Referee Michael Batlan; umpire R. DiBernardo; head linesman Dan Antonietti; line judge Rich Troyer; side judge Michael Marsh; field judge Brad Glenn; back judge Joe Johnston; center judge Randy CampbellGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse
Scoring by quarter
Team
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Final
USC
3
3
14
7
27
Colorado
7
10
0
7
24
Standouts
PassingCody Kessler17 of 27, 204 yards, 3 TD, 1 INTUSC
From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.
Team stats
USC
Colorado
333
Total yards
281
204
Passing yards
222
129
Rushing yards
59
7.6
Yards per pass
7.2
3.5
Yards per rush
1.6
19
First downs
21
5–13
Third downs
5–13
1–1
Fourth downs
1–2
1
Turnovers
1
7–40
Penalties
5–39
28:50
Possession
31:10
Efficiency
USC
Colorado
47%
Success rate
46%
0.09
EPA per play
−0.10
0.90
Explosiveness
1.06
−0.06
Rushing EPA
−0.25
0.26
Passing EPA
0.04
35%
Passing-down success
41%
0.22
First-down EPA
−0.06
−0.22
Second-down EPA
−0.25
0.22
Third-down EPA
0.24
From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.
Before kickoff
Our ratings and the line, going in
Our ratings (scores only)
USC 78% to win. Elo’s favorite won.
The line
USC −14.5, over/under 58.5.
The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.
Before kickoff, the win chances were USC 84%, Colorado 16%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.
Every drive
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Colorado drives left to right, USC right to left.
Q1 USCField goal, 10 plays, 58 yards
Q1 ColoradoPunt, 6 plays, 20 yards
Q1 USCPunt, 3 plays, 2 yards
Q1 ColoradoTouchdown, 7 plays, 61 yards
Q1 USCPunt, 4 plays, 26 yards
Q1 ColoradoPunt, 6 plays, 32 yards
Q2 USCInterception, 4 plays, 26 yards
Q2 ColoradoTouchdown, 5 plays, 26 yards
Q2 USCPunt, 3 plays, −1 yard
Q2 ColoradoField goal, 11 plays, 65 yards
Q2 USCField goal, 10 plays, 10 yards
Q3 ColoradoPunt, 7 plays, 20 yards
Q3 USCTouchdown, 13 plays, 83 yards
Q3 ColoradoFumble, 1 play, 0 yards
Q3 USCTouchdown, 7 plays, 34 yards
Q3 ColoradoMissed FG, 8 plays, 31 yards
Q4 USCTouchdown, 1 play, 36 yards
Q4 ColoradoPunt, 9 plays, 23 yards
Q4 USCPunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
Q4 ColoradoTouchdown, 2 plays, 2 yards
Q4 USCPunt, 3 plays, 14 yards
Q4 ColoradoTurnover on downs, 7 plays, 22 yards
Q4 USCEnd of game, 5 plays, 12 yards
Play by play
1st quarter6 drives, then Colorado 7, USC 3
USC Field goal, 10 plays
15:00
1st & 10 at own 35
Chris Graham kickoff for 45 yds , Jabari Ruffin return for 18 yds to the USC 38
14:48
1st & 10 at own 38
Cody Kessler pass complete to Darreus Rogers for 14 yds to the Colo 48 for a 1ST down
14:25
1st & 10 at opp 48
Justin Davis run for 29 yds to the Colo 19 for a 1ST down
14:04
1st & 10 at opp 19
Justin Davis run for 5 yds to the Colo 14
13:30
2nd & 5 at opp 14
Ronald Jones II run for 4 yds to the Colo 10
13:00
3rd & 1 at opp 10
Ronald Jones II run for no gain to the Colo 10
12:20
4th & 1 at opp 10
Justin Davis run for 4 yds to the Colo 6 for a 1ST down
12:00
1st & goal at opp 6
Justin Davis run for 5 yds to the Colo 1 Justin Davis fumbled, recovered by USC
11:30
2nd & goal at opp 1
Justin Davis run for a loss of 3 yards to the Colo 4
10:39
3rd & goal at opp 4
Cody Kessler pass incomplete to Steven Mitchell Jr.
