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USC beats Stanford 31-28 for Pac-12 title

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No. 10 USC defeated No. 12 Stanford 31-28 in the Pac-12 championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

USC claims Pac-12 title with 31-28 defeat of Stanford

In the shadow of its own goal line, backed up against the cardinal of the USC logo splashed across the end zone, USC’s defense faced a goal-line stand of unusual length: six plays.

Stanford had seized the momentum in the fourth quarter of the Pac-12 Conference championship game on Friday at Levi’s Stadium. Up three points, USC was in danger of ceding the lead. Stanford drove all the way to the three-yard line.

What followed was a sequence of questionable USC decision-making, of brief flashes of dominant, physical football and a rabbit-out-of-the-hat, game-saving play.

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USC holds on for 31-28 win over Stanford in Pac-12 football championship game

After Stanford scored with 2 minutes and 9 seconds left to pull within three points, the Cardinal tried on onside kick.

Which didn’t work. The ball bounced out of bounds, and the Trojans took over at the Stanford 40.

Three plays later, USC was faced with a fourth-and-one, and Sam Darnold found Josh Falo for a 15-yard gain and the game was over.

USC has won its first Pac-12 football championship game and is likely headed to the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 30 in Glendale, Ariz.

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No quit in the Cardinal; Costello’s passing pulls Stanford to within 31-28

Every time USC earns a little breathing room and Stanford looks like it might be crumbling, the Cardinal strike back.

Quarterback K.J. Costello completed four passes for 107 yards on what was officially a 90-yard scoring drive.

That’s just what a quarterback has to do to overcome penalties and stuffed runs.

Costello hooked up with Kaden Smith on two 28-yard gains, the second of which went for a touchdown with 2:09 left in tonight’s Pac-12 Conference championship game.

He also connected with JJ Arcega-Whiteside for a 45-yard gain.

Costello has completed 10 of 22 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns.

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So maybe father knows best about Pittman; USC leads 31-21 in fourth quarter

Michael Pittman was frustrated. We assume Michael Pittman Jr. was, but it was his father who was talking about a transfer if his son wasn’t going to play more for USC.

Michael Jr. started the next game, against Arizona State on Oct. 28. Coincidence?

Any Trojans football fan would tell you it doesn’t matter at this point.

Pittman recently has become a big playmaker for USC, and never bigger than in tonight’s Pac-12 Conference football championship game.

After a goal-line stand and a huge fourth-down tackle by Uchenna Nwosu, USC was pinned back at its own 1.

A run by Ronald Jones moved the ball to the 2. On the next play, Sam Darnold was deep in his own end zone, looking toward the right side of the field, when he suddenly spotted Pittman break free to his left.

Pittman had been covered by Justin Reid, but when Reid stumbled and fell down, Pittman was open and Darnold found him for a 54-yard gain.

And he found him again on the next play for a 12-yard gain, then Darnold hooked up with Deontay Burnett for a nine-yard gain that brought the ball to the Stanford 23.

At which point the Trojans turned the ball over to Jones: for a run of six, then another of six, then one for three, and finally an eight-yard burst for a touchdown.

The score came with 4:22 left in the fourth quarter.

Jones has 132 yards and two touchdowns in 27 carries. Darnold has completed 16 of 23 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns.

Pittman has seven catches for 146 yards.

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USC makes goal-line stand to hold 24-21 lead in fourth quarter

We’re in the fourth quarter in the Pac-12 Conference football championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and the team that is playing its second game in six days is taking a run at the team that has had nearly two weeks to practice and rest.

Stanford pinned USC back at the Trojans’ own 11 with a punt. USC then couldn’t move at all, with quarterback Sam Darnold taking a sack at the 3-yard line.

Which was followed by a 30-yard punt from Reid Budrovich, giving the Cardinal the ball at the USC 33.

From there, back-to-back runs by Bryce Love gained 11 yards and gave the Cardinal a first down.

But Love, who has been playing with a high-ankle sprain, then limped to the sideline.

Cameron Scarlett gained five yards on a run, and then quarterback K.J. Costello scrambled for 14 and a first down to the USC 3.

