LSU vs. USC: Game time, TV channel, how to watch the Kickoff Classic
📺 How to watch No. 13 LSU vs. No. 23 USC
LSU's Garrett Nussmeier (left) and Southern Cal's Miller Moss (right) will get their second career starts in LSU-USC.
- 🗓️ Date: Sunday, Sept. 1
- ⏰ Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- 📺 TV: ABC
- 💻 Stream: ESPN+
- 📍 Location: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
📝 Game preview
Sunday night’s matchup is the definition of something being more than what meets the eye. Although an early season top 25 duel, the Tigers-Trojans’ battle will set the tone for both programs and the other teams in the SEC and Big Ten.
Each vying for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoffs, the game’s final result will define each road to the CFP, considering both LSU and USC will face at least three more top 25 teams during the regular season.
Offseason changes
- 🐯 LSU
- Hired a new defensive coordinator in Missouri’s Blake Baker and four assistants. The defense allowed 416.6 yards per game last year and ranked 108th nationally.
- Return just two starters at the defensive line. However, with preseason All-American linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. lurking, the junior will take a few things off everyone’s plate.
- Lost 2023 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and the offense’s top two weapons to the 2024 NFL Draft — wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will take over under center.
- 🔴🟡 USC
- Like LSU, brought in a new defensive staff after finishing 116th out of 130 FBS teams in total defense. The Trojans hired UCLA’s D’Anton Lynn as defensive coordinator alongside three assistants.
- Flooded the defense with new faces, adding nine transfers from across the country. This includes Oregon State linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, a 2023 All-Pac-12 first-team recipient.
- With the loss of 2022 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback to the 2024 NFL Draft, quarterback Miller Moss will take the reins. Added Mississippi State running back Jo’quavious Marks — a Doak Walker preseason watch list awardee.
AP Preseason All-Americans
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball)
Will Campbell and Harold Perkins Jr. have been selected to the first team at tackle and linebacker by the Associated Press
👀 New sheriffs in town: Moss vs. Nussmeier
Both offensive units will have a new voice under center for the first time in two years on Sunday. USC quarterback Miller Moss will take over for 2024 NFL Draft No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier steps in for No. 2 pick Jayden Daniels.
However, the idea of having big shoes to fill doesn’t end there for Moss and Nussmeier. The two succeed former Heisman Trophy winners as well — Williams in 2022 and Daniels in 2023.
In 2021, Moss was ranked 15th-best quarterback nationally , whereas Nussmeier was ranked 19th.
Moss and Nussmeier provided college football fans with an exciting preview of what to expect last season, each getting their first career start in USC and LSU’s bowl games.
The former threw for 372 yards on 23 of 33 passes with six touchdowns and an interception in USC’s win over Louisville. The latter went 31 of 45 for 395 yards, three touchdowns and an interception to help LSU beat Wisconsin.
Offensive firepower has been a trait tied to both programs in recent history, and with new quarterbacks at the helm, it will be interesting to see what both offenses will look like.
QB1⃣
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball)
Now that it's official, let's take a look at Miller Moss' historic Holiday Bowl in his first career start 👇
🏈 Preseason AP Top 25 Poll rankings
Here is the full AP Top 25 Poll heading into Week 1. LSU and Southern Cal are in bold.
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia (46) | 1,532 |
| 2 | Ohio State (15) | 1,490 |
| 3 | Oregon (1) | 1,403 |
| 4 | Texas | 1,386 |
| 5 | Alabama | 1,260 |
| 6 | Ole Miss | 1,189 |
| 7 | Notre Dame | 1,122 |
| 8 | Penn State | 1,060 |
| 9 | Michigan | 995 |
| 10 | Florida State | 971 |
| 11 | Missouri | 927 |
| 12 | Utah | 887 |
| 13 | LSU | 804 |
| 14 | Clemson | 689 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 629 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 566 |
| 17 | Oklahoma State | 538 |
| 18 | Kansas State | 526 |
| 19 | Miami (FL) | 492 |
| 20 | Texas A&M | 292 |
| 21 | Arizona | 237 |
| 22 | Kansas | 231 |
| 23 | Southern Cal | 172 |
| 24 | North Carolina State | 171 |
| 25 | Iowa | 140 |
Others receiving votes: Louisville 111, Virginia Tech 77, Boise St. 47, SMU 33, Iowa St. 33, Liberty 32, Washington 23, West Virginia 17, Memphis 16, Nebraska 16, Wisconsin 15, UTSA 6, Tulane 5, Appalachian St. 4, Kentucky 3, Auburn 2, Colorado 1.