10:35
4th & 9 at own 35
Alex Wood kickoff for 65 yds , Donovan Lee return for 25 yds to the Colo 25
10:35
4th & goal at opp 4
Alex Wood 22 yd FG GOODUSC 3, Colorado 0
Colorado Punt, 6 plays
10:25
1st & 10 at own 25
Christian Powell run for no gain to the Colo 25
9:50
2nd & 10 at own 25
Sefo Liufau pass complete to Shay Fields for 8 yds to the Colo 33
9:20
3rd & 2 at own 33
Christian Powell run for 11 yds to the Colo 44 for a 1ST down
8:55
1st & 10 at own 44
Donovan Lee run for 1 yd to the Colo 45
8:34
2nd & 9 at own 45
Sefo Liufau pass incomplete to Nelson Spruce
8:28
3rd & 9 at own 45
Sefo Liufau pass incomplete to Nelson Spruce
8:16
4th & 9 at own 45
Alex Kinney punt for 46 yds , Adoree’ Jackson returns for 11 yds to the USC 20
USC Punt, 3 plays
8:10
1st & 10 at own 20
Cody Kessler pass incomplete to Steven Mitchell Jr.
8:02
2nd & 10 at own 20
Ronald Jones II run for 2 yds to the USC 22
7:32
3rd & 8 at own 22
Cody Kessler pass incomplete
7:24
4th & 8 at own 22
Kris Albarado punt for 39 yds, fair catch by Nelson Spruce at the Colo 39
Colorado Touchdown, 7 plays
7:17
1st & 10 at own 39
Sefo Liufau pass complete to Nelson Spruce for 12 yds to the USC 49 for a 1ST down
6:51
1st & 10 at opp 49
Sefo Liufau run for 9 yds to the USC 40
6:27
2nd & 1 at opp 40
Patrick Carr run for 2 yds to the USC 38 for a 1ST down
6:10
1st & 10 at opp 38
Patrick Carr run for 5 yds to the USC 33
5:45
2nd & 5 at opp 33
Sefo Liufau pass complete to Patrick Carr for 20 yds to the USC 13 for a 1ST down
5:30
1st & 10 at opp 13
Sefo Liufau pass complete to Devin Ross for 9 yds to the USC 4
5:15
2nd & 1 at opp 4
Phillip Lindsay run for 4 yds for a TD, (Diego Gonzalez KICK)Colorado 7, USC 3
USC Punt, 4 plays
5:15
2nd & 1 at own 35
Chris Graham kickoff for 63 yds , Adoree’ Jackson return for 18 yds to the USC 20
4:57
1st & 10 at own 20
Cody Kessler pass complete to Steven Mitchell Jr. for 17 yds to the USC 37 for a 1ST down
4:30
1st & 10 at own 37
Ronald Jones II run for 1 yd to the USC 38
3:55
2nd & 9 at own 38
Ronald Jones II run for 7 yds to the USC 45
3:20
3rd & 2 at own 45
Ronald Jones II run for 1 yd to the USC 46
2:44
4th & 1 at own 46
Kris Albarado punt for 31 yds, fair catch by Nelson Spruce at the Colo 23
Colorado Punt, 6 plays
2:35
1st & 10 at own 23
Christian Powell run for 3 yds to the Colo 26
1:58
2nd & 7 at own 26
Sefo Liufau pass complete to Patrick Carr for 9 yds to the Colo 35 for a 1ST down
1:31
1st & 10 at own 35
Sefo Liufau pass complete to Nelson Spruce for 36 yds to the USC 29 for a 1ST down
1:15
1st & 10 at opp 29
Patrick Carr run for 2 yds to the USC 27
0:40
2nd & 8 at opp 27
Sefo Liufau sacked by Kenny Bigelow Jr. for a loss of 5 yards to the USC 32
Q2 14:50
3rd & 13 at opp 32
Cade Apsay sacked by Su’a Cravens for a loss of 8 yards to the USC 40
Q2 14:13
4th & 21 at opp 40
COLORADO Penalty, Delay of Game (-5 Yards) to the USC 45
Q2 14:02
4th & 26 at opp 45
Alex Kinney punt for 40 yds, downed at the USC 5
2nd quarter5 drives, then Colorado 17, USC 6