But then Stanford took a delay of game penalty, moving the ball back to the 8.

Love was back on the field for the next play and got the ball but was stuffed for a three-yard loss.

On the next play, Costello threw an incomplete pass in the end zone, but USC’s John Houston was called for hitting the quarterback in the helmet after the play.

That gave Stanford an automatic first down at the 6.

Love was stopped for no gain, then gained four yards on a run but again limped off the field.

On third and goal, Cameron Scarlett gained one yard, moving the ball to the 1.

And on fourth down and goal, Scarlett got the call again, but USC’s Uchenna Nwosu bolted in from his end position and caught the running back around the ankles, felling him for no gain.

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USC survives game’s first turnover, leads Stanford, 24-21, after three quarters

USC survived its first turnover of the Pac-12 Conference championship game as the Trojans held after Stanford recovered a fumble by Stephen Carr.

Carr ripped off a 20-yard run but lost the ball when he was stripped by Alameen Murphy. Justin Reid covered for the Cardinal at the USC 45.

But Stanford couldn’t move from there, and in fact lost 17 yards on a play in which K.J. Costello through an incomplete backward pass that was ruled a fumble.

USC has the ball pinned back at its own 11 to begin the fourth quarter.

The Trojans are seeking their first win in a Pac-12 football championship game.

This is only the second time USC has qualified for the game.

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Stanford and Love strike back; USC lead trimmed to 24-21 late in third quarter

So Bryce Love limps off after a Stanford possession, and you feel a little sorry for a guy who is clearly not entirely himself because of a high ankle sprain.

The the next time he touches the ball he rips off a 52-yard run.

And three plays after that, Stanford is in the end zone after an 11-yard scoring pass from K.J. Costello to Kaden Smith.

Just like that, Love has run for 114 yards in 17 carries.

Ronald Jones has run for 108 yards in 21 carries for USC.

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USC’s offense, and Tee Martin, are looking good; Trojans lead, 24-14 midway through third quarter.

Tee Martin, USC’s offensive coordinator, is considered to be a candidate to become head coach at his alma mater, now that his former coach, Phillip Fulmer, has become the athletic director at Tennessee.

Martin played for Tennessee from 1996-99, and led the Volunteers to the 1998 Bowl Championship Series title.

If tonight’s Pac-12 Conference championship game is any kind of audition, Martin has to feel pretty good about his chances.

USC’s offense has been clicking most of the game – even through some penalty problems.

The Trojans have pushed their lead back to double digits with a six-play, 61-yard drive in which Martin went back to a pass play twice within five plays.

The first time, quarterback Sam Darnold under-threw Steven Mitchell, and the pass was nearly intercepted.

A few plays later, Martin went back to the same play and this time Mitchell was so wide open that even though Darnold’s pass was again short, he came back to make the catch at the Stanford 1.

On the next play, Ronald Jones ran in for a touchdown. USC leads, 24-14.

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Stanford, without all the Love it needs, struggling to move the ball against USC

Bryce Love is a tremendous runner, and he’s been giving it his best for several weeks now playing with a high ankle sprain.

But he’s clearly not the explosive threat he has been when completely healthy.

Love got the ball on each of Stanford’s plays in its last series, and the Cardinal went three plays and out, ending up a yard short of a first down.

Love has run for 55 yards in 15 carries as USC holds a 17-14 lead midway through the third quarter.

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USC dominates the halftime stats sheet, but not the scoreboard; Trojans lead, 17-14

USC has a healthy edge over Stanford in total yardage, 265-140.

USC has an edge in time of possession, 17 minutes 19 seconds to 12:41.

USC’s Sam Darnold has the edge over K.J. Costello. Darnold has completed 10 of 15 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Costello has completed five of nine for 76 yards.

USC’s Ronald Jones II has the edge over Bryce Love. Jones has rushed for 75 yards in 15 carries. Love has 37 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries.

But USC’s lead on the scoreboard is just 17-14, and Stanford gets the ball to start the second half.

