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    • Why is LSU football playing USC in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic?
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    Why is LSU football playing USC in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic?

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    LSU, ranked No. 12, has an early game Sunday against USC, ranked No. 23. On paper, it’s the icing on the cake for an exciting weekend of Power Four games in Week 1 of the 2024 football season.

    But it won’t happen in Death Valley at Tiger Stadium or in sunny California at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

    Where will it take place?

    REQUIRED READING: Why Brian Kelly Says We May Not See Games Like LSU Football-USC in the Future

    For the third straight season, LSU will open the season at a neutral site. This year, newly joined Big Ten Conference member USC will be in Las Vegas on Sunday, September 1 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Allegiant Stadium.

    It will be the first time LSU and USC have faced off on the court since the 1984 season, when the Tigers evened the all-time series at 1-1 with a 23-3 win in Los Angeles.

    Whether the Tigers can rise to the challenge against the Trojans and move to 1-0 for the first time under Brian Kelly remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure, as Kelly hinted at last week when he was available to the media, at a time when the NIL and conference realignment have sent college athletics into a new “wild wild west,” these early Power 4 non-conference matchups could be on the way out, so enjoy them while they last.

    Here’s what you need to know about why LSU plays USC in Las Vegas in Week 1, including the history of the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic and how to watch the Tigers vs. Trojans game:

    Watch LSU vs. USC Football Live with Fubo (Free Trial)

    Location LSU vs. USC

    • Stadium: Allegiant Stadium
    • Location: Las Vegas

    LSU will face USC at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders and site of Super Bowl 58, in Las Vegas. It has a capacity of 65,000, according to the stadium statistics website.

    Why is LSU vs. USC football played in Las Vegas?

    Sunday night’s showdown between LSU and USC in Las Vegas is part of the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic, an American football showcase game on ESPN Events.

    The Tigers-Trojans matchup was announced in August 2021, when the programs’ coaches — Kelly and USC’s Lincoln Riley — were not in their current positions. At the time of the announcement, Kelly was still at Notre Dame and Riley was still at Oklahoma. Both were expected to be hired by LSU and USC after the 2021 season.

    “The opportunity to bring our team and the best fans in college football to Las Vegas is incredibly exciting,” LSU athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement. “We can’t wait to compete on the field and fill Allegiant Stadium with Tiger fans from across the country.”

    LSU was scheduled to open the 2024 season against UCLA before the game against USC was scheduled and announced. LSU and UCLA will play each other on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Baton Rouge.

    REQUIRED READING: How much money will LSU football make by playing USC in Las Vegas for the 2024 season opener?

    “We moved the UCLA game,” LSU associate athletic director Verge Ausberry told the Lafayette Daily Advertiser in 2021. “It worked out well. We’re playing two great teams in the same month. … It’s going to be an exciting September for our fans. This is what the fans want: great home games and great road games against out-of-conference opponents.”

    This year marks the first time that Modelo, the popular Mexican beer, is the main sponsor of the event, which was previously known as the Vegas Kickoff Classic.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Modelo to the Vegas Kickoff Classic family,” John Saccenti, executive director of the Vegas Kickoff Classic and SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, said in a statement in July. “They are an iconic brand that already has a significant presence at Allegiant Stadium with the Modelo Cantina Club and they are a perfect fit for this highly anticipated event in the sports and entertainment capital of the world.”

    It will be the third straight season that LSU will open the season against a Power 4 opponent on a neutral site, as the Tigers have faced Florida State each of the past two years. LSU faced FSU at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans in 2022 and last year in Orlando, Florida at Camping World Stadium.

    What channel is LSU vs. USC on tonight? TV channel, streaming options

    ABC will televise LSU vs. USC in the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic on Saturday. You can also stream the game on ESPN+ or on Fubo, which carries ABC and is offering a free trial to select subscribers.

    REQUIRED READING: What LSU football coach Brian Kelly expects from the defensive line against USC in the season opener

    What time is the LSU vs. USC game tonight?

    • Date: Sunday September 1st
    • Time: 6:30pm CT

    The Tigers and Trojans kick off on Sunday, September 1 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

    History of Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic

    Sunday’s game between the Tigers and Trojans is the second installment of the formerly known Vegas Kickoff Classic. The first Vegas Kickoff Classic took place in 2021 between BYU and Arizona, a game in which the Cougars defeated their current Big 12 opponent 24-16.

    Below is a look at past results from the Vegas Kickoff Classic, including a future match in the showcase event:

    • 2021: BYU 24, Arizona 16
    • 2024: LSU vs USC
    • 2027: Miami vs Utah

    REQUIRED READING: LSU football QB Garrett Nussmeier eases some ‘discomfort’ for Brian Kelly. Here’s why.

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