USC Interception, 4 plays
13:50
1st & 10 at own 6
Justin Davis run for 3 yds to the USC 9
13:20
2nd & 7 at own 9
Cody Kessler pass complete to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 19 yds to the USC 28 for a 1ST down
12:50
1st & 10 at own 28
Justin Davis run for 4 yds to the USC 32
12:03
2nd & 6 at own 32
Cody Kessler pass intercepted Jered Bell return for 19 yds to the USC 26
Colorado Touchdown, 5 plays
11:50
1st & 10 at opp 26
Phillip Lindsay run for 3 yds to the USC 23
11:27
2nd & 7 at opp 23
Phillip Lindsay run for 6 yds to the USC 17
10:45
3rd & 1 at opp 17
USC Penalty, Substitution Infraction (6 Yards) to the USC 11 for a 1ST down
10:20
1st & 10 at opp 11
Phillip Lindsay run for no gain to the USC 11
10:00
2nd & 10 at opp 11
Phillip Lindsay run for 2 yds to the USC 9
9:28
3rd & 8 at opp 9
Cade Apsay pass complete to Nelson Spruce for 9 yds for a TD, (Diego Gonzalez KICK)Colorado 14, USC 3
USC Punt, 3 plays
9:28
3rd & 8 at own 35
Chris Graham kickoff for 62 yds , Justin Davis return for 27 yds to the USC 30
9:14
1st & 10 at own 30
Cody Kessler pass incomplete to JuJu Smith-Schuster
9:06
2nd & 10 at own 30
Ronald Jones II run for 5 yds to the USC 35
8:27
3rd & 5 at own 35
Cody Kessler sacked by Jimmie Gilbert for a loss of 6 yards to the USC 29
7:59
4th & 11 at own 29
Kris Albarado punt for 43 yds , Nelson Spruce returns for 7 yds to the Colo 36 COLORADO Penalty, Offensive Holding (10 Yards) to the Colo 25
Colorado Field goal, 11 plays
7:52
1st & 10 at own 25
Cade Apsay pass complete to Sean Irwin for 20 yds to the Colo 45 for a 1ST down
7:31
1st & 10 at own 45
Patrick Carr run for 1 yd to the Colo 46
7:01
2nd & 9 at own 46
Cade Apsay pass complete to Nelson Spruce for 11 yds to the USC 43 for a 1ST down
6:50
1st & 10 at opp 43
Cade Apsay pass complete to Jay MacIntyre for 6 yds to the USC 37
6:00
2nd & 4 at opp 37
Cade Apsay run for a loss of 1 yard to the USC 38
5:38
3rd & 5 at opp 38
Cade Apsay pass complete to Donovan Lee for 7 yds to the USC 31 for a 1ST down
5:15
1st & 10 at opp 31
USC Penalty, Defensive Offside (5 Yards) to the USC 26
5:00
1st & 5 at opp 26
Donovan Lee run for 12 yds to the USC 14 for a 1ST down
4:35
1st & 10 at opp 14
Donovan Lee run for 1 yd to the USC 13
3:50
2nd & 9 at opp 13
Cade Apsay run for 3 yds to the USC 10
3:18
3rd & 6 at opp 10
Cade Apsay pass incomplete to Bryce Bobo
3:14
4th & 6 at opp 10
Diego Gonzalez 28 yd FG GOODColorado 17, USC 3
USC Field goal, 10 plays
3:14
4th & 6 at own 35
Chris Graham kickoff for 64 yds , Adoree’ Jackson return for 24 yds to the USC 25
2:58
1st & 10 at own 25
Cody Kessler pass complete to Steven Mitchell Jr. for 28 yds to the Colo 47 for a 1ST down
2:43
1st & 10 at opp 47
USC Penalty, False Start (Taylor McNamara) to the USC 48
2:30
1st & 15 at own 48
Cody Kessler pass complete to De’Quan Hampton for 9 yds to the Colo 43
1:50
2nd & 6 at opp 43
Cody Kessler pass complete to Justin Davis for 12 yds to the Colo 31 for a 1ST down
1:32
1st & 10 at opp 31
