USC vs. Stanford: Trojans score late, secure Pac-12 Championship over Cardinal

Joe Rivera

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USC vs. Stanford: Trojans score late, secure Pac-12 Championship over Cardinal image

What. A. Game.

Sam Darnold and the Trojans came up big late in the game to keep the Stanford Cardinal at bay and secure a Pac-12 title in a 31-28 thriller.

MORE: Everything you need to know for Championship Saturday

Bryce Love wasn't himself as he battled a high-ankle sprain all game. He would rush for 125 yards in a gutsy, gritty performance.

MORE: Watch college football live and on-demand with fuboTV

Here's how it all played out.

(All times Eastern.)

USC vs. Stanford score, live updates

11:37 p.m. END OF GAME: Darnold passes on a fourth-and-2 and the Trojans earn a first down and can run out the clock and and win a Pac-12 Championship.

11:33 p.m.: Stanford attempts an onside kick but the ball bounces out of bounds. USC takes over with 2:09 left and the clock ticking. Stanford has one timeout left. 

11:26 p.m. STANFORD SCORING PLAY: Costello caps off a big-play drive with a 29-yard touchdown strike to Smith to close the gap to three points once again. 31-28 USC. 2:09 remaining.

11:15 p.m. USC SCORING PLAY: And that's why you kick the ball and take the points. Ronald Jones with a 8-yard touchdown run to go up 10 on Stanford with 4:22 left. 31-21 USC. 

11:11 p.m.: Darnold hits Pittman deep down the middle to get out of end zone trouble, for 54 yards.

11:07 p.m.: So for some reason, Stanford decides to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line and they don't get it, rather than kick the ball and tie the game. USC stops them, and takes over. 

11:00 p.m.: Second-and-goal for the Cardinal after a delay of game call and a Love fumble.

10:59 p.m.: Bryce Love limps off and back in with a freshly retaped ankle. 

10:52 p.m.: A bad punt from USC and Stanford takes over at the USC 33-yard line. We are now in the fourth. 

10:38 p.m.: Stanford recovers a fumble and they take over with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.

10:34 p.m. STANFORD SCORING PLAY: Costello hits smith on a 11-yard pass to close the gap to three points. 24-21 USC, third quarter.

10:25 p.m. USC SCORING PLAY: Following a long Darnold-to-Mitchel connection, Ronald Jones scores from a yard out. 24-14 USC. 

10:22 p.m.: Darnold almost throws a pick deep downfield, but the Stanford DB can't come up with the ball. He had hands on it, too. 

10:17 p.m.: While Bryce Love is struggling with an ankle injury, the USC D-line is playing well enough to nullify him even if he were healthy.

10:06 p.m.: After a Stanford possession, USC takes over inside its 5-yard line, and Ronald Jones breaks a big run. Stanford is having all sorts of issues tackling tonight.

9:38 HALFTIME: Stanford with that late score brings them back to within three, and they get the ball back after the break.

9:32 p.m. STANFORD SCORING PLAY: Cameron Scarlett powers into the end zone on a 1-yard TD run to bring the game within three points. 17-14 USC. 

9:26 p.m.: Stanford is going in for a score. K.J. Costello hits Arcega-Whiteside for long gain. First-and-goal for Stanford.

9:15 p.m. USC SCORING PLAY: Darnold with a quick out to Tyler Vaughn, who makes a man miss and scampers to the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown. 17-7 USC.

9:14 p.m.: USC offense is starting to hum. Darnold hits Pittman for a big gain down the left sideline, then Jones breaks a long run. In the red zone again.

9:10 p.m.: Mental lapse from USC as they field a punt inside the 10-yard line rather than let it bounce. USC backed up against their end zone. 

9:04 p.m.: Bryce Love limps off the field. He is dealing a high-ankle sprain. 

9:00 p.m. USC SCORING PLAY: Chase McGrath nails a 24-yard field goal to up the Trojans up by three points. 10-7 USC, second quarter.

8:56 p.m.: More penalties as Stanford is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. USC threatening, on the Stanford 9-yard line.

8:49 p.m.: Pretty sure we haven't played a minute without seeing a flag. Lots of laundry on the field tonight.

8:45 p.m. STANFORD SCORING PLAY: Bryce Love getting into his groove, as he scores on a 9-yard TD run to tie it up at the start of the second quarter. 7-7 all. 

8:36 p.m.: Stanford driving, and Bryce Love hasn't been able to get it going yet. Just eight yards on three carries to this point. Almost at the end of the first quarter.

8:28 p.m. USC SCORING PLAY: Sam Darnold hits Michael Pittman for a 7-yard touchdown pass. 7-0 USC.

8:25 p.m.: On a fourth-and-6, Darnold scrambles for a first down. Escapes a collapsing pocket.

8:22 p.m.: After a weak first offensive possession of the game for Stanford, Darnold hits Daniel Imatorbhebhe for a big gain downfield. 

8:11 p.m.: USC drive stalls on the Stanford 48, as Darnold misses a throw on third-and-15. Stanford ball. 

8:06 p.m.: First run of the game goes for 12 yards, courtesy of USC's Ronald Jones.

8:00 p.m.: Welcome to SN's live coverage of tonight's Pac-12 Championship game from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. 

7:45 p.m.: Almost gametime from Santa Clara, Calif.

 

Joe Rivera

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Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

You can find him and tweet him @JoeRiveraSN, if you're into that sort of thing.