Once LSU fans had flown in to flood the Strip, blending their flamboyant outfits with the vibrant energy of Las Vegas, and Southern California supporters made their way via Interstate 15 and other routes, a palpable excitement filled the air. The sight of a purple-clad LSU Elvis grooving across Las Vegas Boulevard toward Allegiant Stadium, moments before kickoff, only added to the anticipation of a high-scoring showdown.
Given that USC’s defense ranked 101st in yards per play last season and LSU’s was even worse at 108th, while their offenses were ranked third and first, respectively, in the same metric, many expected a flurry of points in this early-season clash. Both teams are led by head coaches whose strategic minds likely resemble intricate playbooks.
However, as is often the case with predictions, the anticipated offensive explosion was slow to materialize on Sunday evening. By the third quarter, the score was locked at 10-10. In the end, USC secured a thrilling 27-20 victory in the final minute, a reminder that despite the evolution of high-octane offenses over the past century, the importance and allure of solid defense remain undiminished. As both teams exchanged narrow leads, executed strong tackles, and energized their respective fan bases, they showcased the impact of new coordinators and fresh approaches.
“I mean,” said USC defensive end Braylan Shelby, “this new defensive identity is vastly different from previous years. We hold ourselves to a higher standard. We know exactly how we need to perform.”
From both sides, the game looked different — a necessary evolution for any team aspiring to be part of the prestigious new 12-team playoff coming in December. Even though the offenses provided their own drama — with USC taking a 20-17 lead with 5:44 left, LSU tying it at 20-20 with 1:47 remaining, and USC clinching victory with eight seconds left on Woody Marks’s 13-yard touchdown run, set up by Kyron Hudson’s spectacular one-handed, left-handed, 20-yard catch — it was a night where situational defense took center stage. Despite USC accumulating 450 yards and LSU 421, both first-year starting quarterbacks, replacing Heisman Trophy winners, excelled. USC’s Miller Moss completed 27 of 36 passes for 378 yards, while LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier went 29 for 38 with 304 yards.
The impressive quarterback play was familiar — both had shined in bowl games last winter — but the quality of tackling was a refreshing change.
It felt new, original, even artistic.
It suggested that a 27-20 game, with its defensive prowess, might be more captivating than a 47-40 shootout.
“We were a tough, gritty team that got it done at the end,” said USC coach Lincoln Riley, now in his third year and formerly of Oklahoma, who wryly noted that it was “some pretty good Big Ten football today,” grinning as he said it.
While the idea of USC in the Big Ten may still take some getting used to, the Trojans, in their debut, dramatically improved from last season’s ranking of 71st in allowing 20-plus-yard plays, surrendering just three in this game. One of those was an electrifying 41-yard pass from Nussmeier to Aaron Anderson that set up the tying field goal, which might have been a touchdown if not for Jaylin Smith’s excellent tackle on sixth-year back John Emery Jr. This followed Mason Cobb’s superb blitz that stopped a fourth-down attempt near the goal line on LSU’s first possession, and USC’s defense delivering two critical stops when LSU, up 17-13, seemed poised to take control.
Both teams, acknowledging the importance of defense as Michigan has demonstrated in recent seasons, hired new coordinators to revitalize that aspect of their game. LSU recruited 42-year-old Blake Baker from Missouri, who had previously coached LSU linebackers in 2021 and was a former Tulane linebacker. USC looked closer to home, hiring 34-year-old D’Anton Lynn from UCLA, a former Penn State cornerback whose first year as UCLA’s defensive coordinator saw the Bruins leap from 87th to 10th nationally.
In his debut night with USC, Lynn transformed a defense that had appeared disjointed during an 8-5 season with a 1-5 slump, into one with clear cohesion and coherence. “I don’t think it was just about winning statistically,” said linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold. “It was how we responded throughout the entire game. We played as one unit, and I think we excelled at that. We didn’t react to situations; we responded.”
The mystery of what makes certain coaching styles effective may never be fully understood, but Shelby had high praise for Lynn: “Oh, he’s amazing. His coaching style is laid back, but it’s because he trusts us. He encourages us constantly. He takes control of the defense, and he’s one of the best coaches out there.”
Meanwhile, LSU’s Brian Kelly, a seasoned coach at 62 and formerly of Notre Dame, was left to pound the table in frustration, lamenting, “We’re sitting here again talking about the same issues.” Kelly, whose record at LSU mirrors Riley’s at USC at 20-8, saw the game from a different perspective. Where others saw a thrilling contest, Kelly saw the 10 penalties for 99 yards, including a critical targeting penalty that compounded Hudson’s incredible catch at LSU’s 27-yard line with the game tied 20-20 and just seconds left. This set the stage for Marks’s game-winning touchdown. Kelly was visibly angry, a rare sight in his tenure at LSU.
“Yeah,” Kelly admitted, “it’s the first time since I’ve been here that I’m genuinely angry at our football team. We didn’t play complementary football. When we made plays offensively, we didn’t back it up defensively, and vice versa. But what concerns me the most are the personal fouls, the selfish penalties. Both led to scores, and they’re undisciplined penalties, which falls on me. We pride ourselves on running a disciplined program, and we clearly haven’t done a good enough job there, because it impacted the game. Another thing is, it’s evident that when we get ahead in a game, we don’t know how to close it out. You need a killer instinct in this game. You’ve got to put teams away.”
As LSU fans returned to the Strip, echoing similar frustrations, the underlying issue was their team’s inability to finish the job, partly due to a USC defense that is beginning to take shape. This newfound defensive strength on both sides highlighted how, while offense may captivate, it is the interplay with defense that makes the spectacle complete, right until the last Elvis has crossed the boulevard.