Ronald Jones II run for 3 yds to the Colo 28
1:01
2nd & 7 at opp 28
Cody Kessler pass incomplete to JuJu Smith-Schuster
1:00
3rd & 7 at opp 28
Cody Kessler pass complete to De’Quan Hampton for 10 yds to the Colo 18 for a 1ST down
0:55
1st & 10 at opp 18
Timeout USC, clock 00:55
0:55
1st & 10 at opp 18
Cody Kessler pass complete to Adoree’ Jackson for 3 yds to the Colo 15
0:44
2nd & 7 at opp 15
Cody Kessler pass incomplete to JuJu Smith-Schuster
0:20
3rd & 7 at opp 15
Cody Kessler sacked by Kenneth Olugbode for a loss of 8 yards to the Colo 23
0:03
4th & 15 at opp 23
Timeout USC, clock 00:03
0:03
4th & 15 at opp 23
Timeout COLORADO, clock 00:03
0:00
4th & 15 at opp 23
Alex Wood 41 yd FG GOODColorado 17, USC 6
3rd quarter4 drives, then USC 20, Colorado 17
Colorado Punt, 7 plays
15:00
1st & 10 at own 35
Alex Wood kickoff for 55 yds , Christian Powell return for 15 yds to the Colo 25
14:55
1st & 10 at own 25
Cade Apsay sacked by Anthony Sarao for a loss of 5 yards to the Colo 20
14:01
2nd & 15 at own 20
Cade Apsay pass complete to Donovan Lee for 16 yds to the Colo 36 for a 1ST down
13:45
1st & 10 at own 36
Donovan Lee run for 9 yds to the Colo 45
13:35
2nd & 1 at own 45
Donovan Lee run for 3 yds to the Colo 48 for a 1ST down
13:21
1st & 10 at own 48
Cade Apsay pass incomplete to Nelson Spruce
13:05
2nd & 10 at own 48
Cade Apsay pass complete to Devin Ross for a loss of 3 yards to the Colo 45
12:38
3rd & 13 at own 45
Apsay, Cade pass incomplete to Spruce, Nelson, PENALTY USC holding (Marshall, Iman) 10 yards to the USC45, NO PLAY.
12:25
3rd & 3 at opp 45
Cade Apsay sacked by John Plattenburg for a loss of 10 yards to the Colo 45
11:54
4th & 13 at own 45
Alex Kinney punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Adoree’ Jackson at the USC 17
USC Touchdown, 13 plays
11:50
1st & 10 at own 17
Justin Davis run for 2 yds to the USC 19
11:12
2nd & 8 at own 19
Cody Kessler pass complete to Justin Davis for 6 yds to the USC 25
10:40
3rd & 2 at own 25
Justin Davis run for 3 yds to the USC 28 for a 1ST down
10:11
1st & 10 at own 28
Cody Kessler pass complete to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 11 yds to the USC 39 for a 1ST down
9:40
1st & 10 at own 39
Ronald Jones II run for 14 yds to the Colo 47 for a 1ST down
9:15
1st & 10 at opp 47
Ronald Jones II run for 6 yds to the Colo 41
8:53
2nd & 4 at opp 41
Ronald Jones II run for 5 yds to the Colo 36 for a 1ST down
8:18
1st & 10 at opp 36
Cody Kessler pass complete to Justin Davis for 10 yds to the Colo 26 for a 1ST down
7:48
1st & 10 at opp 26
Justin Davis run for 9 yds to the Colo 17
7:25
2nd & 1 at opp 17
Justin Davis run for 8 yds to the Colo 9 for a 1ST down
7:03
1st & goal at opp 9
Ronald Jones II run for 2 yds to the Colo 7
6:35
2nd & goal at opp 7
Ronald Jones II run for a loss of 1 yard to the Colo 8
5:55
3rd & goal at opp 8
Kessler, Cody pass sacked for loss of 7 yards to the COLORADO15 (McCartney, Derek), PENALTY COLORADO offside (Jones, Hayden) 3 yards to the COLORADO4, NO PLAY.
