LSU and USC faced off on Sunday night from Las Vegas in a much-anticipated matchup between ranked teams.

The Tigers and Trojans sported two of the nation’s most exciting offenses in 2023, so fans were thrilled to watch the teams battle. The game wasn’t as high-scoring as some expected, but it was full of drama, nonetheless, and the Trojans escaped with a 27-20 victory over the Tigers.

The TV numbers are now out, and it’s safe to say the game was a smash hit. Per ESPN PR, the game received 9.2M viewers on ABC with a peak of 11.1M. It was ABC’s second-most-watched Week 1 game on record and the network’s third-best Sunday opener.

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier completed 29-of-38 passes for 304 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT. Kyren Lacy had a big game at receiver, catching 7 passes for 94 yards and 1 TD for the Tigers.

USC QB Miller Moss impressed in his 2024 debut, picking up where he left off after the 2023 Holiday Bowl. Moss completed 27-of-36 passes for 378 yards and 1 TD. Woody Marks had a big night on the ground, taking 16 carries for 68 yards and scoring twice.

Ultimately, penalties and the lone LSU turnover turned out to be the difference. The Tigers were penalized 10 times for 99 yards while the Trojans were only penalized 6 times for 50 yards.

The Trojans picked up a solid early season win to put on their resume, while the Tigers look to bounce back against the Nicholls Colonels in Week 2.