LSU football didn't fly to Las Vegas this weekend to have some fun and maybe lose a couple bucks at the Bellagio.
At least according to Will Campbell, the Tigers are off to Sin City for a fight.
"We know what we're there for. We're not there to go to Caesars Palace," Campbell said. "And everybody in this building knows it."
LSU kicks off its season against USC on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The matchup marks the start of coach Brian Kelly's third season in charge as the Tigers look to snap a four game losing streak in home openers.
It's just the third time LSU and USC have squared off on the gridiron. The last matchup came in 1984 when the Tigers upset the Trojans 23-3 in the Coliseum. But USC won the first game between the two teams in Tiger Stadium in 1979, coming back from a 12-3 fourth quarter deficit to win 17-12.
Here are live score updates from LSU's massive season opener against the Trojans.
FINAL: USC 27, LSU 20
The Trojans, after trailing 17-13, go on a 14-3 run in the fourth quarter to hand LSU its fifth consecutive opening week loss.
Fourth quarter
Nussmeier is intercepted on his first throw of the drive. USC takes over with four seconds left.
SCORE: Marks scores a touchdown on a run up the middle. After the extra point, USC lead 27-20 with eight seconds left to play.
The call on Gilbert is confirmed, which means he is ejected from the game.
Moss hits Hudson for a 20-yard completion for a first down. Jardin Gilbert then gets called for targeting on the tackle. The play is under review.
USC is nearing field goal range with 22 seconds left. Trojans have the ball at the 42-yard line.
LSU can't convert a third and 8 and is forced to settle for a 31-yard field goal. Ramos makes it to tie the score at 20 with 1:47 left to play.
Nussmeier completes another pass to Thomas. This catch goes for 12 yards, placing LSU at the USC 16-yard line.
Nussmeier hits Anderson for a 41-yard completion. Tigers are now inside the USC 30-yard line.
SCORE: Moss connects with Ja'Kobi Lane for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Trojans retake the lead, 20-17 with 5:44 left to play.
Emery is stopped on third and 1 to force a three and out. USC gets the ball back with 6:57 left to play.
Tigers lead 17-13 with 8:38 left to play.
LSU forces a turnover on downs after Jones deflects Moss' pass into the air. Weeks nearly intercepts the pass. Tigers will have the ball at their own 21-yard line after an unsportsmanlike conduct call against Major Burns.
On third and six, Whit Weeks makes a tackle for loss on a USC run to the right side. Trojans are going for it on fourth and 9 at the LSU 36-yard line.
Correction: Womack is not injured and is back in the game.
Nussmeier's throw to Josh Williams is complete but Williams is tackled short of the sticks, forcing LSU to punt it away. Todd punts it away to the USC 15-yard line.
Third quarter
Emery catches a pass and takes a carry for a combined 16 yards on back-to-back plays before the end of third quarter. LSU has the ball at its own 39-yard line.
A fumble and a penalty push back USC toward its own end zone. The Trojans are then forced to punt it away just before the start of the fourth quarter.
Injury update: Da'Shawn Womack is in street clothes with a left knee injury.
Injury update:Moss hurt his throwing hand during USC's previous drive but was in the game to start the Trojans next drive following the LSU touchdown.
SCORE: Nussmeier connects with Aaron Anderson for 13-yard completion and a touchdown. Tigers take a 17-13 lead with 3:42 left to play in the third quarter following the extra point.
Tigers are in the red zone after another productive run from Emery for 10 yards.
John Emery takes a 39-yard run up the middle to the USC 29-yard line.
LSU's second drive of the half begins at its own 22-yard line.
SCORE: Sai'vion Jones sacks Moss to force USC into a field goal attempt. This time Lantz hits the 35-yard field goal to give the Trojans the 13-10 lead.
USC picks up another third and long after a pass interference is called on PJ Woodland. Trojans are in the red zone.
The Trojans are past midfield after Moss hits Kyle Ford on third and 10 for a 41-yard gain.
USC responds by forcing a three and out. Peyton Todd comes in to punt it away to Branch who is tackled almost immediately at the USC 23-yard line.