5:34
3rd & goal at opp 4
Cody Kessler pass complete to Jahleel Pinner for 4 yds for a TD, (Alex Wood KICK)Colorado 17, USC 13
5:34
3rd & 10 at own 35
Alex Wood kickoff for 65 yds , Donovan Lee return for 37 yds to the Colo 37
5:20
1st & 10 at own 37
Christian Powell run for a loss of 3 yards to the Colo 34 Christian Powell fumbled, forced by Delvon Simmons, recovered by USC Antwaun Woods
USC Touchdown, 7 plays
5:12
1st & 10 at opp 34
Cody Kessler pass incomplete to De’Quan Hampton
5:00
2nd & 10 at opp 34
Justin Davis run for 4 yds to the Colo 30
4:30
3rd & 6 at opp 30
Cody Kessler pass complete to Steven Mitchell Jr. for 14 yds to the Colo 16 for a 1ST down
4:00
1st & 10 at opp 16
Ronald Jones II run for 3 yds to the Colo 13
3:45
2nd & 7 at opp 13
Cody Kessler pass complete to Tyler Petite for 9 yds to the Colo 4 for a 1ST down
3:00
1st & goal at opp 4
Ronald Jones II run for 2 yds to the Colo 2
2:32
2nd & goal at opp 2
Cody Kessler pass complete to Taylor McNamara for 2 yds for a TD, (Alex Wood KICK)USC 20, Colorado 17
Colorado Missed FG, 8 plays
2:32
2nd & 8 at own 35
Alex Wood kickoff for 57 yds
2:15
1st & 10 at own 35
Cade Apsay pass complete to Shay Fields for 6 yds to the Colo 41
1:45
2nd & 4 at own 41
Patrick Carr run for a loss of 2 yards to the Colo 39
1:22
3rd & 6 at own 39
Cade Apsay pass complete to Nelson Spruce for 9 yds to the Colo 48 for a 1ST down
1:08
1st & 10 at own 48
Patrick Carr run for 17 yds to the USC 35 for a 1ST down
0:40
1st & 10 at opp 35
Donovan Lee run for 5 yds to the USC 30
0:20
2nd & 5 at opp 30
Cade Apsay sacked by Antwaun Woods for a loss of 8 yards to the USC 38
Q4 14:46
3rd & 13 at opp 38
Cade Apsay pass complete to Phillip Lindsay for 4 yds to the USC 34
Q4 14:03
4th & 9 at opp 34
Diego Gonzalez 51 yd FG BLOCKED blocked by Adoree’ Jackson Adoree’ Jackson return for 30 yds to the Colo 36
4th quarter7 drives, then USC 27, Colorado 24
USC Touchdown, 1 play
13:55
1st & 10 at opp 36
Cody Kessler pass complete to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 36 yds for a TD, (Alex Wood KICK)USC 27, Colorado 17
Colorado Punt, 9 plays
13:55
1st & 10 at own 35
Alex Wood kickoff for 65 yds , Donovan Lee return for 23 yds to the Colo 23
13:45
1st & 10 at own 23
COLORADO Penalty, Delay of Game (-5 Yards) to the Colo 18
13:20
1st & 15 at own 18
Cade Apsay pass complete to Nelson Spruce for 6 yds to the Colo 24
13:00
2nd & 9 at own 24
Cade Apsay pass complete to Nelson Spruce for 11 yds to the Colo 35 for a 1ST down
12:35
1st & 10 at own 35
Cade Apsay pass complete to George Frazier for 9 yds to the Colo 44
11:40
2nd & 1 at own 44
Patrick Carr run for a loss of 1 yard to the Colo 43
11:18
3rd & 2 at own 43
Cade Apsay pass complete to Sean Irwin for 1 yd to the Colo 44
10:45
4th & 1 at own 44
Timeout COLORADO, clock 10:45
10:35
4th & 1 at own 44
Phillip Lindsay run for 2 yds to the Colo 46 for a 1ST down
10:15
1st & 10 at own 46
Phillip Lindsay run for 3 yds to the Colo 49
9:45
2nd & 7 at own 49
