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STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Stanford fell to No. 10 USC, 41-28, on Saturday night in the Pac-12 opener at Stanford Stadium.
USC's Jordan Addison wound up with seven catches for 172 yards and Travis Dye ran for 105 yards and a touchdown, while the Trojans' opportunistic defense shined again with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries — four turnovers that led to 17 points.
USC (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12) didn't have a third-down play until 52 seconds before halftime and punted for the first time with 8:02 left.
Caleb Williams completed 20 of 27 — 13 of his first 15 — throws and Dye ran for a 27-yard score in a first half that featured 685 yards of offense between the teams. Williams then hit Addison for a 48-yard gain right out of halftime that set up Denis Lynch's 45-yard field goal. Lynch later missed wide left from 39 yards before hitting from 42 yards.
Early in the second quarter, Williams connected on back-to-back passes to Mario Williams — first a 43-yard completion that set up their 15-yard scoring play.
Lake McRee caught the first TD pass of the day by Williams, a 5-yarder, as the Trojans notched their second lopsided win so far after a 66-14 thumping of Rice in the season opener. With Williams' 19-for-22 performance in that one, the sophomore star has now completed 39 of 49 passes for 590 yards in two games.
USC's defense has forced eight total turnovers this season.
Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee threw an interception on his third play from scrimmage for Stanford (1-1, 0-1) that Max Williams tipped and caught before returning it 32 yards. Then McKee threw another pick Cain the end zone by Mekhi Blackmon on 4th-and-2 with a chance to tie the game.
The Cardinal capitalized on its next chance when McKee connected on a 3-yard TD pass to E.J. Smith to cap a seven-play, 93-yard drive that got Stanford within 14-7.
The Trojans answered immediately. Williams connected with Addison on a 75-yard catch and run.
Smith also ran for a 5-yard score and McKee had a 2-yard TD rush while finishing the day 20 of 25 for 220 yards passing.
After a bye week, the Cardinal visits Washington on Sept. 24.