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Stanford needs a score and gets it; USC leads, 17-14, at halftime

One long pass and Stanford, which has been outplayed for most of the first half, is right back in the game.

The Cardinal pulled to within three points of USC after a 42-yard pass from K.J. Costello to JJ Arcega-Whiteside gave Stanford new life.

Stanford had been struggling to sustain any offense when Costello threw into double coverage, slightly under-threw his receiver, and still managed to connect because USC safety Marvell Tell III, who was covering with Jack Jones, overran the play.

The pass moved the ball to the USC 4, and Cameron Scarlett covered the final yardage on two carries. The touchdown came with 34 seconds remaining in the half.

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Big plays equal long scoring drive; USC leads Stanford, 17-7, late in second quarter

Ajene Harris put USC in a hole, and Sam Darnold & Co. climbed out in style.

Harris fielded a Stanford punt inside the USC 10-yard line, then retreated and was tackled at the 3.

But Darnold connected with Michael Pittman Jr. on a 40-yard pass in a third-and-six situation; Ronald Jones bolted up the middle for a 26-yard gain; and Tyler Vaughns turned a one-on-one situation near the sideline into a 20-yard touchdown.

It took USC just seven plays and 2 minutes 44 seconds to cover the 97 yards.

On the scoring play, Darnold zipped a pass to Vaughns near the right sideline. The receiver, one-on-one with Stanford defender Alameen Murphy, slipped his tackle attempt and sprinted toward the end zone, diving just inside the pylon for the touchdown.

USC has a 260-65 edge in total yardage. Darnold has completed 10 of 15 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Pittman has five receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown.

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USC defense looks strong; Trojans lead Stanford, 10-7, midway through second quarter

Midway through the second quarter, USC leads Stanford, 10-7, and also holds a big advantage in yardage, 163-65.

Sam Darnold has completed seven of 11 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Michael Pittman Jr. has four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. Ronald Jones II has run for 36 yards in 11 carries.

However, the Trojans have been penalized six times for 55 yards compared with Stanford’s three for 38.

And Ajene Harris put USC in a hole after a Stanford punt, fielding the ball inside the Trojans’ 10 and then retreating to where he was tackled at the 3.

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Stanford jab leads to USC score; Trojans lead, 10-7, in second quarter

USC is among the most penalized teams in major college football, but an unsportsmanlike call on Stanford helped put the Trojans in field goal range and Chase McGrath converted from 24 yards out.

Stanford’s defense had stuffed Stephen Carr for a one-yard gain on third-and-two, leaving USC a yard short of a first down.

But Jordan Perez was called for jabbing at USC tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe after the play was over, giving the Trojans a first down.

The 15-yard penalty moved the ball to the Stanford 12, but USC’s drive stalled there and the Trojans had to settle for the field goal.

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Stanford gets break and ties score, 7-7

A quick whistle helped Stanford tie the score, 7-7, on the first play of the second quarter.

Stanford had the ball on the USC 7-yard line, and quarterback K.J. Costello handed the ball to Bryce Love, who was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage.

Love was on his way to the turf when he lost the ball, and USC recovered.

But game officials whistled the play dead when they said Love’s forward progress was stopped. The play, as called, was not subject to review.

Love lost two yards on the play, but the Cardinal kept the ball, and Love burst up the middle and into the end zone on the next play.

Stanford drove 68 yards and was aided by a pass interference call on USC’s Jack Jones who was defending JJ Arcega-Whiteside.

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Sam Darnold shows why he could be a top NFL draft pick; USC leads Stanford, 7-0

Sam Darnold won’t win the Heisman Trophy this season, but he might win a championship if he keeps playing like he did in USC’s second drive in the Pac-12 Conference title game.

Darnold connected with Michael Pittman Jr. on a seven-yard scoring pass to complete a nine-play, 70-yard drive.

With one small hiccup, Darnold was at his best, completing a nice touch pass to tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe for a 48-yard gain to spark the march.

Imatorbhebhe was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the end of the play when he pushed off the helmet of Stanford defender Frank Buncom.

