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Louisville vs. USC

Wednesday, December 27, 2023, Holiday Bowl

USC beat No. 16 Louisville 42–⁠28. It was their only meeting on record.

Neutral site16Louisville10–⁠4 in 2023
28
Neutral siteUSC8–⁠5 in 2023
42

Final at Petco Park, San DiegoTV: FOXAttendance 35,317

MVPs Miller Moss (Off. QB, USC); Jaylin Smith (Def. S, USC)Wikipedia

At kickoff
60°F, mostly cloudy, haze, wind 7 mph from the northwestWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; San Diego International Airport (KSAN), 3 km from the stadium, nine minutes before kickoff
Official
Lee HendrickGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Louisville777728
USC7217742

Standouts

Photos from the game

From the game’s category on Wikimedia Commons, free licenses only, each credited.

Player stats

Louisville

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Jack Plummer21/2514100
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Isaac Guerendo23161332
Maurice Turner1133010
Evan Conley21319
Jack Plummer76014
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Isaac Guerendo542020
Kevin Coleman Jr.326013
Chris Bell321012
Jadon Thompson320011
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Devin Neal7000
T.J. Quinn5000
Quincy Riley4101
Jaylin Alderman4000

USC

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Miller Moss23/3337261
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Austin Jones1160035
Miller Moss213011
Jake Jensen1101
Quinten Joyner2103
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Tahj Washington799229
Makai Lemon275040
Ja’Kobi Lane360231
Duce Robinson144144
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Jaylin Smith12000
Mason Cobb8000
Eric Gentry6000
Bryson Shaw50.50.50
Jamil Muhammad50.50.50
Elijah Hughes30.50.50
Max Williams2110
Tyrone Taleni10.50.50

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

LouisvilleUSC
361Total yards443
141Passing yards372
220Rushing yards71
5.6Yards per pass11.3
4.9Yards per rush3.7
22First downs19
6–⁠12Third downs6–⁠10
2–⁠3Fourth downs1–⁠1
2Turnovers1
4–⁠44Penalties3–⁠32
36:34Possession23:26
0Sacks (by defense)3

Efficiency

LouisvilleUSC
59%Success rate44%
0.15EPA per play0.47
0.82Explosiveness1.98
0.36Rushing EPA−0.15
−0.19Passing EPA0.82
33%Passing-down success45%
0.06First-down EPA0.13
0.17Second-down EPA0.36
0.47Third-down EPA1.47
15%Havoc by its defense10%

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)

Louisville 61% to win. USC pulled the upset.

The line

Louisville −4.5, over/under 56.5.

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 Louisville 62%, USC 38%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

The money

The Holiday Bowl was put on by the Sports San Diego, a nonprofit. Its IRS Form 990 for the year to June 2024, which takes in this game, reports $12.5 million in revenue, $3.9 million of it from ticket sales, and $12.5 million in expenses. Its best-paid, chief executive officer Mark Neville, was paid $327,000.

From the organization’s IRS Form 990, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and the IRS’s e-file data. Payments are the grants it lists on Schedule I of that return. See every filing at ProPublica (EIN 95-3198732).

