Colorado hosted USC in Boulder, Colorado on Saturday. The Buffs were 1-3, coming off their first conference game where they faced Arizona State in Tempe, and lost 35-13. The Trojans were 2-2, coming off a heartbreaking loss in Los Angeles against Oregon State. USC was 1-2 in conference play, and it is very hard to make the Pac 12 Championship with 2 conference losses. The Trojans would need to win out in conference play and have Oregon State or Stanford beat Utah and Arizona State, and have Colorado (If they beat them) beat UCLA. USC would aslo need to have the other teams have either 3 conference losses or a worse overall record than them. USC has been under Coach Donte Williams for the past 2 games and he is 1-1 with a comeback win against Washington State.
USC took the opening kickoff and tried to establish the pass, but were held to a three and out. Their defense made a stand, though, and forced Colorado to punt. USC put together a 5 minute, 14 play, 70 yard drive that ended in a 30 yard field goal from Parker Lewis. USC's Defense forced a 3 and out on Colorado, which turned into a 64 yard drive that ended in a 1 yard touchdown pass from Kedon Slovis to Drake London. London made a tough one handed catch to reel in the ball, and made it look easy. Colorado put together a decent drive, but it ended in a punt at their own 41 after some costly penalties. USC dashed down the field after the punt and scored a touchdown on a 46 yard touchdown pass from Slovis to Michael Trigg. Trigg mossed his defender to get the ball and score in an incredible fashion. USC got the ball back after a Colorado 3 and out and capped off a 5 play, 45 yard drive with a 44 yard field goal that was nailed by Parker Lewis. USC turned the ball over on a fumble after another Colorado 3 and out. Colorado estbalished the run and scored a touchdown on a one yard run from Deion Smith. The Trojans killed the rest of the clock and sent it to half, leading 20-7.
The Buffs fumbled the ball on their opening drive but the Colorado defense made a stand and held the Trojans to a 49 yard field goal from Parker Lewis that split the uprights. The Trojans defense forced the Buffs to turn it over by stopping a 4th down conversion by Alex Fontenot. Keontay Ingram set the Trojans up to score with a 53 yard run which put the Trojans at the Colorado 5 yard line. Two plays later, the Trojans scored on a 2 yard touchdown run from Vivae Malepaei to make it 30-7. Colorado rushed down the field in 4 plays, partially because of Brendan Lewis' 65 yard pass to Brady Russell. Two plays after the pass, Lewis threw a 7 yard touchdown pass to Chase Penry. USC was then held to a punt. The punt from Ben Griffiths pinned Colorado at their own 10. 4 plays later, Joshua Jackson Jr. picked off Brandon Lewis. Lewis's pass was thrown into quadruple coverage, tipped and fell into the hands of the diving Jackson. The Trojans ran down the field in 5 plays and scored on a 15 yard TD pass from Kedon Slovis to Gary Bryant Jr. to make the Trojans' lead 3 scores. The teams traded off posessions until the Trojans got into victory formation and won the game, 37-14.
Kedon was 19 for 29 for 276 yards and 3 touchdowns while Brendan Lewis lead the passing for the Buffs, going 10 for 17 for 162 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Keaontay Ingram lead rushing for USC with 14 carries for 124 yards while Jarek Broussard lead rushing for the Buffs with 16 carries for 68 yards. Brady Russell lead receiving for the Buffs with 3 receptions for 87 yards. Drake London had 9 catches for 130 yards and 1 touchdown. Drake Jackson and Jacob Lichtenstein lead the Trojans in sacks with two. Colorado never sacked USC's QB. Mark Perry lead the Buffs in tackles with 10 while Kanai Mauga lead USC in tackles with 8 tackles. USC advanced to 3-2 while Colorado dropped to 1-4.