.

USC kicked off and LSU returned the ball to its 23-yard line.

There are hype videos and then there’s the cinematic season preview USC dropped before kickoff of its game against LSU today in Las Vegas.

The video has drawn rave reviews across the internets from even the snarkiest sports fans.

Ryan Kartje and Dylan Hernandez are reporting from Las Vegas and I’m providing updates from our home base in Los Angeles.

The big USC-LSU game will kick off shortly, most likely around 4:45 p.m.

With USC’s move to the Big Ten, it is now required to release a pregame report announcing who is available. Ryan shares the first USC availability report of the season:

Jayden Maiava has the talent and now the training to be the Trojans’ starter in the future.

(Ric Tapia / Getty Images)

By the time he arrived at USC last spring, Jayden Maiava looked late to the party. Miller Moss had staked his claim on the Trojans’ open quarterback spot in December, throwing six touchdowns in a debut so convincing that coach Lincoln Riley joked he would scare away any transfers who might want to come.

Not Maiava. Just two weeks after Moss’ fairytale first start in the Holiday Bowl, he left an assured starting role at Nevada Las Vegas, then flipped his commitment from Georgia to compete for a job at USC that already seemed won.

It was the opposite path most passers would take in this era of instant portal gratification. Yet Maiava’s journey already had been more circuitous than most. He didn’t have the experience of other top quarterback prospects, having picked up the position as a teenager. He didn’t grow up learning from a private coach, paying top dollar to train like so many of his peers. Instead, he bounced between three high schools in two states, moving in with his uncle in Hawaii as a sophomore out of concern his life was heading off course in Las Vegas.

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Miller Moss, shown as a child, plays chess on a cloth board placed on the floor.

(Courtesy of the Miller family)

Long before Miller Moss earned the USC starting quarterback job, he sat in front of a chess board at the Santa Monica Public Library. He was just 3 years old, his eyes full of wonder, barely able to peer over the chess pieces at his opponents, who were often several decades his senior.

His parents signed him up for the chess program at the library, where Moss’ grandmother worked as a librarian, with the hope it would help hone his young mind. They always tried to encourage their son’s curiosity — reading every night, piano lessons, teaching Greek mythology, anything that might pique his interest. Chess spoke to him. Even as a toddler.

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USC quarterback Miller Moss throws a pass during the second half of the team’s Holiday Bowl win over Louisville on Dec. 27 in San Diego.

(Denis Poroy / Associated Press)

Barely one day after he’d realized his lifelong dream of being named USC’s starting quarterback, Miller Moss already was ready to put his triumph in the rearview mirror.

“It’s hard in what we do to stop and smell the roses,” Moss said Tuesday. “I mean, obviously, it was a goal I set for myself a long time ago, and I’m happy I accomplished that. But I don’t think it’s necessarily about that now. It’s about going and winning games.”

USC coach Lincoln Riley made a point to note that Moss didn’t run away with the job after entering camp with a significant lead over Nevada Las Vegas transfer Jayden Maiava. Riley characterized USC’s starting quarterback competition as “neck and neck” and credited Maiava for making “a major, major jump” since spring.

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USC defensive end Jamil Muhammad prepares for a snap against Nevada in September. The Trojans are out to prove they are a much-improved team of defense this season.

(Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Confidence was radiating from Will Campbell as Louisiana State’s towering left tackle and future first-round pick leaned back comfortably in his chair this week, declaring in a deep bayou drawl his intentions for Sunday’s season-opening meeting with USC’s defense in Las Vegas.

“We know what we’re there for. It’s not to go to Caesars Palace,” said Campbell, the All-Southeastern Conference lineman. “It’s to be in a fistfight.”

He wasn’t hiding how it would be fought either. “We’re gon’ run the ball,” Campbell said in another interview. “That’s not something we’re … trying to keep quiet.”

This wasn’t exactly bulletin board material in the traditional sense. Even if it was presented that way to USC defenders, who responded with shrugs or sideways glances. But Campbell’s confident declaration drove home the reality of USC’s situation.

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Here’s a look at the betting odds, spread and over/under for USC vs. Louisiana State, which is set to start at 4:30 p.m. PDT on Sunday.

The game will be shown live on ABC and ESPN+ and will air on 710 AM in Los Angeles.

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Can Lincoln Riley cool down his already hot coaching seat? Can UCLA’s DeShaun Foster coach the team to a winning record?

The two teams stared at each other from across the East Room of the White House, each waiting for its photo op, each convinced it belonged there more than the other. But both USC and Louisiana State technically had been named college football’s national champions after the 2003 season — LSU by the Bowl Championship Series computers and USC by the Associated Press voters — so both had been invited to meet with President George W. Bush at the White House in March 2004.

Later, as he congratulated both teams, President Bush joked the two should decide a champion right then and there.

“The South Lawn is pretty good sized,” Bush quipped.

No football was played that afternoon on the White House lawn. Nor would the two college football powers play at any point in the ensuing 20 years.

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