Every drive

USC end zoneLouisville end zoneQ1 USCPunt, 3 playsQ1 LouisvilleTouchdown, 10 playsQ1 USCMissed FG, 7 playsQ1 LouisvilleFumble, 1 playQ1 USCTouchdown, 3 playsQ1 LouisvillePunt, 14 playsQ2 USCTouchdown, 5 playsQ2 LouisvillePunt, 3 playsQ2 USCTouchdown, 2 playsQ2 LouisvilleTouchdown, 9 playsQ2 USCTouchdown, 5 playsQ2 LouisvilleEnd of half, 1 playQ3 LouisvillePunt, 3 playsQ3 USCInterception, 3 playsQ3 LouisvilleTouchdown, 6 playsQ3 USCTouchdown, 11 playsQ3 LouisvilleTouchdown, 12 playsQ4 USCTouchdown, 7 playsQ4 LouisvilleTurnover on downs, 10 playsQ4 USCPunt, 5 playsQ4 LouisvilleFumble, 1 playQ4 USCResult not recorded, 2 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. USC drives left to right, Louisville right to left.
  1. Q1 USCPunt, 3 plays, 22 yards
  2. Q1 LouisvilleTouchdown, 10 plays, 71 yards
  3. Q1 USCMissed FG, 7 plays, 54 yards
  4. Q1 LouisvilleFumble, 1 play, 0 yards
  5. Q1 USCTouchdown, 3 plays, 19 yards
  6. Q1 LouisvillePunt, 14 plays, 51 yards
  7. Q2 USCTouchdown, 5 plays, 80 yards
  8. Q2 LouisvillePunt, 3 plays, 5 yards
  9. Q2 USCTouchdown, 2 plays, 18 yards
  10. Q2 LouisvilleTouchdown, 9 plays, 73 yards
  11. Q2 USCTouchdown, 5 plays, 96 yards
  12. Q2 LouisvilleEnd of half, 1 play, −10 yards
  13. Q3 LouisvillePunt, 3 plays, 6 yards
  14. Q3 USCInterception, 3 plays, 34 yards
  15. Q3 LouisvilleTouchdown, 6 plays, 39 yards
  16. Q3 USCTouchdown, 11 plays, 53 yards
  17. Q3 LouisvilleTouchdown, 12 plays, 72 yards
  18. Q4 USCTouchdown, 7 plays, 75 yards
  19. Q4 LouisvilleTurnover on downs, 10 plays, 53 yards
  20. Q4 USCPunt, 5 plays, 44 yards
  21. Q4 LouisvilleFumble, 1 play, 0 yards
  22. Q4 USCResult not recorded, 2 plays, −4 yards

