The lowdown: USC opened the game with more than a little concern as the defense conceded an easy touchdown drive to the Cardinal, capped by a six-yard Bryce Love touchdown. Early struggles and an injury to quarterback JT Daniels left the offense wanting.
Hanging on in a 7-0 game, head coach Clay Helton gambled on fourth-and-two near the end of the first half, but Daniels fumbled and Cardinal quarterback KJ Costello led a last-minute scoring drive. He completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colby Parkinson to give Stanford a 14-0 lead at the break.