Kessler Throws For 400 Yards, 5 TDs To Lead USC Past Washington State

 PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -- Cody Kessler threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns and Southern California beat Washington State 44-17 in rainy, foggy conditions on Saturday.

JuJu Smith caught three touchdown passes for Southern California (6-3, 5-2 Pac-12), which became eligible for postseason play. Nelson Agholor caught eight passes for 220 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday, the nation's passing yardage leader, was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with an unspecified injury and did not return. Washington State (2-7, 1-5) does not publicly discuss injuries.

Freshman Luke Falk replaced Halliday. He threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough to prevent the Cougars from suffering their second consecutive home loss and fourth in a row.

Southern Cal, coming off a last-second 24-21 loss at Utah last weekend, had 527 yards of total offense to 442 for Washington State.