Play by play

1st quarter6 drives, then Tied at 7
USC Punt, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Brock Travelstead kickoff for 40 yds fair catch by Tahj Washington at the USC 7
14:451st & 10 at own 25Zachariah Branch run for no gain to the USC 25
14:052nd & 10 at own 25Miller Moss pass complete to Tahj Washington for 4 yds to the USC 29
14:053rd & 6 at own 29Miller Moss pass incomplete
13:474th & 6 at own 29Eddie Czaplicki punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Kevin Coleman at the LOU 29
Louisville Touchdown, 10 plays
13:401st & 10 at own 29Jack Plummer pass incomplete to Ahmari Huggins-Bruce
13:112nd & 10 at own 29Isaac Guerendo run for 7 yds to the LOU 36
13:003rd & 3 at own 36Isaac Guerendo run for 14 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
12:301st & 10 at the 50Jack Plummer pass complete to Kevin Coleman for 13 yds to the USC 37 for a 1ST down
11:541st & 10 at opp 37Isaac Guerendo run for 7 yds to the USC 30
11:202nd & 3 at opp 30Isaac Guerendo run for 2 yds to the USC 28
10:383rd & 1 at opp 28Jack Plummer run for 14 yds to the USC 14 for a 1ST down
9:531st & 10 at opp 14Jack Plummer pass complete to Kevin Coleman for 10 yds to the USC 4 for a 1ST down
9:101st & goal at opp 4Isaac Guerendo run for 2 yds to the USC 2
8:372nd & goal at opp 2Isaac Guerendo run for 2 yds for a TD (Nick Lopez KICK)Louisville 7, USC 0
USC Missed FG, 7 plays
8:372nd & 8 at own 35Brock Travelstead kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
8:271st & 10 at own 25Miller Moss run for 11 yds to the USC 36 for a 1ST down
8:031st & 10 at own 36Miller Moss pass incomplete to Makai Lemon
7:502nd & 10 at own 36Miller Moss pass complete to Makai Lemon for 40 yds to the LOU 24 for a 1ST down
7:171st & 10 at opp 24Austin Jones run for 6 yds to the LOU 18
6:452nd & 4 at opp 18Miller Moss pass complete to Zachariah Branch for a loss of 3 yards to the LOU 21
6:103rd & 7 at opp 21Miller Moss pass incomplete to Duce Robinson
6:054th & 7 at opp 21Denis Lynch 38 yd FG MISSED
Louisville Fumble, 1 play
5:581st & 10 at own 21Jack Plummer sacked by Max Williams for a loss of 2 yards to the LOU 19 Jack Plummer fumbled, recovered by USC Solomon Byrd , return for 0 yards
USC Touchdown, 3 plays
5:211st & 10 at opp 19Austin Jones run for 1 yd to the LOU 18
4:452nd & 9 at opp 18Miller Moss pass complete to Austin Jones for 1 yd to the LOU 17
4:253rd & 8 at opp 17Miller Moss pass complete to Tahj Washington for 17 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)Tied at 7
Louisville Punt, 14 plays
4:253rd & 8 at own 35Denis Lynch kickoff for 57 yds , Jimmy Calloway return for 5 yds to the LOU 13
4:151st & 10 at own 13Maurice Turner run for 2 yds to the LOU 15 for a 1ST down USC Penalty, Face Mask (15 yards) (15 Yards) to the LOU 30 for a 1ST down
3:301st & 10 at own 30Jack Plummer pass complete to Maurice Turner for 5 yds to the LOU 35
3:052nd & 5 at own 35Maurice Turner run for 4 yds to the LOU 39
2:403rd & 1 at own 39Maurice Turner run for 2 yds to the LOU 41 for a 1ST down
1:591st & 10 at own 41Maurice Turner run for 3 yds to the LOU 44
1:052nd & 7 at own 44Kevin Coleman run for 5 yds to the LOU 49
0:403rd & 2 at own 49Maurice Turner run for 1 yd to the 50 yard line
0:004th & 1 at the 50Maurice Turner run for 1 yd to the USC 49 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:501st & 10 at opp 49Jack Plummer pass complete to Kevin Coleman for 3 yds to the USC 46
Q2 14:112nd & 7 at opp 46Maurice Turner run for 6 yds to the USC 40
Q2 13:403rd & 1 at opp 40Maurice Turner run for 3 yds to the USC 37 for a 1ST down