Cade Apsay sacked by Delvon Simmons for a loss of 7 yards to the Colo 42
9:15
3rd & 14 at own 42
Cade Apsay pass complete to Phillip Lindsay for 4 yds to the Colo 46
8:23
4th & 10 at own 46
Alex Kinney punt for 49 yds, downed at the USC 5
USC Punt, 3 plays
8:15
1st & 10 at own 5
Ronald Jones II run for 4 yds to the USC 9
7:30
2nd & 6 at own 9
Ronald Jones II run for 1 yd to the USC 10
7:08
3rd & 5 at own 10
Cody Kessler pass incomplete to JuJu Smith-Schuster
6:53
4th & 5 at own 10
Kris Albarado punt for 39 yds , Nelson Spruce returns for 45 yds to the COLORADO 45 USC Penalty, Personal Foul (Kris Albarado) to the USC 2
Colorado Touchdown, 2 plays
6:45
1st & goal at opp 2
Donovan Lee run for 1 yd to the USC 1
6:13
2nd & goal at opp 1
Cade Apsay pass complete to George Frazier for 1 yd for a TD, (Diego Gonzalez KICK)USC 27, Colorado 24
USC Punt, 3 plays
6:13
2nd & 9 at own 35
Chris Graham kickoff for 65 yds , Adoree’ Jackson return for 28 yds to the USC 28
6:01
1st & 10 at own 28
Kessler, Cody pass incomplete to Smith-Schuster, JuJu, PENALTY COLORADO pass interference (Laguda, Afolabi) 15 yards to the USC43, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN USC.
5:53
1st & 10 at own 43
Justin Davis run for a loss of 1 yard to the USC 42
5:15
2nd & 11 at own 42
Cody Kessler pass incomplete to Justin Davis
5:07
3rd & 11 at own 42
Cody Kessler pass complete to Ronald Jones II for no gain to the USC 42
4:38
4th & 11 at own 42
Kris Albarado punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Nelson Spruce at the Colo 20
Colorado Turnover on downs, 7 plays
4:33
1st & 10 at own 21
Cade Apsay pass incomplete to Sean Irwin
4:28
2nd & 10 at own 21
Cade Apsay pass incomplete to Shay Fields
4:20
3rd & 10 at own 21
Cade Apsay pass complete to Shay Fields for 10 yds to the Colo 31 for a 1ST down
3:54
1st & 10 at own 31
Apsay, Cade pass incomplete to Fields, Shay, PENALTY USC pass interference (Jackson, Adoree’) 7 yards to the COLORADO38, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN COLORADO.
3:42
1st & 10 at own 38
Phillip Lindsay run for 4 yds to the Colo 42
3:20
2nd & 6 at own 42
Cade Apsay run for no gain to the Colo 42
2:45
3rd & 6 at own 42
Cade Apsay pass complete to Devin Ross for 1 yd to the Colo 43
1:59
4th & 5 at own 43
Cade Apsay pass incomplete to Devin Ross
USC End of game, 5 plays
1:56
1st & 10 at opp 42
Ronald Jones II run for no gain to the Colo 42
1:54
2nd & 10 at opp 42
Timeout COLORADO, clock 01:54
1:50
2nd & 10 at opp 42
Ronald Jones II run for 2 yds to the Colo 40
1:48
3rd & 8 at opp 40
Timeout COLORADO, clock 01:48
1:35
3rd & 8 at opp 40
Justin Davis run for 13 yds to the Colo 27 for a 1ST down
0:45
1st & 10 at opp 27
TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the Colo 28
0:25
2nd & 11 at opp 28
TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the Colo 30
Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.
PassingCody Kessler17 of 27, 204 yards, 3 TD, 1 INTUSC
USC
Colorado