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USC And LSU Breaks Las Vegas Record

© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

In a very intriguing match up between the Big-10 vs SEC, this game featured both teams that split the 2003 National Championship in USC and LSU. This  game was a thriller as USC scored with 8 seconds left for the go ahead 13 yard touchdown run to give USC the win 27-20 over LSU in the Modelo Vegas Class at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. This game set a record for the biggest crowd to ever attend a football game in Las Vegas with 63,969 which was higher than Super Bowl 58 played in February. LSU fans were 60/40 which gave a Baton Rouge West feel to it. LSU was the odds on favorite at -4.5.

“I told someone on the headset, ‘It wouldn’t surprise me if he creases this,'” Riley said. “And, of course, it happened.”

In the first quarter we saw what is a candidate for catch of the year in week 1 by Redshirt junior receiver Kyron Hudson making an incredible one handed catch that looked very Odell Beckham like.

Both schools are replacing Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks in Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. Miller Moss and Garrett Nussmeier are both first years QB’s that answered the bell in regards to any questions on replacing two history great quarterbacks from their respected programs. Nussmeier finished 29 of 38 passing for 304 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on the final drive. Moss finished 27 of 36 passing for 378 yards with one touchdown.

“We worked really hard throughout the offseason to build the identity of a tough team that really cares about each other,” Moss said.

The game was tied at 10 going into halftime. The second half came down to making adjustments and both teams definitely did so. The Trojans and Tigers traded scores. Trojans  took a 20-17 lead with 5:44 left in regulation when Moss found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 28-yard touchdown. A 31-yard field goal from Ramos tied it, but left 1:47 on the clock.

USC marched down the field converting first downs and then the hero from earlier Hudson who made a huge one handed catch down the sideline and was hit in the head which led to a targeting call and moved the ball to the LSU 13 yard line. Which set up the winning run for the Trojans.

New era for the Trojans?

This game was USC first game as a member of the Big-10 conference. They’re looking to improve off of a 8-5 season from last season. With new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn the Trojans looked completely different of defense. They played aggressive and made several open field tackles and knew their assignments. All areas where they struggled severely last season.

“They had every right to be confident,” Lincoln Riley said of LSU’s offensive line. “But so did we. We just didn’t talk about it in the media.”

Head Coach Brian Kelly is furious

“We had some guys play their butts off tonight and we’re sitting here again, we’re sitting here again talking about the same things!” Kelly said as he slammed the table. “About not finishing when you have an opponent in a position to put them away. But what we’re doing on the sideline is feeling like the game is over.”

“Unfortunately, it’s clear that, when we get up in a game, we do not know how to handle ourselves,” Kelly said. “You’ve got to put teams away. We had an opportunity to put this team away. We get complacent, we make more mistakes when we’re ahead instead of having a, you know, better focus and a steely eyed killer instinct. That’s disappointing.”

LSU moves to 0-5 in their last 5 season openers which is a program record. Brian Kelly is 0-3 in season openers as LSU Head Coach. He clearly felt like this is a game that got away from him.

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Robert LaMar is a writer  for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26

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