USC Trojans vs Ohio State Buckeyes Match Player Stats On Dec 29, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 30, 2017

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A slew of USC turnovers, along with the sticky hands of safety Damon Webb, helped propel No. 5 Ohio State to a dominant 24-7 victory over No. 8 USC in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday night at AT&T Stadium.

In a classic clash of college football bluebloods that normally takes place on the West Coast, two takeaways by Webb were key to the Buckeyes taking control early.

Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett also contributed two touchdown runs for the Big Ten champions, who were just on the outside of the College Football Playoff and finished the season 12-2.

Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold had a forgettable showing in what could be his final collegiate game. The sophomore didn't throw a touchdown pass and turned it over three times, including an interception that was returned for a touchdown by Webb.

USC finished with four turnovers.

Darnold (26 of 45 for 356 yards, no TDs, one interception) did become the first USC player to pass for 4,000 yards in a season.

The Pac-12 champs (11-3) also had a seven-game winning streak in the series snapped. The last Ohio State win over USC had been in the 1974 Rose Bowl.

The misery started quickly for the Trojans, who turned it over on their first possession as Deontay Burnett fumbled after his first catch. Webb scooped up the loose ball and returned it to the USC 19.

Barrett finished off the short drive with a keeper from the 1.

A long march by the Buckeyes ended in a short field goal for a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. Seconds later Webb struck again by jumping a route for a 23-yard pick-6 off Darnold.

Darnold's lost fumble later in the quarter resulted in another Barrett scoring run, as Ohio State went up 24-0.

Barrett, the holder of multiple program and Big Ten records, finished his career with a 38-6 record as a starter.

USC did get on the board before halftime after the Buckeyes lost the ball on a muffed punt. Ronald Jones raced in from a yard out for his 19th touchdown, as Ohio State went into the locker room down 24-7.

Barrett, who finished 11 of 17 for 114 passing yards while rushing for 66 more yards, and the Ohio State offense nursed the 17-point lead in the second half by staying conservative, running clock and punting it away. The defense, which sacked Darnold eight times, did the rest.

Burnett finished with 12 receptions for 139 yards for the Trojans, but his early fumble had a greater impact.

NOTES: Ohio State junior CB Denzel Ward declared before the game that he was skipping the Cotton Bowl, along with his senior season, to enter the NFL Draft. The consensus All-American practiced with the team throughout bowl preparations and coaches were aware this decision was coming on game day, according to a statement released by Ohio State. ... The Buckeyes played in their second Cotton Bowl and are 23-25 in bowls. ... USC leads the all-time series 13-10-1, with the seven previous postseason meetings coming in the Rose Bowl. ... The Trojans are 34-18 in bowls... Dec. 29 is the earliest a Cotton Bowl has ever been played.