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Countdown to Kickoff, Day 7: Cody Kessler’s Career Night

By Joey Ciccarello

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Cody Kessler enters 2015 as one of the top Heisman Trophy contenders. With seven days until kickoff, we look back at his ridiculous seven touchdown performance last season.

It’s no secret that Cody Kessler is a stud quarterback; in fact, it may not have been a secret to the most avid fans entering last year either. However, Kessler made himself a household name last October 18th, when he passed for seven touchdowns in a 56-28 USC victory over Colorado.

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His first touchdown was no walk in the park; after the Trojans started the game’s opening possession deep in their own territory, it took nine plays and 78 yards before Kessler hooked up with Nelson Agholor for an 16 yard strike to begin the day. One drive, one Kessler touchdown: 7-0 USC.

Colorado’s Tony Jones fumbled on the second play of the Buffaloes’ first possession, and Kessler got right back to work. Six plays and 47 yards later, USC was in the end zone again, the result of an 18 yard pitch-and-catch between Kessler and Agholor once more. Two drives, two Kessler touchdowns: 14-0 USC.

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Mind you, this is still the first quarter; a quick-hitting, six-play drive netted 78 yards, finished by a Kessler seven-yard toss to JuJu Smith. Another Colorado turnover, and the second play of USC’s fourth drive of the game ended with Bryce Dixon catching a 15-yard pass from Kessler. One quarter, four drives, four Kessler touchdowns: 28-0 USC.

The Trojans actually went three-and-out on their next possession, the first drive that night that didn’t end in six points. Not to worry, though; Kessler hit Dixon with a nine-yard touchdown pass on drive number six, and it was 35-7 USC at halftime. Two more touchdowns in the third quarter, highlighted by a 75-yard bomb that resulted in Agholor’s third touchdown, and Kessler was at seven touchdowns in merely two-and-a-half quarters of play.

Understandably, Steve Sarkisian took his foot off the gas, and Kessler finished with a stat line of 19-for-26, 319 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He wasn’t perfect, as shown by the above video, but he was as close as you can get and if this is what he has in store for a week from now, save me a spot on the Kessler bandwagon for this season.

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