LSU forces USC into a three and out after a host of Tigers breakup a Trojans screen pass on third and 2. Thomas returns the ensuing punt 13 yards to the LSU 28-yard line.
Second quarter
USC quickly gets to the LSU 12-yard line with two seconds left in the half, getting into field goal range for kicker Michael Lantz. But Lantz misses the 29-yard kick, keeping the score tied at halftime.
SCORE: USC stops LSU on a third and 10 at the Trojan 28-yard line. Damian Ramos comes in to kick a 45-yard field goal that he makes, tying the score at 10 with 1:08 left to play in the first half.
Tigers offense is back in business again, they're at the Trojans 32 yard line at the two-minute timeout mark. Nussmeier has completed two more throws to Lacy and one pass to Taylor on the drive.
LSU starts its next drive at the 25-yard line.
SCORE: Ashton Stamps breaks up a pass in the end zone on third and goal at the LSU 5-yard line to force the Trojans into a field goal attempt. USC retakes the lead 10-7 after the short field goal. There's 4:21 left in the first half.
There's no targeting on the field.
USC is back to the 20-yard line after a blind side block penalty is called against wide receiver Jay Fair. The play is under review for targeting.
It's first and goal for the Trojans immediately after quarterback Miller Moss hits wide receiver Duce Robinson for a 38-yard completion.
USC wide receiver Zachariah Branch returns kicker Aeron Burrell's kickoff all the way to the LSU 43-yard line. Burrell made the tackle preventing the potential touchdown. His kick was from the 20-yard line instead of the 35 because of an unsportsmanlike penalty called on Lacy after his touchdown catch.
Injury update: Parker is dealing with a shoulder injury, according to ESPN's broadcast. He has yet to re-enter the game since injuring it in the first quarter but has returned from the locker room.
SCORE: Nussmeier hits Kyren Lacy in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point is good, tying the score at seven with 7:04 left in the first half.
The Tigers are past midfield again. Nussmeier's most recent completion to CJ Daniels gets LSU out to the 33-yard line.
LSU starts its third drive at its own 2- yard line.
SCORE: USC takes the first lead of the game on a two yard run from running back Woody Marks. The extra point is good, it's 7-0 Trojans with 11 minutes left in the first half.
It's first and goal for USC after pass interference is called on Sage Ryan in the end zone.
The previous play stands upon further review.
USC is at the LSU 41-yard line after converting a third and 1 with a two yard run up the middle. Trojans wideout Kyron Hudson then makes a jaw dropping 24-yard catch that puts USC in the red zone. The catch is under review, however.
Louisiana Tech transfer Blake Ochsendorf takes the first punt of the night for LSU. Kelly said this week that he and Peyton Todd would both see action at punter against the Trojans.
DirecTV yanked ESPN from its lineup before LSU-USC. Here's how you can watch the game.
LSU will be without one of its top receivers for the season opener vs. USC
Jayden Daniels showed up for USC-LSU in Las Vegas so he could 'pass the torch'
First quarter
USC prevents LSU from converting a third and 6 into a first down just before the end of the quarter. The score is still 0-0.
Defensive coordinator Blake Baker dials up a blitz on third and 2, getting Harold Perkins into the USC backfield to disrupt a read option play. The Trojan then punt the ball back to the LSU 17-yard line after a one yard return from Zavion Thomas.
Kelly goes for it again on fourth and goal at the USC three-yard line, but this time the Tigers can't convert. Nussmeier gets blitzed and is forced to throw it away, creating the turnover on downs. The score is still 0-0 with 7:46 left in the first quarter.
LSU is in the red zone after Nussmeier completes a 13-yard pass to Mason Taylor. The Tigers then get inside the 10-yard line on a 10-yard run from Josh Williams.
The Tigers pick up a fourth and 2 to the USC 36-yard line. Garrett Nussmeier completes his fourth pass of the drive to Kyren Lacy for the three yard reception.
LSU returns the opening kickoff. Tigers will start their first possession at the 23-yard line.
Pregame updates
4:54 p.m.: Chris Hilton is not dressed for pregame warmups. The junior wide receiver was questionable throughout the week with an ankle injury. Kyle Parker is expected to start in his place.
