ASU carried a 13-point lead late in the fourth quarter against No. 20 USC that was created by forcing turnovers and establishing a strong running game.
However, the Trojans capitalized on multiple opportunities late and snatched a 28-27 win away from the Sun Devils, a game that ASU head coach Herm Edwards said his team "didn't finish."
ASU led 27-14 with 3:05 left to play when USC faced a fourth-and-13 at the ASU 26-yard line. But, an ASU offsides penalty just before the snap gave a free play to USC sophomore quarterback Kedon Slovis, and he chose to take a shot at the end zone.
Two ASU defenders covered the pass to junior wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown well, leading him to tip the ball up in the air. However, redshirt freshman receiver Bru McCoy was there to receive the tipped ball in the end zone, bringing USC within six points after an extra point.
A bad break for ASU got even rougher when USC recovered an onside kick immediately after. The Sun Devils needed to keep the Trojans, who had no timeouts, out of the end zone.
After ASU forced USC to a fourth-and-9 in the red zone, Slovis delivered a strike to sophomore wide receiver Drake London for the game-tying touchdown, with a made extra point allowing USC to take the lead.
ASU then failed to get into field goal range in the final 1:20 to possibly take the lead, erasing 57 minutes of strong play from ASU prior to USC's two scores.
"I told them, 'We have to learn how to finish,'" Edwards said. "We played a lot of young guys today, and you could see the nerves."
Injuries to a few ASU veterans, such as redshirt senior cornerback Jack Jones, graduate student receiver Frank Darby and graduate student defensive back DeAndre Pierce, put underclassmen in big spots.
"Whoever is in there is capable, so it shouldn't matter, we just have to execute," ASU senior safety Evan Fields said.
ASU built its lead by forcing three fumbles and an interception from USC and stopped two of its first three fourth-down conversion attempts. Three of the four turnovers came in ASU territory, including a goal-line fumble by USC redshirt senior running back Vavae Malepeai.
On offense, new offensive coordinator Zak Hill's unit rushed for 258 yards. ASU sophomore quarterback Jayden Daniels rushed for 111 yards, the fifth 100-yard rushing game by a quarterback in school history.
ASU freshman running back Chip Trayanum ran for 84 yards and two touchdowns, while junior running back Rachaad White ran for 76 yards and was the Sun Devils' leading receiver in his Pac-12 debut. The two backs' differing styles were on display, as White showed off strong vision and speed while Trayanum brought power.
"I was really proud of the backs," Hill said. "I thought they ran hard, they ran physical."
The Sun Devils' pass attack was less successful. Daniels often did not have much time to throw, only completing 11 of 23 passes. Daniels was without his most experienced receiver, Darby, for the second half due to a rib injury.
"We didn't get enough out of our passing game," Edwards said. "We played a lot of guys without a lot of experience, but they're going to grow."
Both of ASU's freshman receivers, Johnny Wilson and LV Bunkley-Shelton, struggled. Wilson dropped multiple passes and Bunkley-Shelton fumbled the ball in the second quarter.
ASU has the week to regroup before its home opener against Cal next week. The game's start time is to be determined.
Reach the reporter at alexjweiner@gmail.com and follow @alexjweiner on Twitter.
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