After forcing the Trojans to punt, a strange play may have given USC an advantage.
The punt went into the air, and as freshman safety Brock Vereen was going downfield to cover, the ball (apparently) hit him in the back, and the Trojans recovered in Minnesota territory.
Replays were insufficient to overturn the play, and the Trojans kept the ball. Two negative plays, however, have USC facing third and long.
With less than four minutes left in the first half, the Gophers still trail 13-7.