Q2 13:001st & 10 at opp 37Plummer, Jack pass complete to Thompson, Jadon for no gain to the USC37, PENALTY LOUISVILLE holding 10 yards to the USC47, NO PLAY.
Q2 12:011st & 20 at opp 47Jack Plummer pass complete to Isaac Guerendo for 5 yds to the USC 42
Q2 12:012nd & 15 at opp 42Timeout USC, clock 12:01
Q2 11:452nd & 15 at opp 42Ahmari Huggins-Bruce run for 2 yds to the USC 40
Q2 10:553rd & 13 at opp 40Jack Plummer pass complete to Maurice Turner for 4 yds to the USC 36
Q2 10:204th & 9 at opp 36Brady Hodges punt for 36 yds for a touchback
2nd quarter6 drives, then USC 28, Louisville 14
USC Touchdown, 5 plays
10:111st & 10 at own 20Miller Moss pass complete to Makai Lemon for 35 yds to the LOU 45 for a 1ST down
9:281st & 10 at opp 45Quinten Joyner run for 3 yds to the LOU 42
8:592nd & 7 at opp 42Miller Moss pass incomplete to Zachariah Branch
8:503rd & 7 at opp 42Miller Moss pass complete to Dorian Singer for 13 yds to the LOU 29 for a 1ST down
8:071st & 10 at opp 29Miller Moss pass complete to Tahj Washington for 29 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 14, Louisville 7
Louisville Punt, 3 plays
8:071st & 10 at own 35Denis Lynch kickoff for 58 yds , Isaac Guerendo return for 19 yds to the LOU 26
7:501st & 10 at own 26Jack Plummer pass complete to Jadon Thompson for 5 yds to the LOU 31
7:242nd & 5 at own 31Jack Plummer pass incomplete to Chris Bell
7:173rd & 5 at own 31Jack Plummer pass incomplete to Jadon Thompson
7:094th & 5 at own 31Hodges,Brady punt 0 yards to the LOU31 blocked by Hudson,Kyron, out of bounds at LOU18.
USC Touchdown, 2 plays
7:031st & 10 at opp 18Miller Moss pass incomplete to Zachariah Branch
6:392nd & 10 at opp 18Moss, Miller pass incomplete to Branch, Zachariah, PENALTY LOUISVILLE holding 9 yards to the LOUISVILLE9, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN USC.
6:301st & goal at opp 9Miller Moss pass complete to Kyron Hudson for 9 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 21, Louisville 7
Louisville Touchdown, 9 plays
6:301st & 10 at own 35Denis Lynch kickoff for 57 yds , Isaac Guerendo return for 19 yds to the LOU 27
6:101st & 10 at own 27Isaac Guerendo run for 32 yds to the USC 41 for a 1ST down
5:401st & 10 at opp 41Jack Plummer pass complete to Jimmy Calloway for 8 yds to the USC 33
5:002nd & 2 at opp 33Isaac Guerendo run for 2 yds to the USC 31 for a 1ST down
4:401st & 10 at opp 31Jack Plummer pass complete to Ahmari Huggins-Bruce for 7 yds to the USC 24
4:062nd & 3 at opp 24Isaac Guerendo run for 4 yds to the USC 20 for a 1ST down
3:301st & 10 at opp 20Isaac Guerendo run for 7 yds to the USC 13
2:542nd & 3 at opp 13Isaac Guerendo run for 2 yds to the USC 11
2:303rd & 1 at opp 11Isaac Guerendo run for 2 yds to the USC 9 for a 1ST down
1:561st & goal at opp 9Evan Conley run for 9 yds for a TD (Nick Lopez KICK)USC 21, Louisville 14
USC Touchdown, 5 plays
1:561st & 10 at own 35Brock Travelstead kickoff for 40 yds fair catch by Tahj Washington at the USC 4
1:501st & 10 at own 25Miller Moss pass complete to Zachariah Branch for 12 yds to the USC 37 for a 1ST down
1:451st & 10 at own 37Miller Moss pass complete to Austin Jones for 6 yds to the USC 43
1:202nd & 4 at own 43Miller Moss pass complete to Tahj Washington for 24 yds to the LOU 33 for a 1ST down
0:571st & 10 at opp 33Miller Moss run for 2 yds to the LOU 31
0:192nd & 8 at opp 31Miller Moss pass complete to Ja’Kobi Lane for 31 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 28, Louisville 14
Louisville End of half, 1 play
0:192nd & 8 at own 35Denis Lynch kickoff for 54 yds , Kevin Coleman return for 29 yds to the LOU 40
