USC finds a way to beat LSU
On Sunday, at the end of the first week of the 2024 college football season, all eyes tuned in to the LSU-USC game played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the SEC Conference squaring off against the Big Ten Conference, two storied college football powerhouses doing battle.
It was close. It was tense. It was an entertaining contest. There would be no blowout in this game. USC prevailed with a thrilling 27–20 win, capped by a short touchdown run by Woody Marks with few ticks left on the clock in the fourth quarter.
LAS VEGAS, NV — SEPTEMBER 01: USC Trojans wide receiver Kyron Hudson (10) comes down with a catch during the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic featuring the USC Trojans versus the LSU Tigers on September 1, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire)
The story of the night is how well the Trojans defense played. Despite controlling the clock with 33 minutes in time of possession, LSU only converted 5 of 13 attempts on third down. And although they gave up 421 yards in total offense, the defense of the Trojans came up big when they needed to.
Without Caleb Williams running the ship, the Trojans entered the 2024 college football season ranked as the №23 team in Week 1. The Trojans’ opponent turned out to be №13 LSU.
But there would be no Heisman Trophy quarterback operating behind center for the respective teams since Williams and Jayden Daniels have taken their talents to the NFL.
Coming into this highly-anticipated game, much ado about the contest centered on the defense of the Trojans. Last season, the ineptitude of USC’s defense is almost indescribable. The Trojans ranked 105th on defense a year ago.
Even though he flashed the skills that eventually made him the №1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams could not bail out the Trojans from sinking to an 8–5 record. Embarrassed by the woeful play of his defense in 2023, head coach Lincoln Riley prioritized addressing that issue in the offseason.
First up on the plate for Riley and the Trojans was going out snapping up D’Anton Lynn, the man who transformed the UCLA Bruins defense into one of the nation’s best last season.
“We are thrilled to welcome D’Anton and his family to USC,” Riley said after the announcement was made the Trojans had brought Lynn aboard. “We simply couldn’t ask for a better addition to our staff. His successful experiences in both college and the NFL make him the perfect fit for our program. I hope you will join me in welcoming him to the Trojan Family.”
The Trojans’ first test under Lynn’s guidance was trying to control the Tigers. Going into the fourth quarter, USC’s defense played stout against LSU, stopping the Tigers on a fourth-and-goal on the game’s first series.
USC held LSU to 10 points through the first half, bottling up the Tigers’ run game and limiting the passing attack of their SEC opponent. And when it counted, the Trojans stood up to the offensive line of the Tigers to get a key stop midway into the final period as LSU threatened to open up the contest.
Top Image caption: LAS VEGAS, NV — SEPTEMBER 01: LSU Tigers cornerback Jyaire Brown (17) tackles USC Trojans running back Woody Marks (4) during the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic game between the LSU Tigers and the USC Trojans on September 1, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)