USC Trojans safety Marvell Tell III (7) takes down UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) during the second half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. USC won 43-21. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels players practice before the start of a football game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels players practice before the start of a football game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Marta Meana, acting president of UNLV, watches football players warmup before a football game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) looks to pass during the first half of a football game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels defensive back Dalton Baker (33) tackles USC Trojans wide receiver Trevon Sidney (13) during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3) scores a touchdown against the USC Trojans during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Lexington Thomas (3) celebrates his touchdown against the USC Trojans with UNLV Rebels offensive lineman Justin Polu (78) during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels linebacker Gabe McCoy (25) attempts to take down USC Trojans quarterback Matt Fink (19) during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels defensive back Jocquez Kalili (26) reacts after taking down USC Trojans wide receiver Tyler Vaughns (21) as UNLV Rebels defensive back Evan Austrie (17) looks on during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels defensive back Evan Austrie (17) runs the ball against the USC Trojans during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels wide receiver Kendal Keys (84) avoids a tackle from USC Trojans cornerback Ajene Harris (27) on his way to score a touchdown during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels wide receiver Kendal Keys (84) scores a touchdown against the USC Trojans during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels place kicker Evan Pantels (30) kicks the ball to score against the USC Trojans during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels fans celebrate a touchdown against the USC Trojans during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels fans celebrate a touchdown against the USC Trojans during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels head coach Tony Sanchez during the first half of a football game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels wide receiver Brandon Presley (80) is run out of bounds by USC Trojans cornerback Greg Johnson (9) during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
USC Trojans cornerback Ajene Harris (27) breaks up a pass intended for UNLV Rebels wide receiver Drew Tejchman (11) during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels defensive back Dalton Baker (33) helps take down USC Trojans running back Aca’Cedric Ware (28) during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) looks to pass during the first half of a football game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels running back Charles Williams (8) runs the ball past USC Trojans linebacker Cameron Smith (35) during the first half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Medical officials check on UNLV Rebels wide receiver Kendal Keys (84) during the first half of a football game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
USC Trojans quarterback JT Daniels (18) runs the ball past the UNLV Rebels during the second half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. USC won 43-21. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels head coach Tony Sanchez looks on during the second half of a football game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. USC won 43-21. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
USC Trojans wide receiver Tyler Vaughns (21) celebrates a touchdown against UNLV by USC Trojans wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (8) during the second half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. USC won 43-21. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) runs the ball against the USC Trojans during the second half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. USC won 43-21. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
USC Trojans safety Marvell Tell III (7) takes down UNLV Rebels quarterback Armani Rogers (1) during the second half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. USC won 43-21. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels tight end Giovanni Fauolo (45) scores a touchdown past USC Trojans linebacker Cameron Smith (35) during the second half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. USC won 43-21. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
USC Trojans cornerback Ajene Harris (27) breaks up a pass intended for UNLV Rebels wide receiver Brandon Presley (80) during the second half of a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. USC won 43-21. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
UNLV Rebels head coach Tony Sanchez leaves the field following after losing to the USC Trojans in a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. USC won 43-21. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
LOS ANGELES — This was no Ohio State from a year ago when UNLV was outclassed and never really in that game.
The Rebels gave No. 15 Southern California a fight until the fourth quarter Saturday when the Trojans all but ended the suspense just one play into the final period.
JT Daniels’ 43-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown put the Trojans up by 12 points and sent them well on their way to a 43-21 victory at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the season opener for both teams. Southern Cal scored 24 points in the final quarter.
It was quite a different scene from last season, when the Rebels were thoroughly beaten 54-21 at Ohio State. But UNLV coach Tony Sanchez wasn’t in the mood to discuss moral victories.
“I’m proud of how hard they played, but disappointed in the outcome,” he said. “Our guys gave ourselves a chance to win that game.”
UNLV was a 27-point underdog, but the Rebels led twice in the first half — on Lexington Thomas’ 71-yard touchdown run and Armani Rogers’ 31-yard scoring pass to Kendal Keys.
The Rebels had a chance to extend a 14-12 lead late in the second quarter, but Evan Pantels missed a 39-yard field goal.
USC then moved down the field, and Vavae Malepeai’a 2-yard touchdown run with 1:04 left gave the Trojans the lead for good at 19-14.
Thomas rushed for 136 yards and Rogers for 82 yards as the Rebels gained 308 on the ground. Rogers completed 12 of 27 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
UNLV plays Texas-El Paso on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.
