LOS ANGELES -- Cody Kessler knew what the single-game record for touchdowns was at USC.
He was on the sideline when Matt Barkley passed for six touchdowns three times during his career -- twice against Colorado and once against UCLA.
Kessler didn't need to be reminded, but it was hard not to hear about it after he passed for a school-record four touchdowns in the first quarter Saturday as USC jumped out to a quick 28-0 lead on -- who else -- Colorado.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't know," Kessler said. "That wasn't my focus. Someone on the sideline made a joke that I only needed one or two more, and I cut them off before he finished because I didn't want to make it about that."
It was hard for Saturday's 56-28 win over Colorado -- which was effectively over before the end of the first quarter -- not to be about that, though. The game was a coming-out party of sorts for Kessler, who has quietly put together one of the best seasons by a USC quarterback.
It has been a season largely overshadowed by losses to Boston College and Arizona State, but USC's troubles this season have had very little to do with Kessler, who has come into his own as the team's leader and signal-caller.
Kessler has completed 162 of 233 pass for 1,884 yards this season, including 18 touchdowns and one interception. His completion percentage of 69.5 is on pace to break Barkley's record of 69.1 set in 2011. Kessler's career percentage is also on pace to break the record set by Matt Leinart.
Last week, Kessler's streak of 190 consecutive passes without an interception was snapped against Arizona, but it ended up being more liberating than debilitating.
USC offensive coordinator Clay Helton joked with Kessler after the interception that it was OK now for him to throw some jump balls, take some chances and let his talented receivers make plays instead of always playing the percentages.
"We challenged him," USC coach Steve Sarkisian said. "We want more explosive plays in our offense. We want to throw the ball down the field more and to trust our guys that they'll go make plays. We did that from the very beginning. They weren't all completions, but it became an aspect of our team and our game that created bigger plays."
Kessler always wants to make the smart play, but Sarkisian and Helton reminded him before Saturday's game that he has some of the best and most athletic receivers in the country on his side. Let them make some plays down field if they are getting man coverage.
"I have to trust our guys more," Kessler said. "Not necessarily throw it up and see who comes down with it, but if it's one-on-one, the reason these guys are here is we trust them to make a play over someone else. I really bought into what they told me this week in giving our guys a chance, and there was a couple of times out there that our guys came down with the play and helped me out."
Kessler has always been given the opportunity to throw deep and take chances, but his receivers finally saw him do it outside of the practice field for the first Saturday.
"I think every game he's on," said USC receiver Nelson Agholor, who had six catches for 128 yards and three touchdowns. "The way he plays, he's so composed and he makes plays. He's fearless. Even though he has just one interception, he's not worried about making mistakes. He practices the right way and he makes the right reads."
Kessler became the first quarterback in Pac-12 history to throw seven touchdowns in the first three quarters of a game, and his seven touchdowns tied the conference record for a regulation game, set by Mike Pagel of Arizona State in 1981. It was the kind of performance that could be a sign of things to come for Kessler the rest of this season as he takes more chances and USC's offense begins to open things up.
"I pride myself on not turning the ball over, but at the end of the day, you can only do so much in that category," Kessler said. "You have to give your guys chances to make plays. Coach Sark and Coach Helton called me in earlier this week and told me, 'Hey, if it's one-on-one, put it up. Let our guys go make plays.' We trust our guys here to make plays, and that's something I need to do more of as we move along, and I think tonight I started showing that."