USC Bounces Back With 45-7 Rout Over Utah State

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Southern California's humiliating loss to Alabama didn't linger.

Max Browne and Sam Darnold passed for two touchdowns apiece, Adoree Jackson returned a punt 77 yards for a score, and USC rebounded with a 45-7 victory over Utah State on Saturday.

JuJu Smith-Schuster caught two TD passes as the Trojans (1-1) showed no hangover from their 52-6 loss to the top-ranked Crimson Tide last week in Texas, the biggest season-opening loss in school history and their most lopsided defeat since 1966.

While the offense had several solid drives for both quarterbacks, the USC defense shut out the Aggies (1-1) until Kent Myers' 6-yard TD pass to Wyatt Houston on the last play of the third quarter.

Browne was mostly sharp in his first career victory as a starter, completing 23 for 30 with one interception. Darnold threw his first touchdown pass for USC in the second quarter, hitting Deontay Burnett on his first play.

Jackson picked up a bouncing punt late in the third quarter and sliced through Utah State for the third punt-return TD of his career.

Darreus Rogers had a career-high seven catches for 82 yards for the Trojans, who overcame the ejection of left tackle Chuma Edoga on the opening drive for making contact with an official.

THE TAKEAWAY

Utah State: The Aggies didn't get embarrassed by the Trojans, but their defense got a reality check after stifling Weber State in a 45-6 win last week. They'll also have to check their injury losses after a punishing game at the Coliseum.

USC: The Trojans avoided their first 0-2 start to a season since 1997. USC also ended a three-game skid dating to last season's victory over UCLA while getting coach Clay Helton's first victory of his first full season in charge.

UP NEXT

Utah State: The Aggies host Arkansas State.

USC: The Trojans travel to Stanford, which clobbered them in the Pac-12 title game last season. USC has lost four straight away games.

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