Honestly, if you missed the LSU and USC game in Las Vegas, you missed the exact moment the 2024 college football season decided to get weird. It wasn't just a game; it was a 60-minute stress test for two fanbases that have spent the last decade oscillating between "we’re back" and "why do I do this to myself?" Allegiant Stadium was packed—record-breaking, actually—with 63,969 people watching a game that felt more like a heavyweight fight where both guys forgot how to block.
USC won 27-20. But the score barely tells the story.
The Miller Moss Coming Out Party
Everyone spent the offseason talking about who wasn't there. No Caleb Williams. No Jayden Daniels. The Heisman vacuum was real. People expected a drop-off, but Miller Moss apparently didn't get the memo. He went 27-of-36 for 378 yards. He didn't just play; he looked like he’d been running Lincoln Riley’s offense since he was in diapers.
The most impressive part? His poise. LSU's pass rush wasn't exactly invisible, but Moss stayed cool. He had this way of stepping up in the pocket that made the Tigers' defenders look like they were chasing a ghost. On the other side, Garrett Nussmeier was basically his mirror image. Nussmeier threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns. He was clinical for 58 minutes. Then, the wheels kinda came off at the worst possible time.
Kyron Hudson’s Absurd Catch
You’ve seen the highlight. You know the one. Kyron Hudson jumping into the air and snagging a ball with one hand while basically being horizontal. It was one of those "how is that physically possible?" moments. That catch didn't just move the chains; it felt like it sucked the soul out of the LSU sideline.
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Why the LSU and USC Game Was Won in the Final Two Minutes
The ending was pure chaos. LSU tied it up 20-20 with less than two minutes left. Most people—myself included—were already checking the overtime rules. But Woody Marks had other plans.
USC marched down the field with a precision that felt almost personal. A massive completion to Hudson (again) and a targeting penalty on LSU’s Jardin Gilbert set the stage. With eight seconds left, Woody Marks burst through a gap for a 13-yard touchdown. Game over. Well, almost. Nussmeier threw a desperation pick to Mason Cobb on the next play just to make sure the door was locked and bolted.
LSU coach Brian Kelly was, to put it mildly, furious. He literally hit the table during the post-game presser. He talked about "killer instinct" or the lack thereof. You could tell it wasn't just about the loss; it was about the way they lost. To lead, to have chances to put it away, and then to watch the defense crumble in the final two minutes? That's a tough pill for any SEC powerhouse to swallow.
The Big Ten vs. SEC Narrative
This game was a massive "I told you so" for Lincoln Riley. Everyone said USC wasn't ready for the physicality of the "big boy" conferences. Then they go out and beat a ranked SEC team at a neutral site. Riley’s quote after the game was perfect: "Pretty good Big Ten football today."
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It was a subtle dig at the people who thought the Trojans were soft.
Defensive Turnaround
The real shocker wasn't the offense; it was the USC defense. Under D'Anton Lynn, they actually looked... competent? They held LSU to 117 rushing yards. For a team that used to give up points like they were handing out candy on Halloween, this was a revelation. They weren't perfect, but they were disruptive. They made LSU work for every single inch.
- USC Total Yards: 447
- LSU Total Yards: 421
- Time of Possession: Almost dead even.
It was a game of margins. LSU had 10 penalties for 99 yards. You can’t do that against a Lincoln Riley offense and expect to walk away with a "W." Those "foolish mistakes," as Kelly called them, were the difference between a flight back to Baton Rouge with a trophy and a very quiet, very angry plane ride home.
Looking Toward 2026 and Beyond
If you're looking for a rematch, don't hold your breath for next weekend. These two don't play every year. In fact, USC just filled out its 2026 schedule by adding the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. They’re also looking at a potential neutral-site clash with Notre Dame that year if the contracts ever get sorted out.
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LSU has their hands full with a 2026 slate that includes Clemson and Ole Miss early on. The days of scheduling "cupcakes" for the first four weeks are basically over for these elite programs.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're following these teams into the next season, keep an eye on the turnover margin. The LSU and USC game proved that elite QB play is a wash if you can't protect the football in the fourth quarter.
- Watch the "Two-Minute Timeout": The new 2024 rules changed the rhythm of the end-of-half drives. USC mastered it; LSU looked rushed.
- Targeting is a Momentum Killer: The Gilbert hit didn't just cost LSU yards; it cost them their best secondary player at the most critical moment.
- The "Vegas Kickoff" Curse: LSU has now lost several straight season openers. If you're betting on the Tigers in Week 1, maybe wait until they prove they can wake up before October.
The game was a reminder that in college football, your "identity" can change in a single weekend. USC went from "soft" to "contender," and LSU went from "playoff lock" to "searching for answers" in the span of three hours.
To prepare for future matchups like this, analyze how teams handle high-altitude or neutral-site noise levels, as the Allegiant Stadium environment clearly rattled the younger Tigers in the secondary during those final USC drives. Keep a close watch on the transfer portal—both Woody Marks and several key USC defenders were portal additions that completely changed the team's ceiling in just one game.