Southern California 24; Auburn 17

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Quarterback Carson Palmer scored on a one-yard run with 86 seconds remaining Monday night as No. 19 Southern California clamped down in the second half and posted a 24-17 victory over Auburn in the college football season opener for both schools.

The teams battled to a 14-14 halftime tie as Auburn (0-1) totaled 204 yards. But the Tigers managed only 35 in the second half as tailback Carnell Williams battled cramping in his legs.

Coming back from a season-ending broken collarbone, Williams had 97 yards and a touchdown in the first half, but was held to minus-3 yards on seven carries after intermission.

Palmer, beginning his senior season, overcame a pair of interceptions and a key fumble by Kareem Kelly, and led the Trojans 50 yards on 13 plays to the go-ahead score.

A 10-yard punt return by Kelly set up USC (1-0) at midfield.

Palmer found Kelly for 18-yards on 3rd-and-11 to the Auburn 33, then hit Sunny Byrd for another first down at the 22.

After a nine-yard pass from Palmer to Malaefou MacKenzie, Sultan McCullough carried four times for 13 yards.

Two plays later, Palmer snuck in to break a 17-17 tie.

Palmer completed 23-of-32 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown while Auburn counterpart Daniel Cobb was just 10-for-21 for 132 yards.