USC vs. Arizona State: live game coverage

USC 38, Arizona State 17 (38 seconds left in fourth quarter)

No Silas Redd? No problem.

Curtis McNeal just capped a huge day with a 27-yard touchdown run, giving him 163 yards rushing in the game and three touchdowns –- two running and one after a reception.

People will see the score and figure USC cruised.

Not exactly.

After trailing, 17-14, the Trojans have scored 24 consecutive points.

USC 31, Arizona State 17 (5:08 left in fourth quarter)

USC has extended its lead with a 26-yard field goal by Andre Heidari, a score set up by -- who else? -- Marqise Lee.

Lee moved the Trojans within range with a scrambling, cross-field 38-yard run.

He has run six times for 66 yards and has 10 receptions for 161 yards.

USC 28, Arizona State 17 (end of third quarter)

Curtis McNeal caught a short pass and turned it into a 22-yard scoring play with 19 seconds left in the quarter to put the Trojans ahead by 11.

McNeal, a senior tailback, also has rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown.

USC defensive end Wes Horton helped set up the touchdown when he sacked quarterback Michael Eubank on a fourth-and-one play at the Trojans’ 39-yard line.

USC drove 52 yards in nine plays for the touchdown.

Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley has completed 18 of 28 passes for 214 yards and three toucchdowns, with three interceptions.

Marqise Lee has nine catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. He also has rushed for 28 yards in five carries.

USC 21, Arizona State 17 (8:49 left in the third quarter)

Tailback Curtis McNeal scored on a five-yard run to give the Trojans lead.

It was the senior’s fifth carry during a nine-play, 59-yard drive.

With Silas Redd apparently sidelined, McNeal has rushed for 86 yards in 16 carries.

The Trojans have outgained the Sun Devils, 269-199.

Arizona State 17, USC 14 (12:33 left in the third quarter)

Matt Barkley said this week that his goal was to not throw an interception the rest of the season.

Barkley’s first pass of the second half was intercepted by end Carl Bradford, the third time Barkley has had a pass intercepted in the game.

The Sun Devils drove to USC’s four-yard line, but they had to settle for Jon Mora’s 29-yard field goal.

Barkley has completed 13 of 21 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

USC 14, Arizona State 14 (halftime)

Tight end Xavier Grimble caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Matt Barkley with 35 seconds left in the first half to tie the score.

The touchdown concluded a 13-play, 79-yard drive.

But it was not a stellar first half for the Trojans, who were booed several times after turnovers or stalled drives.

USC has outgained the Sun Devils, 210 yards to 174.

Barkley has completed 13 of 20 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns but he’s had two passes intercepted.

Receiver Marqise Lee has seven catches for 136 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown.

Tailback Curtis McNeal has rushed for 50 yards in 11 carries.

Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly has completed nine of 12 passes for 98 yards and touchdown, with one interception.

Arizona State 14, USC 7 (11:15 left in the second quarter)

Arizona State safety Alden Darby intercepted a Matt Barkley pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown.

Barkley was attempting to pass the ball to Marqise Lee, who lined up in the backfield and went into motion to the left. But Darby read the play perfectly.

USC wasted an opportunity after safety T.J. McDonald intercepted a pass early in the quarter.

An apparent touchdown catch by Robert Woods was nullified by a pass intereference penalty against the Trojans receiver, setting the stage for Darby’s pick six.

Barkley has completed six of 11 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown but he’s had two passes intercepted.

USC 7, Arizona State 7, (end of the first quarter)

Receiver Marqise Lee turned a mid-range pass from quarterback Matt Barkley into an 80-yard touchdown with 1:24 left in the first quarter to pull the Trojans even.

It was a lone bright spot for an offense that failed to convert its three third-down opportunities of the opening quarter.

The Trojans had a chance to keep the momentum when Tony Burnett caused a fumble on the ensuing kickoff.

But Barkley’s pass on the first play was intercepted by safety Chris Young.

Barkley has completed five of eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown but had one pass intercepted.

Lee has three catches for 104 yards.

Arizona State has outgained the Trojans, 142 yards to 105.

Sun Devils quarterback Taylor Kelly has completed six of eight passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. He has rushed for 23 yards in seven carries.

Arizona State 7, USC 0 (10:51 left in the first quarter)

It looks kind of familiar.

Arizona State’s spread offense is going up and down the field and USC is giving the Sun Devils opportunity.

The Trojans stopped the Sun Devils on downs at their 25-yard line, but Marqise Lee fumbled after catching a pass on USC’s first offensive play.

Arizona State capitalized with a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Taylor Kelly to receiver Chris Coyle.

Pregame

Nearing kickoff here on a cool and breezy day at the Coliseum where USC is getting ready to play Arizona State.

The noon kickoff is the earliest for USC since 1998.

A few hours ago, a representative from the Sun Bowl distributed brochures in the press box. But the Trojans still have a shot at the Rose Bowl if they can defeat the Sun Devils, UCLA and win the Pac-12 championship game.

USC’s defense got embarrassed last week, giving up a school-record 730 yards and 62 points in a 62-51 loss to second-ranked Oregon.

Coach Lane Kiffin said receiver Marqise Lee might play defense today, though that move smacks more of an opportunity to bolster Lee’s Heisman Trophy chances rather than a fix for the defense.