LOS ANGELES » Cody Kessler passed for 164 yards and a touchdown, and the Southern California defense stifled explosive Utah State on Saturday as the Trojans topped the Aggies 17-14.

Andre Heidari’s 25-yard field goal with 13:35 remaining provided the Trojans (3-1) with the winning points.

Utah State (2-2) averaged 49.3 points, 29 first downs and 550.3 yards and converted 30 of 46 third-down opportunities in its first three games. USC held the Aggies to 285 yards, 13 first downs and five of 17 third-down conversions.

Kessler completed 13 of 27 passes with one interception and Tre Madden gained 93 yards on 24 carries for the Trojans, who were held to 282 total yards. Kessler’s 1-yard sneak on a fourth-and-inches play from the Utah State 25-yard line with two minutes remaining enabled USC to run out the clock.

Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton completed 21 of 39 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He threw for 923 yards and 12 touchdowns in his team’s first three games this season.

MINNESOTA 43, SAN JOSE STATE 24

MINNEAPOLIS » Quarterback Mitch Leidner rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns to lift the Gophers (4-0) over the Spartans (1-2).

Leidner was filling in for injured starter Philip Nelson, who was out with a bad hamstring.

San Jose State’s David Fales passed for 439 yards with three touchdowns, but threw two interceptions. Chandler Jones had seven catches for 197 yards and three touchdowns for the Spartans.

OREGON STATE 34, SAN DIEGO STATE 30

SAN DIEGO » Sean Mannion threw three touchdown passes and the Beavers (3-1) scored three times in the fourth quarter to defeat the Aztecs (0-3).

After Mannion hit Terron Ward for a 10-yard score to pull Oregon State within 30-28, cornerback Steven Nelson intercepted Quinn Kaehler’s pass and returned it 16 yards to give the Beavers the lead with 2:38 remaining in the game.

Mannion completed 38 of 55 attempts for 367 yards.

UNLV 38, WESTERN ILLINOIS 7

LAS VEGAS » Caleb Herring threw for 140 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another 57 to lead the Rebels (2-2) past the Leathernecks (2-2).

UNLV took the lead when Tim Cornett capped a 46-yard drive with a 3-yard run.

Herring threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jake Phillips to give the Rebels a 17-0 halftime lead.

UNLV added two more touchdowns in the third. Cornett ran for a 42-yard score and Adonis Smith plunged in from the 4.

WYOMING 56, AIR FORCE 23

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLO. » Brett Smith set the school record for career touchdown passes and total yards in a game as the Cowboys (3-1, 1-0 Mountain West) pummeled the Falcons (1-3, 0-3).

Smith threw for 373 yards and four TDs and added 138 yards on the ground.

Smith’s 511 total yards broke the school record of 482 set by Josh Wallwork in 1996. Smith completed 35 of 41 passes and his first TD throw was the junior’s 57th, breaking Casey Bramlet’s record of 56 set a decade ago.

WAKE FOREST 25, ARMY 11

WEST POINT, N.Y. » Josh Harris rushed for 96 yards and two second-half touchdowns, Michael Campanaro had a 66-yard scoring catch, and the Demon Deacons (2-2) rallied past the Black Knights (1-3).

Trailing 11-10 late in the third quarter, Wake Forest slowly assumed control. Harris scored on a 15-yard run up the middle late in the third and gained 58 yards on seven carries on a decisive 62-yard drive midway through the fourth, scoring on a 6-yard run.