The lowdown: Despite recovering a fumble on the game’s first play, USC’s first half was a sloppy one, particularly on offense. The Trojans settled for a field goal on a short field to start, and then would do it three more times, getting Chase McGrath contributions that ranged from 29 to 47 yards. Vavae Malepeai scored the lone touchdown on a two-yard jaunt with just over a minute to go in the first half.
Defensively, UNLV gave the Trojans fits with trickeration. Rebel running back Lexington Thomas scored on a 71-yard fake reverse, and then a fake punt led to an Armani Rogers touchdown pass, totaling to a 19-14 halftime lead for USC.