Shut out in the second half, USC held on for a 19-17 season-opening win over Minnesota on Saturday at the Coliseum when Trojans cornerback Torin Harris pulled in an interception near midfield in the final minute.
USC was up, 19-3, at the half, but the Gophers rallied behind freshman quarterback Max Shortell.
Shortell's only mistake was a pass he threw high trying to connect with Cameron Wilson. Instead of Wilson making the catch, Harris pulled it away, allowing USC to escape.
"We're not very good right now," USC Coach Lane Kiffin said in a postgame television interview. "We've got two good players on our offense. We have to figure out the rest."
Kiffin was obviously talking about quarterback Matt Barkley and receiver Robert Woods.
Barkley completed 34 of 45 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Half of the completions and all of the scoring passes went to Woods.
Woods' 17 receptions established at USC single-game record -- two more than Johnnie Morton had against Houston in 1993. The three touchdown catches tied a school record held by several players -- including Woods, who had three against Stanford last season.
--Mike Hiserman
Quarter-by-quarter recap:
USC 19, Minnesota 17 (fourth quarter)
Those unsuccessful two-point conversion attempts are looming large for the Trojans.
Freshman quarterback Max Shortell connected with receiver Brandon Green for a 12-yard touchdown with just over eight minutes left to pull the Golden Gophers to within two points.
Shortell, who replaced injured MarQueis Gray, has completed five of 10 passes for 80 yards.
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