0:001st & 10 at own 40Jack Plummer sacked by Jamil Muhammad and Tyrone Taleni for a loss of 10 yards to the LOU 30
3rd quarter5 drives, then USC 35, Louisville 21
Louisville Punt, 3 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Tyler Robles kickoff for 65 yds , Kevin Coleman return for 21 yds to the LOU 21
14:451st & 10 at own 21Jack Plummer pass complete to Chris Bell for 3 yds to the LOU 24
14:272nd & 7 at own 24Jack Plummer pass incomplete to Ahmari Huggins-Bruce
14:153rd & 7 at own 24Jack Plummer run for 3 yds to the LOU 27
13:394th & 4 at own 27Brady Hodges punt for 38 yds , Zachariah Branch returns for 23 yds to the LOU 42
USC Interception, 3 plays
13:301st & 10 at opp 42Austin Jones run for 2 yds to the LOU 40
12:402nd & 8 at opp 40Miller Moss pass complete to Carson Tabaracci for 32 yds to the LOU 8 for a 1ST down
12:241st & goal at opp 8Miller Moss pass intercepted Quincy Riley return for 61 yds to the USC 39
Louisville Touchdown, 6 plays
12:201st & 10 at opp 39Isaac Guerendo run for 19 yds to the USC 20 for a 1ST down
12:151st & 10 at opp 20Isaac Guerendo run for 3 yds to the USC 17
12:112nd & 7 at opp 17Jack Plummer run for 5 yds to the USC 12 Louisville Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the USC 22
10:302nd & 12 at opp 22Jack Plummer pass complete to Isaac Guerendo for 20 yds to the USC 2 for a 1ST down
10:081st & goal at opp 2Isaac Guerendo run for 1 yd to the USC 1
9:432nd & goal at opp 1Isaac Guerendo run for 1 yd for a TD (Nick Lopez KICK)USC 28, Louisville 21
USC Touchdown, 11 plays
9:432nd & 9 at own 35Brock Travelstead kickoff for 43 yds , Justin Dedich return for 10 yds to the USC 45 Louisville Penalty, Illegal Block (-15 Yards) to the USC 47
9:401st & 10 at own 47Miller Moss pass incomplete
9:302nd & 10 at own 47Quinten Joyner run for a loss of 2 yards to the USC 45
8:503rd & 12 at own 45Miller Moss pass complete to Ja’Kobi Lane for 17 yds to the LOU 38 for a 1ST down
8:401st & 10 at opp 38Miller Moss pass complete to Tahj Washington for 2 yds to the LOU 36
8:002nd & 8 at opp 36Miller Moss pass incomplete to Zachariah Branch
7:543rd & 8 at opp 36Timeout USC, clock 07:54
7:403rd & 8 at opp 36Miller Moss pass complete to Austin Jones for 14 yds to the LOU 22 for a 1ST down
7:151st & 10 at opp 22Miller Moss pass complete to Tahj Washington for 6 yds to the LOU 16
7:002nd & 4 at opp 16Miller Moss pass complete to Austin Jones for 3 yds to the LOU 13
6:053rd & 1 at opp 13Austin Jones run for no gain to the LOU 13
5:104th & 1 at opp 13Jake Jensen run for 1 yd to the LOU 12 for a 1ST down
4:511st & 10 at opp 12Miller Moss pass complete to Ja’Kobi Lane for 12 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 35, Louisville 21
Louisville Touchdown, 12 plays
4:511st & 10 at own 35Tyler Robles kickoff for 58 yds , Kevin Coleman return for 21 yds to the LOU 28
4:301st & 10 at own 28Isaac Guerendo run for 8 yds to the LOU 36
4:052nd & 2 at own 36Isaac Guerendo run for no gain to the LOU 36
3:303rd & 2 at own 36Isaac Guerendo run for 27 yds to the USC 37 for a 1ST down
2:561st & 10 at opp 37Timeout Louisville, clock 02:56
2:471st & 10 at opp 37Jack Plummer sacked by Bryson Shaw and Elijah Hughes for a loss of 5 yards to the USC 42
2:102nd & 15 at opp 42Isaac Guerendo run for 7 yds to the USC 35 for a 1ST down USC Penalty, Face Mask (15 yards) (Mason Cobb) to the USC 20 for a 1ST down
1:501st & 10 at opp 20Jack Plummer pass complete to Chris Bell for 6 yds to the USC 14
1:152nd & 4 at opp 14Isaac Guerendo run for 2 yds to the USC 12
