USC mascot too tired to run after first-half fireworks against Stanford

USC did not send Traveler out onto the field after the Trojans scored with five minutes to play in the first half Saturday night against Stanford.

The Trojans went up 42-3 on the touchdown — a 75-yard pass from quarterback Caleb Williams to wideout Brenden Rice.

USC’s team reporter, Keely Eure, shared that Traveler was too tired.

This is a real fact I just learned: USC didn’t send out Traveler for the Trojans’ latest score because the horse was too tired.

USC up 42-3 with 5 minute left in the first half.

— Keely Eure (@keelyismyname) September 10, 2023

USC, by the way, scored once more before the half ended. Williams found tight end Lake McRee on a 1-yard push pass while getting hit. McRee walked in to give USC a 49-3 lead at the break.

At halftime, the Trojans just used a projection to show Traveler.

Traveler too tired to run so they made a drone duplicate. pic.twitter.com/rLoWQJIgB7

— Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) September 10, 2023

USC’s offense has been next-level to open the 2023 season.

The Trojans scored 56 in the Week 0 opener against San Jose State, then followed it up with a 66-point outing against Nevada. It marked the first time USC had opened a season with consecutive 50-point games since 2015.

The 122 points through two games to open the year are the most since 2005. That year, USC opened the year with 133 points through two games. In the Trojans’ third game, they beat Oregon 45-13.

That’s elite company to be in.