Final - USC 32, Utah 34

WeAreSC provides running updates of all the highlight plays between the No. 18 USC Trojans and No. 14 Utah Utes from the Coliseum on Saturday night.

This is a significant one for both programs this season as the Utes can’t afford a second conference loss in the Pac-12 race and the Trojans probably can’t afford a loss tonight ahead of the eventual back-to-backs against Washington and Oregon.

Follow along with the WeAreSC Game Thread and chat with fellow Trojan fans throughout the game. If you aren’t a member, you can join now for just $1 for a month.

USC Hype Video

lace em up and go again. ‼️🎬✌️#FridayNightHype pic.twitter.com/PLPJ9qs92F

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) October 21, 2023

Here’s a pregame look at What to Watch in this one as the Trojans and Utes face off, including a look at some key matchups along the line of scrimmage and some important statistical categories.

And in case you missed it on Friday, USC picked up a commitment from a local 2024 defensive back.

Early Warmups

* Cornerback Jacobe Covington is not out very early with the cornerbacks as they go through drills with position coach Donte Williams. Covington left the Arizona game early due to injury and was not available for USC against Notre Dame last week.

* Max Williams is not in uniform and won’t be available for USC tonight. Williams was injured during the Notre Dame game last week.

* Utah quarterback Cameron Rising will not play against USC. That was the thought all week, but with his availability up in the air since the start of the season, he’s always been something of a gametime decision. Utah is likely to go with Bryson Barnes in this one. He started the year for the Utes before giving way to Nate Johnson. But Barnes was the starter again last week for the Utes’ big win against Cal.

* USC players not in full uniform tonight:
Max Williams
Jacobe Covington
Raleek Brown
Korey Foreman
Sam Greene
Sinjun Astani
Maliki Crawford
Deijon Laffitte

* The offensive line looks as though it will have a few changes for USC. In position group warmups, Mason Murphy is at right guard and Jarrett Kingston is at right tackle. Kingston has been at right guard since arriving at USC this spring. Murphy has been the backup right tackle all season. We’ll see if that lineup carries over as they continue into team warmups and then the game.

* Mason Cobb and Tackett Curtis are the first-team inside linebackers during team warmup. Domani Jackson and Christian Roland-Wallace are the cornerbacks. Definitely going to be Murphy at right guard and Kingston at right tackle to open this one.

* USC wins the coin toss and elects to defer. Utah will receive the opening kick.

First Quarter

* A Utah offense that had done nothing all year just went 75 yards in three plays and scored on a 53-yard pass from Barnes to running back Sione Vaki. It’s 7-0 Utah with 13:44 left in the first quarter.

* USC answers right back with a touchdown on its opening drive. MarShawn Lloyd goes 45 yards into the endzone. It’s 7-7 with 11:49 left in the first quarter.

* Williams pitches backward to Zachariah Branch on an end around and he takes it two yards into the endzone. It’s 14-7 USC and the Trojans already have 96 rushing yards against a Utah team giving up 66.8 yards per game on the ground. 6:17 remaining in the first quarter.

* Barnes carries it in from 10 yards out and Utah ties the game 14-14 with 1:54 remaining in the first quarter.

* USC quarterback Caleb Williams is stuffed on a 3rd-and-2 draw on the final play of the first quarter. USC will punt to open the second quarter.

Second Quarter

* USC defense stuffs a Utah rushing attempt on 4th and 1 at the 16-yard line. Trojans take over with 7:36 remaining in the half.

* Neither team scores in the second quarter. Utah had the only real chance before turning it over on downs. USC had just 68 yards of offense in the second quarter.

* It’s 14-14 as the teams go to the locker rooms for halftime.

Halftime

Halftime Stats:

Total Yards – Utah 239, USC 236
Passing yards – Utah 134, USC 139
Rushing yards – Utah 105, USC 97
Penalties – Utah 5-35, USC 2-20
3rd downs – Utah 1-for-6, USC 2-for-6
Average yards per play – Utah 7.5, USC 7.2
Tackles for loss – Utah 2, USC 4
Time of possession – Utah 16:48, USC 13:12

Third Quarter

* After a USC 3-and-out, Utah takes the ball 59 yards in nine plays and scores on a 4-yard pass from Barnes to tight end Landen King. It’s 21-14 Utah with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter.

* Lloyd fumbles and Utah recovers at their own 45-yard line with 6:18 remaining in the third quarter.

* Barnes to Vaki again. This time for a 15-yard touchdown. Utah pushes its lead to 28-14 with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter.

* USC kicker Denis Lynch connects on a 44-yard field goal on the final play of the third quarter. Utah will take a 28-17 lead into the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

* USC defense comes up huge. Solomon Byrd gets a great pass rush around the edge and Calen Bullock steps in front of a Barnes pass for an interception and returns it 30 yards for a touchdown. USC goes for two and doesn’t get it, but the Trojans cut the Utah lead to 28-23 with 13:28 remaining in the game.

* Utah kicker Cole Becker connects on a 33-yard field goal to push the Utah lead to 31-23 with 8:24 remaining in the game.

* Williams drops the ball while attempting a third-down pass and falls on the fumble. USC is forced to kick a field goal with 3:03 remaining. Utah leads 31-26 and the Trojans are going to need another defensive stop.

* Zachariah Branch with another electric punt return. He takes it back 61 yards and sets up USC in great field position.

* Caleb Williams runs in from 11 yards out and USC has the lead with 1:46 remaining in the game. USC misses another two-point conversion attempt and it’s 32-31 USC.

* Bear Alexander is ejected from the game for targeting. Utah has the ball at the 49-yard line with 1:10 remaining.

* Barnes scrambles for 26 yards down to the 19-yard line.

* Becker drills a 38-yard field goal as time expires and Utah wins it 34-32.