USC overcomes early two-touchdown deficit to beat Utah 38-28

Matt Barkley passed for 303 yards and three touchdowns and Marqise Lee had 12 receptions for 192 yards as #12 USC recovered from a dreadful start to knock off host Utah in Pac-12 action.

USC spotted Utah 14 points early before dominating the second half and handing them their second straight lost.

USC trailed by 11 points in the second quarter before Matt Barkley hit Randall Telfer on a 23-yard scoring pass and Robert Woods on a 6-yarder for a 24-21 halftime lead. Barkley connected on a career-long 83-yard scoring pass to Lee early in the fourth quarter and Nickell Robey scored on a 38-yard interception return as USC took a 17-point lead.

Utah had a 14-0 advantage before the game was even three minutes old due to two USC fumbles. A rolling center snap by Khaled Holmes that Barkley was unable to secure was returned 8 yards for a touchdown by Nate Fakahafua. Another snap miscue set up an 11-yard scoring from Jon Hays to Kenneth Scott.

Silas Redd scored on a 2-yard run to get USC on the board but Utah's lead reached 21-10 when Hays connected on an 18-yard scoring pass to DeVonte Christopher with 8:54 left in the first half.

Game Notes:

- Woods caught six passes to tie Keary Colbert for second place in USC history with 207 receptions

- Dwayne Jarrett holds the school record of 216 catches

- Jon Hays was 19 of 32 passing for 160 yards and the costly interception

- The teams were called for 27 penalties totaling 222 yards – USC drew 14 flags for 100 yards and the Utes were penalized 13 times for 122 yards

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