Three plays later, facing a fourth-and-six situation, Darnold scrambled away from the bull rush of Stanford tackle Harrison Phillips and picked up seven yards and a first down.

The gain came on the next play after Darnold and Ronald Jones II missed a handoff. It wasn’t clear which player was at fault, but Jones sent for the handoff on one side of the quarterback, and Darnold turned the opposite direction.

Darnold hooked up with Steven Mitchell for a 17-yard gain to give the Trojans a first and goal.

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USC moves into Stanford territory but stalls in first possession

USC got the ball first in tonight’s Pac-12 Conference football championship game, and the Trojans drove the ball.

Just not long enough.

The Trojans picked up three first downs, including a third-and-three conversion that showed why freshman Stephen Carr is so highly rated.

Carr caught a short Sam Darnold pass behind the line of scrimmage toward the right sideline and found himself one on one against Stanford defender Joey Alfieri.

Alfieri was nearly faked out of his shoes by a couple of nifty moves by Carr and the Trojans got the first down easily.

But the drive stalled after that, when Darnold misfired on a couple of passes.

After a short punt, Stanford took over at its own 19, but went three and out.

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Predictions are in for Pac-12 football title game

Los Angeles Times staffers attending, blogging or otherwise paying close attention to tonight’s Pac-12 Conference football championship game are leaning toward USC as the winner. But there are a couple of holdouts who think it’s tough to defeat a good team twice in the same college football season.

Zach Helfand, who is covering his final USC football game for The Times tonight, picks the Trojans to defeat Stanford, 35-31. And that’s the same score by which columnist Bill Plaschke picks a USC win.

UCLA beat reporter Ben Bolch, who also is reporting from tonight’s game, has Stanford winning, 28-24.

I’ll be blogging the game from Los Angeles, and I have the Cardinal winning, 24-23.

Sports editor Angel Rodriguez, a die-hard Texas fan for what that’s worth, is picking USC, 27-14. And David Wharton, who covers the national college football scene for The Times, has the Trojans winning, 24-21.

There’s also this from Chris Dufresne, who for years was The Times’ college football national columnist and resident expert: He’s taking USC, 31-23, even though his wife is a Stanford grad.

Now THAT’S gambling.

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Good seats still available!

With about 40 minutes until the scheduled kickoff of the Pac-12 Conference football championship game, players from USC and Stanford are on the field and stretching, according to Times reporter Zach Helfand.

Most fans have yet to enter Levi’s Stadium, which will not be near capacity. The entire top deck of 68,500-seat stadium has been blocked off with a tarp.

The travel, short notice and Friday night kickoff makes the game a tough draw each year. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said the Friday night title games draw better television ratings, though, because there is no other college football competition.

The other Power Five conference title games will be played Saturday.

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How USC and Stanford match up

USC defensive tackle Josh Fatu, left, celebrates a sack of Stanford quarterback Keller Chryst at the Coliseum on Sept. 9.
USC defensive tackle Josh Fatu, left, celebrates a sack of Stanford quarterback Keller Chryst at the Coliseum on Sept. 9.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Marquee matchup

USC offensive line vs. Stanford’s front seven: If USC had rushed the ball every game the way it did against Stanford in September, the Trojans would be undefeated. USC rushed 48 times for 307 yards. “That USC game kind of exposed us,” linebacker Peter Kalambayi said. But USC was unimpressive last game, with 153 yards rushing in 41 carries against a weak UCLA run defense. And Stanford has tightened some. The Cardinal has given up 134 yards, on average, in its last four games.

Getting offensive

USC (488.6 ypg/34.8 ppg): Quarterback Sam Darnold is back to his usual self. In October and November, he averaged 296 passing yards per game and threw 15 touchdown passes to only three interceptions. Ronald Jones II has seen a big bump in workload. In his last four games, he averaged 24.5 rushes and 168.5 yards with eight touchdowns.

Stanford (394.1 ypg/32.3 ppg): Stanford’s offense has evolved since K.J. Costello became the starting quarterback four games ago. He has completed 59% of his passes and averages 169 yards per game as the starter. Against Notre Dame last week, he threw four touchdown passes. And he has only two interceptions all season.

