Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee(18) is sacked by USC’s Solomon Byrd (51) during an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
USC’s Austin Jones (6) rushes Stanford during an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford’s Benjamin Yurosek (84) run for 50 yards in the 1st quarter against USC during an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
USC quarterback Caleb Williams (13) is pressured by Stanford’s Levani Damuni (3) during the 2nd quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Stanford’s E.J. Smith dives near the end zone in the 1st quarter while defended by USC’s Shane Lee (53) during an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
USC’s Mario Williams (4) challenges Stanford’s Patrick Fields (24) in an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
USC wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) scores one of his two 1st quarter touchdowns against Stanford in an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans talks to Caleb Williams before their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Tanner McKee of the Stanford Cardinal passes the ball against the USC Trojans at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Tanner McKee of the Stanford Cardinal passes the ball against the USC Trojans at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Travis Dye of the USC Trojans runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Max Williams of the USC Trojans runs in for a touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Caleb Williams celebrates with Justin Dedich of the USC Trojans after the Trojans scored a touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans reacts after he threw a touchdown pass against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans reacts after he threw a touchdown pass against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans passes the ball against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans passes the ball against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
USC wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) runs after catching a pass to score a 22-yard touchdown against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
USC wide receiver Jordan Addison scores on a 22-yard touchdown reception against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
USC wide receiver Jordan Addison celebrates after his 22-yard touchdown reception against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
USC defensive back Latrell McCutchin (21) tackles Stanford wide receiver Elijah Higgins during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
USC wide receiver Mario Williams (4) scores on a 15-yard touchdown reception against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
USC wide receiver Mario Williams (4) reacts after scoring on a 15-yard touchdown reception against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
USC quarterback Caleb Williams (13) looks to pass against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Stanford running back E.J. Smith, center, runs the ball against USC during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
USC running back Travis Dye (26) scores on a 27-yard touchdown run against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
USC wide receiver Kyron Hudson (10) congratulates running back Travis Dye (26) who scored on a 27-yard touchdown run against Stanford during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
USC defensive back Mekhi Blackmon (6) tackles Stanford wide receiver Michael Wilson (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
PALO ALTO — As Stanford made its last-gasp attempt at a comeback on Saturday evening, facing fourth-and-12 with under a minute remaining.
Fittingly, it was USC defensive end Solomon Byrd who put the finishing touches on the Trojans’ 41-28 win, barreling into the backfield for a sack to turn the ball over on downs.
Byrd did not enter Saturday as a member of the first-team defense. But when starting rush edge Romello Height went down with an injury, it was Byrd who moved from defensive end to the rush position and got the majority of the snaps there rather than sophomore Korey Foreman.
Byrd, who transferred to USC from Wyoming over the summer, rewarded the coaching staff’s trust with four tackles, two sacks and a pass breakup, swatting the ball away at the line of scrimmage.
“He stepped up big-time,” captain Tuli Tuipulotu said. “He just stepped into the rush position because he was us at the ends for a little bit. He did a great job.”
Injury report
Height had been dealing with a shoulder injury for much of fall camp, spending a week in a yellow non-contact jersey in practice. After disappearing into the medical tent in the first quarter, the Auburn transfer reemerged in a sling with a wrap around his right shoulder.
He was not the only Trojan to leave the game with an injury. Left tackle Courtland Ford limped off the field in the fourth quarter and had trainers examining his right leg on the sidelines. He left the field following the game on a medical cart.
He was replaced in the game by Bobby Haskins, the Virginia transfer who has split time with Ford as the two battle for the full-time left tackle job.
