The last time Texas and USC played each other was in the 2005 BCS National Championship game. In a historic game, Vince Young led the Longhorns past Reggie Bush and the Trojans to win 41-38 in the Rose Bowl.

While Texas had Matthew McConaughey on the sideline in his burnt orange cheering on the Longhorns, USC was focused on getting over their 17-3 loss to Stanford in the week prior. USC opened up the game with a touchdown on their first drive. Stephen Carr ran up the middle through several defenders for 23 yards to get the Trojans on the board first. Texas responded with a field goal on their first drive. With 0:33 left in the first quarter, USC scored again, this time a three yard run from Vavae Malepeai to put USC up 14-3. Things were looking up for USC. This would be the last time they find the end zone though. Texas scores their first touchdown in the beginning of the second quarter with a pass from Sam Ehlinger to Lil’Jordan Humphrey for 47 yards for a touchdown. Humphrey caught the ball, spun around the defender and used his speed to get past several USC defenders to reach the end zone. Texas hit another field goal to make the score 14-13, USC still in the lead. The Trojans had a couple chance to change the momentum of the game with about six minutes left in the second quarter. USC had 4^th and Goal on the Texas 1-yard line and went for it, but fell short. Now Texas had the ball on the Texas 1. USC sacks Ehlinger in the end zone for a safety, that could have been a big turning point in the game. After review, officials overruled the play and said Ehlinger made it out of the end zone, therefore it was not a safety. Texas now still kept the momentum and had another chance after a roughing the kicker penalty against USC which gave Texas another first down. Texas ended the half with a field goal as time expired to head into the locker room with a 14-16 lead. It was all Texas in the second half. Texas opens up the second half with a beautiful 27 yard pass from Ehlinger to Joshua Moore to extend their lead to 14-23. With 6:25 left in the third, USC attempts a 46-yard field goal. The kick is blocked by Anthony Wheeler and returned for a touchdown, to make the score 14-30. That play really made this Texas’s game now.  With 1:42 left in the third, Ehlinger ran the ball four yards for a Longhorn touchdown. The score was 14-37 and ended that way.

Texas made a statement this weekend against USC. Even though USC had 322 passing yards, Texas held them to -5 rushing yards in the game. Texas wasn’t on anyone’s radar this season, but if they keep playing like they did this weekend, they could make a run in the Big 12.