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For USC, the Pac-12 championship game offers a chance for a title and a case for calm

USC safety Chris Hawkins trips Stanford receiver Ty Montgomery for a short gain during a game at Stanford Stadium in 2014.
USC safety Chris Hawkins trips Stanford receiver Ty Montgomery for a short gain during a game at Stanford Stadium in 2014.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Chris Hawkins pulled up his Twitter feed earlier this week, expecting to see some excitement for USC’s date in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday against Stanford.

Instead, the senior safety said, he found USC fans in a state of agitation triggered by rival UCLA’s hire of Chip Kelly as its new head coach and the ever-diminishing odds that USC would sneak into the College Football Playoff. Hawkins observed that most of the angst was focused on coach Clay Helton.

“Somebody said something about replacing Helton,” Hawkins said. “I almost had a heart attack on Twitter. I think I had to delete what I said. You’re not going to come at my coach. We’re 10-2. He has two, back-to-back 10-win seasons. Rose Bowl champion.”

For good measure, Hawkins added to Helton’s list of accomplishments, “Pac-12 going-to-be champion and then a New Year’s Six bowl.”

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As USC prepares for Stanford’s Bryce Love, the memory of Christian McCaffrey is still fresh

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey during NFL pro day on March 23.
Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey during NFL pro day on March 23.
(Eric Risberg / Associated Press)

Bryce Love stood, smiling slightly, in a throng of Stanford supporters last weekend after the Cardinal defeated Notre Dame and, thanks to a Washington State loss that same evening, advanced to the Pac-12 Conference championship game.

The mood was celebratory. It recalled a moment two seasons ago, when Christian McCaffrey was interviewed after the Rose Bowl and a nearby Stanford fan with a beaded necklace and a hand-in-the-cookie-jar grin became an internet meme by chanting over and over “Heis-man! Heis-man!”

The fans behind Love recognized the symmetry. They too started chanting “Heis-man! Heis-man!”

There was a lot of symmetry, in fact. Even the sideline reporter was the same — ESPN’s Maria Taylor. Both players involved were outstanding Stanford running backs. Both were, at one time, in the running for the Heisman Trophy. One ruined USC’s hopes at a Pac-12 title two years ago.

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Sam Darnold’s second college season has been much different than his first. Will it be his last?

USC quarterback Sam Darnold scrambles out of the pocket and away from UCLA defensive lineman Jacob Tuioti-Mariner.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Sam Darnold learned that he disliked the Cleveland Browns a few days after the rest of the world did.

He was not listening when the news originated on Colin Cowherd’s radio show in a vaguely sourced “little nugget” relayed by Sports Illustrated reporter Albert Breer. Cowherd then added an unsourced spin to the report, name-dropping the Browns. The rumor was laundered through various radio stations, blogs, websites and television debate shows until after a few days Darnold heard, for the first time, that he thought the Browns were so incompetent that he might spurn the NFL draft to avoid them.

Not long afterward, Darnold finished a practice at USC and approached his parents, who had watched the session from the sideline.

“Man,” he said to them, “have you guys heard about this whole Browns thing?”

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After USC’s first win over Stanford, the Cardinal have improved. Have the Trojans?

The USC defense, led by Rasheem Green, stops Stanford's Connor Wedington for a short gain at the Coliseum on Sept. 9.
The USC defense, led by Rasheem Green, stops Stanford’s Connor Wedington for a short gain at the Coliseum on Sept. 9.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Stanford coach David Shaw did his preliminary preparation for Friday’s Pac-12championship game against USC by rewatching film of the first time the teams played, a 42-24 USC win.

He was just as blown away as he was in September.

“They were hitting on all cylinders, especially offensively,” Shaw said. “I mean, that game, you go back to watch it again, it was just like: wow. Running it, throwing it, their pass protection was outstanding. Their quarterback was as good as you can play the position.”

USC was the physically dominant team. Shaw remarked at the time that USC had run on them like few other teams ever have. USC, in other words, played Stanford-style football better than even Stanford.

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