0:103rd & 2 at opp 12Jack Plummer pass complete to Nate Kurisky for 1 yd to the USC 11
Q4 14:554th & 1 at opp 11Jack Plummer run for 1 yd to the USC 10 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:201st & goal at opp 10Evan Conley run for 4 yds to the USC 6
Q4 13:352nd & goal at opp 6Jack Plummer pass complete to Nate Kurisky for 2 yds to the USC 4
Q4 13:013rd & 0 at opp 4Timeout Louisville, clock 13:01
Q4 13:003rd & 0 at opp 4Plummer, Jack pass incomplete, PENALTY USC holding (Brown, Prophet) 2 yards to the USC2, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN LOUISVILLE.
Q4 12:511st & goal at opp 2Isaac Guerendo run for 2 yds for a TD (Nick Lopez KICK)USC 35, Louisville 28
4th quarter4 drives, then USC 42, Louisville 28
USC Touchdown, 7 plays
12:511st & 10 at own 35Brock Travelstead kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
12:501st & 10 at own 25Austin Jones run for 1 yd to the USC 26
12:142nd & 9 at own 26Austin Jones run for 6 yds to the USC 32
11:403rd & 3 at own 32Miller Moss pass complete to Kyron Hudson for 7 yds to the USC 39 for a 1ST down
10:581st & 10 at own 39Miller Moss pass incomplete
10:482nd & 10 at own 39Miller Moss pass incomplete to Dorian Singer
10:403rd & 10 at own 39Miller Moss pass complete to Tahj Washington for 17 yds to the LOU 44 for a 1ST down
10:001st & 10 at opp 44Miller Moss pass complete to Duce Robinson for 44 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 42, Louisville 28
Louisville Turnover on downs, 10 plays
10:001st & 10 at own 35Tyler Robles kickoff for 51 yds , Kevin Coleman return for 17 yds to the LOU 31
9:451st & 10 at own 31Jack Plummer pass complete to Isaac Guerendo for 7 yds to the LOU 38
9:182nd & 3 at own 38Isaac Guerendo run for 8 yds to the LOU 46 for a 1ST down
8:551st & 10 at own 46Jack Plummer pass complete to Isaac Guerendo for 9 yds to the USC 45
8:302nd & 1 at opp 45Maurice Turner run for 10 yds to the USC 35 for a 1ST down
7:501st & 10 at opp 35Maurice Turner run for 3 yds to the USC 32
7:192nd & 7 at opp 32Jack Plummer pass complete to Chris Bell for 12 yds to the USC 20 for a 1ST down
6:301st & 10 at opp 20Jack Plummer pass complete to Maurice Turner for 5 yds to the USC 15
6:102nd & 5 at opp 15Maurice Turner run for a loss of 2 yards to the USC 17
5:303rd & 7 at opp 17Jack Plummer pass complete to Isaac Guerendo for 1 yd to the USC 16
4:484th & 6 at opp 16Jack Plummer pass complete to Jadon Thompson for 4 yds to the USC 12
USC Punt, 5 plays
4:401st & 10 at own 12Austin Jones run for 1 yd to the USC 13
3:552nd & 9 at own 13Austin Jones run for 35 yds to the USC 48 for a 1ST down
3:061st & 10 at own 48Austin Jones run for no gain to the USC 48
2:262nd & 10 at own 48Austin Jones run for a loss of 1 yard to the USC 47
2:263rd & 11 at own 47Timeout Louisville, clock 02:26
2:053rd & 11 at own 47Austin Jones run for 9 yds to the LOU 44
1:394th & 2 at opp 44Timeout USC, clock 01:39
1:324th & 2 at opp 44Eddie Czaplicki punt for 31 yds, fair catch by Kevin Coleman at the LOU 13
1:251st & 10 at own 13Jack Plummer pass complete to Jadon Thompson for 11 yds Jadon Thompson fumbled, recovered by USC Mason Cobb , return for 3 yds to the LOU 21
USC Result not recorded, 2 plays
1:001st & 10 at opp 21TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the LOU 23
0:012nd & 12 at opp 23TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the LOU 25

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.

The series

Every Louisville–USC game

USC leads 1–⁠0 in their only meeting.

Around this game

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