Kessler leads USC romp

LOS ANGELES – Cody Kessler set a school single-game record with seven touchdown passes, throwing five in the first half of No. 22 Southern California’s 56-28 victory over Colorado on Saturday.

Junior WR Nelson Agholor caught three TD passes from Kessler, who broke the mark previously held by Matt Barkley. He eclipsed the record on a 24-yard TD pass to Steven Mitchell.

Kessler also became the first Pac-12 quarterback to throw seven TD passes in the first three quarters of a game, and the junior tied the conference record for TD passes in a non-overtime game. He finished 17 of 24 for 318 yards for the Trojans (5-2, 4-1 Pac-12).

Nelson Spruce and Shay Fields each caught TD passes for the Buffaloes (2-5, 0-4).

Sefo Liufau had 143 yards passing with two interceptions before being replaced on the final drive of the third quarter by Jordan Gehrke.

Kessler found Agholor for a 16-yard TD on USC’s opening possession. He then hit Agholor from 18 yards out, just six plays after linebacker Su’a Cravens intercepted Liufau’s first pass attempt.

Freshmen JuJu Smith and Bryce Dixon added scoring receptions from 7 and 15 yards out as Kessler went 11 of 14 for 159 yards and four TDs in the first quarter.

With a 9-yard pass to Dixon late in the second quarter, Kessler became the third USC quarterback to throw five touchdown passes in the first half. Barkley did it on three occasions, while Mark Sanchez hit that mark in 2008.

Agholor added his third TD catch early in the third quarter, finishing with six catches for 128 yards. Running back Javorius Allen added 128 yards on 15 carries, scoring on a 39-yard run.

Barkley threw six TD passes in four different games.