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The USC Trojans secured a thrilling 27-20 victory over the LSU Tigers in their first game of the Big Ten season, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The win was capped off by a game-winning 13-yard touchdown run from running back Woody Marks, who made his debut for USC after transferring from Mississippi State.
"Paid off (transferring to USC)... Found a way to get the job done," Marks said on the broadcast.
The matchup was highly anticipated, featuring two ranked teams vying for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The atmosphere was electric, with a sold-out crowd of 63,963 setting a record for attendance at Allegiant Stadium.
The noise level reached 107 decibels, prompting USC head coach Lincoln Riley to call a timeout to ensure quarterback Miller Moss could hear the play call.
Moss, who grew up in Las Vegas, expressed his pride in leading the team to victory in front of his hometown crowd.
"Two minute drill is something that we practice all the time," Moss said on the broadcast. "Those are the types of situations that coach Riley always talks about, that wins or loses games. I thought we put together a good drive at the end of half."
Why not kick a field goal to win the game?
"We wanted to end it on our terms and not leave anything to chance. It's hard to put in words. I'm really happy for our team. the identity that we are trying to create really came through tonight. I couldn't be more proud of the guys," Moss said.
"We worked hard to build an identity of a touch team that really cares about each other... I think out identity really shined through," Moss said.
He demonstrated poise throughout the game, completing 27 of 37 passes for 378 yards and one touchdown.
"I have a lot of belief in Miller. ... He's a great leader for this team," Riley said on Moss.
LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, stepping in for the departed Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, also had a solid performance, throwing for 304 yards and two touchdowns.
This game marked the debut for new defensive coordinators for both teams, with USC's D’Anton Lynn and LSU’s Blake Baker looking to establish their defensive strategies.
The first half ended in a tie at 10-10, setting the stage for a competitive second half.
Next, the Trojans will return home to face Utah State on September 7. After this impressive start, USC appears to be on the right track as they navigate their new conference.
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