What a difference a great coach makes. One thing was crystal clear right away watching this one—the Trojan defense is so much better already under new Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn. If I round up, USC gave up an average of 40 points a game last year to the five ranked opponents they faced—20 more than they did in this one in a 27-20 upset that resulted in the Trojans taking over LSU’s spot in this week’s AP Top-25 poll with the Tigers dropping five to Number 18. And there wasn’t just improvement in points allowed they also gave up right at 70 yards less on the ground compared to their average all of last year and as Dylan Hernandez pointed out in the Los Angeles Times, “39 were gained on one play.”
With LSU’s defense recording 2 sacks and 7 tackles for loss Trojan Offensive Line Coach Josh Henson still has plenty of work that needs to be done to free up their running game and reduce the pressure on their new starting QB Miller Moss. But in spite of only gaining 72 yards in 22 rushing attempts USC was productive on the ground in the red zone with two rushing TD’s, both by Senior RB Woody Marks—his second occurring with just 8 seconds left in the game to give USC the winning margin. Moss handled his responsibilities with the poise and determination of a seasoned starter—even though he’s not—while connecting on 75% of his throws for 378 yards, one TD, and no interceptions. As far as the Tigers go, in a committee like approach they rushed for more yards but never found the end zone while their starting QB, Junior Garrett Nussmeier, connected at a slightly higher percentage than Moss, got one more TD, but also threw a pick to Senior Linebacker Mason Cobb that ended the game.
With regards to that go-ahead rushing TD, the AP in their Recap for ESPN provided this insight; “Lincoln Riley had a flashback to three years ago when he coached Oklahoma. The Sooners were driving against archival Texas in a tie game when a 33-yard run into the end zone with 3 seconds left beat the Longhorns. Knowing that a field goal was all No. 23 Southern California needed Sunday night, Riley thought back to that play. A run was called for Woody Marks, who rushed 13 yards up the middle to score with 8 second left to win the game. ‘That was some pretty good Big Ten football today,’ Riley said with a smile.”
Considering that it was a 20 yard Miller Moss completion and an LSU targeting penalty that set the Trojans up for that winning run into the end zone, not smiling after the game was Tiger head coach Brian Kelley who, since taking over the reigns, has presided over three consecutive opening day losses and had this to say; “We didn’t play complementary football, but the thing that is most concerning for me are the personal fouls, the penalties that are selfish. They’re undisciplined penalties. That falls back on me. We take pride in running a disciplined program, but we have clearly not done a good enough job there because it impacted the game.”
Besides that end-of-the-game run into the end zone and interception by Cobb it was Junior WR Kyron Hudson who made the highlight play of the game, and maybe the year, in front of the 9.5 million television viewers at home and sold-out predominantly LSU crowd gathered in Allegiant Stadium. As the AP described it; “Hudson [sandwiched by two defenders] leapt high and back, reaching his right hand out to somehow bring the ball toward his other hand and into his body for a 24 yard completion to LSU’s 19-yard line . . . [setting] up a 2-yard touchdown run by Marks to put the Trojans in front 7-0 four minutes into the second quarter”— evoking for many memory of the famous Odell Beckham Jr catch 10 years ago while playing for the Giants in a game against the Cowboys.
As I mentioned last week college football analyst Paul Finebaum previously predicted that Riley’s era at USC is already in it final stages, that he’s lost control and that USC could finish the 2024 season with a losing record. Regarding this game, on ESPN’s First Take he said; “I totally expect Lincoln Riley to show what an average coach he is. I think that game, people will be able to turn off the TV and go to sleep early that night because it won’t be that close.” What’s he saying now—nothing, but lots of folks having plenty of things to say to him like the fan who wrote; “Hey Paul Finebaum, from everyone in the college football community, shut up.” Commenting for Trojans Wire on Yahoo Sports Matt Zemek wrote; “A secondary but very sweet result of the USC victory is that Paul Finebaum got silenced. We can all revel in the glory of shutting up one of the more anti-USC, anti-Lincoln Riley members of the national media. Matt Leinart went in for the knockout punch, trolling Finebaum with direct and clear efficiency after USC took care of business against LSU and Finebaum’s beloved SEC.” As far as Lincoln Riley’s comments after the game—he took the high road and said; “I don’t coach for the media. I don’t coach for headlines. We just try to do what’s best in our program, and we just try to stay incredibly committed to it.”