Final: Washington runs wild against USC in a 52-42 win

Follow along with WeAreSC as we provide running updates throughout the huge matchup between the No. 24 USC Trojans and No. 5 Washington Huskies.

There are already a couple of pretty significant developments well ahead of this one. The running back position for USC will see a shakeup. Starter and standout back MarShawn Lloyd is not in uniform for the Trojans tonight. But this is the first time since the season opener that sophomore Raleek Brown is suited up in full uniform.

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Players out for USC

In addition to Lloyd, USC will also be without:

WR Michael Jackson III
WR Makai Lemon
DL Sam Greene
DL Sinjun Astani
CB Maliki Crawford
DE Korey Foreman
LS Daniel Meunier
P Michael McAllister

Pregame Warmups

* The starting offensive line for USC will be the same as it’s been the past couple of games. Mason Murphy will get the nod at right guard and Jarrett Kingston at right tackle.

* Mason Cobb and Eric Gentry will get the start at the inside linebacker positions. Bryson Shaw will start at free safety.

* USC wins the coin toss and elects to receive the opening kickoff.

First Quarter

* USC opens the game with a statement drive on offense. The Trojans take it 75 yards in 12 plays and score on a Raleek Brown two-yard touchdown run. It’s 7-0 USC with 8:56 remaining in the first quarter.

* Washington answers right back with a long touchdown drive of its own. The Huskies go 75 yards in 10 plays and score on their own two-yard touchdown run by Dillon Johnson. It’s 7-7 with 3:38 remaining in the first quarter.

* The USC offense blinks first as Duce Robinson drops a deep ball down the field that found him wide open. Washington takes over at its own 20-yard line after the punt.

* The USC defense fires right back and forces a three-and-out aided by a Washington tripping penalty.

* After a bad drop, Robinson comes right back with a huge play. He blocks a Washington punt and Carson Tabaracci recovers at the Washington 8-yard line.

* Caleb Williams is into the endzone for a 1-yard touchdown as he bowls over a Washington defender on his way in. That’s his 10th rushing touchdown of the year, matching his 2022 total. There are 35 seconds left in the first quarter.

Second Quarter

* Absolutely brutal for the USC defense. Trojans get pressure on Michael Penix Jr. on 3rd-and-18. He escaped to the sideline and finds tight end Devin Culp along the sideline in the endzone. At least three USC defenders were in the area and couldn’t knock it down. Washington goes 79 yards in 10 plays to tie it at 14 on a 22-yard touchdown pass. It’s 14-14 with 11:37 remaining in the second quarter.

* Major special teams blunder from Zachariah Branch as he doesn’t field the kickoff, possibly believing it would go into the endzone. He does eventually scoop it up but is tackled at the five yard line.

* USC takes it 95 yards in just five plays. Austin Jones and Darwin Barlow combined to run four times for 86 yards on the drive. Barlow goes in for a 1-yard score and puts USC up 21-14 with 9:31 remaining in the first half.

* The track meet continues as Washington gets a 52-yard rushing touchdown from Johnson. It’s 21-21 with 6:44 remaining in the first half.

* Razzle dazzle from the Trojans. Williams hands off to Branch, who goes to the edge before reversing field and pitching it back to Williams, who then finds Tahj Washington wide open down the sideline for a 41-yard touchdown. It’s 28-21 USC with 4:04 remaining in the first half.

* Washington comes right back with a 70-yard drive on eight plays, finishing with a four-yard touchdown from Penix to Ja’Lynn Polk. It’s 28-28 with 1:14 remaining in the half.

* Huge turnover forced by the Huskies as Zion Tupuola-Fetui knocks the ball away from Williams and Washington recovers at the USC 12-yard line with 1:07 remaining in the half.

* Johnson scores his third rushing touchdown of the game and Washington goes up 35-28 with 20 second remaining in the first half. He’s up to 117 yards on the ground.

Halftime

Halftime stats

	USC	Washington
Points	28	35
Total Yards	268	333
Pass Yards	120	173
Rush Yards	148	160
Yards Per Play	8.1	8.5
Turnovers	1	0
Sacks	0	2

Washington

Michael Penix – 14-of-19 for 173 yards and two touchdowns
Dillon Johnson – 15 carries for 117 yards and three touchdowns
Rome Odunze – 4 receptions for 66 yards
Zion Tupuola-Fetui – 3 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble

USC

Caleb Williams – 12-of-14 for 120 yards and one touchdown
Austin Jones – 9 carries for 91 yards
Tahj Washington – 2 receptions for 50 yards and one touchdown
Mason Cobb – 6 tackles

Third Quarter

* USC’s defense bends all the way into the redzone but Eric Gentry tips a pass that’s intercepted by Christian Roland-Wallace in the endzone. USC evens up the turnover battle and takes over possession with 11:29 remaining in the third quarter.

* Williams hits Brenden Rice for a 25-yard touchdown on 4th-and-1. Great play by Rice downfield to adjust to the ball and beat the defender. It’s 35-35 with 8:00 remaining in the third quarter.

* Penix goes into the endzone on a one-yard quarterback sneak to cap a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. That’s the fourth rushing touchdown of the night for the Huskies and Washington leads 42-35 with 4:21 remaining in the third quarter.

* Williams to Williams as Caleb finds Mario on a back shoulder throw for a 20-yard touchdown. Another solid adjustment from a USC receiver in the same corner of the endzone where Rice caught his. The Trojans tie it at 42 with 1:41 remaining in the third quarter.

* The third quarter ends with Washington driving at their own 39-yard line having just picked up a first down.

Fourth Quarter

* Eric Gentry picks up USC’s first sack of the game and Washington is forced to settle for a 43-yard field goal. The Huskies lead 45-42 with 12:25 remaining in the game, but the USC defense keeps Washington out of the endzone for the third time in nine drives tonight.

* A bad sack on third down forces USC to punt and Washington comes straight back down the field for another touchdown. It’s 52-42 Washington with 2:20 remaining in the game.

* Williams throws incomplete on fourth down and that will do it from the Coliseum. Kneeldowns for the Huskies and Washington wins 52-42.