LIVE: Final - USC 43, Arizona 41 in Triple Overtime
The No. 9 USC Trojans (5-0, 3-0) host the Arizona Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) Saturday night. The Trojans are looking to run their winning streak against the Wildcats to 11 games and hit the halfway point of the 2023 season undefeated before a trip to South Bend next week.
Follow along as we provide all the major notes and scoring plays from this one as they happen.
Pregame
USC posted the hype video for this week, featuring the legendary Ronnie Lott.
Here’s a look at What to Watch as the Trojans take on the Wildcats.
Can the USC ground game bounce back against Arizona?
Warmups
* Reports surfaced Friday evening that USC cornerback Domani Jackson will miss this game due to injury. Jackson is in attendance but sitting on the bench during early warmups and will indeed be out for this game against Arizona.
* USC safety Max Williams is out on the field early and going through warmups. He didn’t play last week against Colorado but appears on track to play in this one. Head coach Lincoln Riley said midweek that Williams was doing more this week than last, but was noncommittal about his likelihood of playing. His availability would be a big plus against an Arizona team that is bringing some very good receivers into this one.
* Lots of USC players greeting Arizona Defensive Analyst and Assistant Director of Recruiting Armond Hawkins out on the field. Hawkins served as USC’s director of high school relations during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
* Still very early in warmups with only the kickers in uniform. Both Arizona quarterbacks — Jayden de Laura and Noah Fifita — are throwing the ball around to receivers. de Laura is the established starter but missed Arizona’s last game due to injury. He’ll likely be a game time decision. Reports from last night were that de Laura was “unlikely” to play.
* All the skill position players are now out on the field. Players OUT for USC tonight: Domani Jackson, Zachariah Branch, Christian Pierce, Korey Foreman, Sam Greene.
* Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura is not in uniform. It’ll be Noah Fifita getting the start for the Wildcats. It does not appear de Laura will be available at all tonight.
* Looks like Mason Cobb and Tackett Curtis will again start at the inside linebacker positions. Christian Roland-Wallace and Jacob Covington will get the start at cornerback.
First Quarter
* USC receives the opening kick and the Trojans will start the game with the ball.
* USC goes three-and-out and will punt. It’s the first time all season the Trojans don’t score a touchdown on their opening drive of the game.
* Arizona connects on a 23-yard field goal and USC trails for the first time all season. It’s 3-0 Arizona with 10:12 remaining in the first quarter.
* USC goes three-and-out again and the Trojans’ offense looks completely out of sorts through two drives. USC has six total yards on two drives. Arizona gets the ball after a punt at their own 36-yard line.
* Fifita hits wide receiver Jacob Cowing for a 23-yard touchdown. It’s 10-0 Arizona with 4:59 remaining in the first quarter.
* USC with another three-and-out. The Trojans have zero answers for this Arizona defense right now.
* Arizona converts two third-downs and has the ball at their own 32-yard line as the first quarter ends.
Second Quarter
* Cowing goes down and is helped off the field not putting weight on his right leg. He already has five receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown in this game.
* Fifita finds tight end Tanner McLachlan for an 18-yard touchdown. It’s 17-0 Arizona with 13:05 remaining in the first half.
* Nothing going right for USC in this one. One play after a 53-yard gain, Williams fumbles the ball and Arizona has it at their own 34-yard line.
* USC cornerback Jacobe Covington reads Fifita and picks off a pass intended for Tetairoa McMillan.
* The Trojans capitalize on the turnover. Williams runs it in for a four-yard touchdown. It’s 17-7 Arizona with 9:43 remaining in the first half.
* USC forces an Arizona punt with 6:12 remaining in the first half. Trojans will start with the ball at their own 11-yard line.
* It’s another three-and-out for USC and Arizona has the ball at its own 40-yard line with 4:48 remaining in the first half.
* Williams connects with Kyron Hudson for a five-yard touchdown with just two seconds left in the first half. It’s 17-14 Arizona.
Third Quarter
* Arizona opens the third quarter with the ball at their own 25-yard line.
* Arizona connects on a 22-yard field goal to push its lead to 20-14 with 10:20 left in the third quarter.
* MarShawn Lloyd gets into the endzone on a nine-yard touchdown run. USC takes its first lead of the game, 21-10, with 5:44 remaining in the third quarter.
* USC forces a punt and the Trojans have the ball at their own 23-yard line with 3:23 remaining the third quarter.
* Michael Jackson III makes a reception but is ruled down just short of the endzone. USC will start the fourth quarter with the ball at the one-yard line, leading 21-20.
Fourth Quarter
* Williams muscles in from one yard out and puts USC up 28-20 with 12:54 remaining in the game.
* Arizona scores on a 3-yard touchdown and then gets the two-point conversion to tie it up at 28 with 8:17 remaining.
* Arizona misses a 50-yard field goal and USC gets the ball at its own 33-yard line with 2:08 remaining and a chance to win it in regulation.
* USC fires back a high snap on what would have been a game-winning 25-yard field goal attempt. Kicker Denis Lynch has to pause and can’t get off a full kick. Arizona grabs the ball and regulation ends with the score 28-28.
Overtime
* USC starts overtime with the ball and Caleb Williams runs for his third touchdown of the game on an 18-yard carry. It’s 35-28 USC.
* Fifita to Cowing for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of Arizona’s possession. Tied 35-35 going into second overtime.
* Fifita hits Cowing again for his fourth receiving touchdown of the game and the Wildcats go up 41-35. Arizona takes a timeout before the two-point play.
* Huge play by Calen Bullock to knock away Fifita’s pass on the two-point conversion. It’s 41-35 Arizona with USC set for its possession of second overtime.
* Austin Jones scores from 11 yards out and USC ties it 41-41.
* Williams gets pressure and throws incomplete to Brenden Rice on the two-point try. It’s going into the third overtime.
Third Overtime
* Williams runs in from three yards out.
* Mason Cobb ends it with a tackle for loss on Arizona running back D.J. Williams.
* USC somehow escapes with the win, 43-41, in triple overtime.
