LAS VEGAS – Woody Marks scored on a 13-yard run with eight seconds left to give No. 23 Southern California a 27-20 victory over No. 13 LSU on Sunday night.

Miller Moss threw for 378 yards and scored a touchdown, and his 20-yard pass to Kyron Hudson and a subsequent targeted attack penalty against LSU with 18 seconds left set up Marks’ game-winning goal in the season opener for both teams.

Moss outplayed LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, who completed 29 of 38 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Moss was similarly efficient, completing 27 of 36 passes in a battle of quarterbacks waiting for their chance behind two recent Heisman Trophy winners, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and USC’s Caleb Williams.

USC is playing in its first season in the Big Ten Conference, and with this win in the teams’ first meeting in 40 years, it sent the message that the Trojans could make a difference after last year’s disappointing 8-5 record.

And that was against a Southeastern Conference opponent that wanted to show it belonged in the College Football Playoffs. LSU will still have chances to prove that, but this is the Tigers’ third straight season-opening loss under coach Brian Kelly. LSU’s four-game winning streak dating back to last season has also been snapped.

The Tigers made up about 60% of the crowd, a record crowd that heralded Allegiant Stadium’s 63,969 fans and at times felt like Baton Rouge West. Stars were also in attendance, including LSU greats Shaquille O’Neal and Daniels, with his Heisman Trophy in tow. Former USC Heisman winners Marcus Allen and Matt Leinart were also in attendance.

Two magnificent catches characterized the first half.

Hudson jumped up and back, reaching out with his right hand to somehow get the ball to his other hand and to his body, completing a 24-yard pass to the LSU 19-yard line. The play stood after video review and allowed for a 2-yard touchdown run by Marks that gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead four minutes into the second quarter.

LSU’s Kyren Lacy responded with an acrobatic catch of his own, turning and bringing his right foot into play for a 19-yard touchdown that tied the game midway through the period.

Both teams also wasted chances — the Tigers were repelled after a drive to the USC 3-yard line and Trojans kicker Michael Lantz missed a 29-yard field goal to the right as the first-half clock expired. The Trojans could have had 30-40 seconds more on that final possession, but coach Lincoln Riley opted not to call a timeout before LSU tied the game with a 45-yard field goal by Damian Ramos with 1:08 left.

The game went back and forth. The Trojans took a 20-17 lead with 5:44 left in regulation when Moss found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 28-yard touchdown. Ramos’ 31-yard field goal tied the game but left 1:47 left on the clock.

There was too much time as Moss led the Trojans to victory with an eight-play, 75-yard drive.