Ex-USC Trojan QBs Kedon Slovis, JT Daniels deliver epic Backyard Brawl

Former USC Football Quarterbacks and teammates Kedon Slovis and JT Daniels put on a show when they met up to face each other in the renewal of the Backyard Brawl. Of course, Slovis transferred to Pitt this offseason, and Daniels transferred to West Virginia. The two are both starting QBs for their respective teams, and starred on the game of the night in the college football world.

The two put on a show for the ages. The two squads hadn't played each other in 11 years. The renewal of the classic rivalry was everything it could have been hyped up to be. It resulted in a home win for Pitt in an electric, competitive 38-31 matchup with many twists and turns.

West Virginia led 31-24 with 5:45 left in the game. Pitt got the ball all the way back at their own 8-yard line, but that didn't come close to stopping them. All it took was seven plays for the Panthers to get in the end zone. It was a 24-yard touchdown pass from Slovis that finished the drive. Then, Daniels got the ball back, and two plays into the drive threw a pick six.

But...it wasn't his fault at all. The ball went right through WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton's hands. Daniels then took the rock with 2:40 left and went all the way down to the Pitt 28 from back at the WVU 25. He launched a last resort deep pass to WR Reese Smith that he appeared to have hauled in on a diving catch. The Pitt crowd was stunned.

After the play was reviewed, however, the referees ruled the ball to have been not secured by Smith on the ground. It was a heck of an effort from both Smith and Daniels, but close didn't end up cutting it for a win. Both sides played valiantly, including the two former Trojans in particular.

Both former USC Football Quarterbacks Kedon Slovis and JT Daniels showed out in the Backyard Brawl.

Past USC Football QB1 Kedon Slovis completed 16 of 24 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown, and another past USC Football QB1 JT Daniels completed 23 of 39 for 214 yards and two touchdowns.

Daniels did throw that pick (Slovis didn't have any interceptions), but again, it wasn't on him. He also had a rushing touchdown. Slovis did not. Interestingly, it was Daniels and Slovis' old USC Offensive Coordinator as the OC for Daniels' squad.

Graham Harrell's offense did out-gain Pitt's; 404-384. Typical of Harrell's offense, however, out-gaining the other team in yardage was accompanied by not out-gaining the other team in points scored. Still, it was nice to see both former Trojans show out, and prove that USC definitely does have quite the track record when it comes to quarterbacks.