USC drops season opener: Trojans fall to Stanford Cardinal in disappointing fashion

What happened?

The University of Southern California (USC) Trojans football team dropped their season opener to the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday, September 2, 2023. The Trojans lost by a score of 31-26 at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.

The Trojans were led by quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Travis Dye also had a solid performance, rushing for 91 yards and a touchdown.

However, the Trojans' defense struggled to stop the Cardinal's offense. Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns, and running back E.J. Smith rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Key plays

The game was decided by several key plays in the fourth quarter.

• With 12:07 remaining in the game, Stanford took a 31-23 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Smith.
• USC responded with a field goal to cut the lead to 31-26 with 7:21 remaining.
• The Trojans then had a chance to tie the game with a touchdown, but Williams was intercepted by Stanford safety Kendall Williamson with 2:18 remaining.

What went wrong?

There were several factors that contributed to USC's loss.

• The Trojans' defense struggled to stop the Stanford offense, particularly in the fourth quarter.
• USC also had several penalties, including a holding penalty that negated a touchdown.
• The Trojans also had a hard time running the ball, as Dye was held to just 91 yards on 20 carries.

What's next?

The Trojans will look to rebound next week when they host the Fresno State Bulldogs at the Coliseum. The Bulldogs are coming off a 35-7 win over the Cal Poly Mustangs.