John LeuzziUSA TODAY NETWORK
LSU football kicks off its much-anticipated 2024 season in Las Vegas.
Behind first-year starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the No. 12-ranked Tigers begin the year in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic against No. 23 USC on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CT inside Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.
This marks the third consecutive season that the Tigers will their season on the road at a neutral site against a "Power Four" opponent under Brian Kelly.
Watch LSU vs. USC football live with Fubo (free trial)
While Sunday's game has no SEC standing implications for LSU, it does for the College Football Playoff. With the CFP expanding to 12 teams for the first time in its history, seven at-large spots are available for grabs — as each of the five highest-ranked conference champions receives an automatic bid. LSU has not made the CFP under Kelly, and not since winning it all in 2019.
The Trojans are entering their third season under Lincoln Riley, and — like the Tigers — have a new starting quarterback in Miller Moss. The 6-foot-2 redshirt junior started USC's bowl game vs. Louisville, where he completed 23 of 33 passes for 372 yards and six touchdowns.
Sunday's matchup between the Tigers and Trojans is the first between both programs since the 1984 season, when LSU came out with the victory in Los Angeles. It is the third all-time matchup between LSU and USC. Here's what to know on how to watch LSU football take on USC in Las Vegas on Sunday, including kick-off time, TV channel and streaming options and the Tigers' 2024 schedule:
REQUIRED READING: What LSU football coach Brian Kelly expects out of defensive line against USC in opener
What channel is LSU football vs. USC on today?
- TV channel: ABC
- Streaming options: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
ABC will broadcast LSU vs. USC in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic on Sunday in Las Vegas. You can also stream it on the ESPN app (with a cable login), ESPN+ or on Fubo, the last of which carries ABC and the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to select users.
On the call for ABC will be "College GameDay" host Rece Davis (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter).
LSU football vs USC time today
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 1
- Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
The Tigers and Trojans will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday.
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LSU vs USC football predictions, picks, odds
Daily Advertiser: LSU wins 24-21
Cory Diaz writes: "There's won't be as many points as most Vegas lines are predicting as this will be an ugly game with both teams committing mistakes with turnovers. LSU gets just enough stops on defense to edge out USC for its first season-opening win since 2019."
247Sports: LSU wins
Chris Hummer writes: "Much of this game is going to come down to how LSU's reworked secondary can hold up against what should be, Caleb Williams or not, a dynamic USC passing attack. You could flip things around and say the same of USC, which will hope its reworked defense will be enough to hold up to what will certainly be an excellent Tigers offense. I think USC is being undervalued going into this season. I really do. But I also believe the Tigers have arguably the best o-line in college football, and it's going to be a tough ask for USC to hold up defensively. LSU wins a shootout in Las Vegas. … LSU 38, USC 31."
Brad Crawford writes: "This could be the game of the weekend, folks. And it gets prime-time billing in its own designated spot in Las Vegas. Brian Kelly has lost back-to-back season openers with the Tigers and this time around, sports a new-look defense under former Missouri coordinator Blake Baker. He's got a first-year starting quarterback as well with Garrett Nussmeier taking over for Jayden Daniels. Will Lincoln Riley prove doubters wrong with improvements across the board or is USC in for a long season before Big Ten play begins? This could be a one-score game with more physical team prevailing. … LSU 34, USC 27."
Odds courtesyof BetMGMas of Wednesday, Aug. 28
- Spread:LSU -4.5
- Over/under:64.5
- Money line:LSU (-190) | USC (+160)
LSU football schedule 2024
Here's a full look at the Tigers' 2024 schedule, including available start times and TV channel information:
All times Central.
- Sunday, Sept. 1: vs. No. 23 USC | 6:30 p.m. (Las Vegas) | ABC (Fubo) and ESPN+
- Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Nicholls | 6:30 p.m. | SEC Network+ (ESPN+)
- Saturday, Sept. 14: at South Carolina * | 11 a.m. | ABC (Fubo) and ESPN+
- Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. UCLA
- Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. South Alabama | 6:45 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
- Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. No. 6 Ole Miss *
- Saturday, Oct. 19: at Arkansas *
- Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 20 Texas A&M *
- Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. No. 5 Alabama *
- Saturday, Nov. 16: at Florida *
- Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Vanderbilt *
- Friday, Nov. 29: vs. Oklahoma *
* Denotes SEC game
USC football schedule 2024
All times Central.
- Sunday, Sept. 1: vs. No. 12 LSU (Las Vegas) | 6:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo) and ESPN+
- Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Utah State | 10 p.m. | Big Ten Network (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 14: BYE
- Saturday, Sept. 21: at No. 8 Michigan* | 2:30 p.m. | CBS (Fubo)
- Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. Wisconsin*
- Saturday, Oct. 5: at Minnesota*
- Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. No. 9 Penn State*
- Saturday, Oct. 19: at Maryland*
- Friday, Oct. 25: vs. Rutgers* | 10 p.m. | Fox (Fubo)
- Saturday, Nov. 2: at Washington*
- Saturday, Nov. 9: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Nebraska*
- Saturday, Nov. 23: at UCLA*
- Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
* Denotes Big Ten game
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