The first full day of college football action is behind us but opening weekend isn’t over yet.
There were plenty of winners and losers Saturday as teams found their footing, but overall, it was a fairly chalky day without many upsets. No. 1 Georgia blasted No. 14 Clemson in the marquee game of the day, No. 19 Miami showed it may be the class of the ACC while hammering in-state rival Florida and No. 7 Notre Dame outlasted No. 20 Texas A&M in the nightcap. No. 4 Texas won by such a wide margin that Arch Manning played most of the second half and tallied the first touchdowns of his career.
Now it’s time to look to the desert as No. 13 LSU takes on No. 23 USC in Las Vegas.
Both of these teams are looking to answer defensive questions from last season and be in the mix for the College Football Playoff.
LSU hired Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker after the Tigers allowed 28 points and 6.1 yards per play a season ago. USC hired UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn to run the defense after Alex Grinch’s units kept getting gashed. The Trojans also allowed 6.1 yards per play last season and opponents scored nearly 35 points per game.
Garrett Nussmeier takes over at QB for Heisman winner Jayden Daniels and LSU also has to replace first-round wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas.
QB Miller Moss officially takes over for Caleb Williams at USC after a stellar bowl game. He’ll have a lot of new faces around him at the skill positions, as USC needs to replace its top two leading rushers and four of its top six receivers from 2023.
Live18 updates
LSU 10, USC 10
Tigers kicker Damian Ramos just drilled a 45-yard field goal, and we’re tied again.
It’s 10-10 now, and USC will get the ball back with 1:08 left in the half.
USC 10, LSU 7
USC just marched all the way down the field after Zachariah Branch ran the kick back 46 yards (and nearly broke it open for the touchdown), but LSU came up with the stop on 3rd and goal.
That forced the Trojans to settle for a 22-yard field goal. They lead now 10-7 with 4:21 left in the half.
Performances from receivers Kyron Hudson and Kyren Lacy are the story of the game so far, but don’t look past the defensive improvements that each team appears to have made over the offseason.
USC hired DC D’Anton Lynn from UCLA and LSU hired DC Blake Baker from Missouri as they looked to improve defenses that were moribund at times in 2024. They’re holding their own so far tonight against very good offenses. And that’s a great albeit extremely early sign for each team.
LSU 7, USC 7
And there’s LSU with the answer. Nussmeier just hit Kyren Lacy for a 19-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone that he managed to bring in off his helmet. We’re tied now 7-7.
Lacy is up to 60 yards and a score on five catches, and we’ve still got 7:02 left in the second quarter.
USC 7, LSU 0
Thanks to Kyron Hudson’s wild catch, the Trojans are on the board first. Woody Marks found the end zone on a 2-yard run, and USC is suddenly up 7-0.
That was an 8-play, 87-yard drive that lasted just shy of 4 minutes.
Kyron Hudson Catch of the Year?
Kyron Hudson just pulled off what could easily go down as the Catch of the Year for the Trojans. Hudson somehow managed to haul in a deep ball with just his right hand while spinning backward between a pair of Tigers defenders. It looked like the ball moved when he hit the ground, but the play stood.
Click here to read more on Hudson’s incredible catch.
After 1: LSU 0, USC 0
That first quarter was so quick. We’ll head to the second now still scoreless 0-0.
LSU had the ball for all but 3:17 of the first quarter, but the Tigers are set to punt to start the second.
USC punts
USC got a first down early after a pair of solid passes from Miller Moss, but LSU stopped them quickly and will now get the ball back.
It’s still 0-0 with 4:29 left in the first quarter.
USC stops LSU on 4th & goal
LSU had the perfect opening drive, and somehow came up short. USC just stopped the Tigers on 4th and goal at the 3 to keep this game tied up 0-0.
Garrett Nussmeier still went 7-of-9 for 65 yards on that opening drive and hit receiver Kyren Lacy four times for 41 of those yards. But no points.
Brian Kelly goes for it on fourth and goal from the 3 – the second fourth-down attempt of the opening drive – and USC gets pressure and the stop.
USC has kicked off, and this game is officially underway.
Ben made it to Las Vegas!!
DirecTV pulls ESPN, Disney
Well, some fans may have trouble watching LSU-USC tonight. DirecTV just pulled ESPN and other Disney networks amid a contract dispute with the company. That includes ABC in markets where Disney owns the channel.
All Disney channels on DirecTV are dark right now, including ABC in markets where Disney owns the channel.
DirecTV subscribers in markets where other companies own the ABC affiliate have not experienced any disruption. https://t.co/l7V27jf5x2
Leslie Moore is a travel, automotive, fashion and arts writer for Greyden Press. She has a passion for exploring new places, trying new things and learning about life in general. When she isn't writing she enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
