The USC Trojans and Arizona Wildcats played a game that featured over 1,000 yards of offense (1,136 yards, to be exact) and a baffling 13 touchdowns. In the end, the Trojans came away with a 48-41 victory behind the arm of quarterback Matt Barkley, who set a USC passing record with 468 passing yards.
The Trojans came out with a fast start, taking a 17-0 lead by the end of the first quarter by virtue of two huge touchdown passes by Barkley (an 82-yard pass to Robert Woods and a 38-yard pass to Marquise Lee). The Wildcats, though, responded with two touchdown passes of their own in the second quarter to enter halftime down just 27-12.
Both teams traded touchdowns the rest of the way with Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles and Barkley going toe-to-toe as they led their respective teams down the field. Seven touchdowns were scored in the game's final half as the Wildcats repeatedly drew within seven points after each score, only to watch the Trojans go up by 14 one drive later.
The Wildcats got one last shot at the game when they went for an onside kick with a 48-41 deficit and 1:00 left in the game. USC's Tim McDonald, who made big waves in the first quarter with two picks of Foles, came down with the pass to secure the Trojan victory.
Barkley passed for a USC-record 468 yards with four touchdowns and one pick on 32-of-39 passing. Woods almost set a USC record of his own, racking up 255 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 14 receptions and falling just five yards short of Rodney Jay Soward's record 260 receiving yards back in 1996.
The Trojans are now 4-1 on the season and 2-1 in Pac-12 play. USC plays Cal in two weeks on the road.