Pregame observations, updates from Los Angeles: Michigan football vs. USC

Michigan allows another touchdown

USC running back Bryan Jackson ran right up the middle, making a move to cut it back to his right, for a 29-yard score as the Trojans were bleeding the clock. USC now has 226 rushing yards on the night (7.1 yards per carry). USC leads 31-13 with 4:21 to go. This game is all but over.

Michigan strikes quickly!

It took Michigan just two plays to score a touchdown — with Bryce Underwood finding Andrew Marsh who broke free down the left sideline for the long score. The Wolverines trail 24-13 with 9:17 to go. Michigan went for a two-point conversion, but Bryce Underwood overthrew Donaven McCulley on a fade route. It’s an 11-point deficit.

USC’s Ryon Sayeri makes 54-yard field goal

USC kicker Ryon Sayeri made a 54-yard field goal — the longest of his career — to give USC a three-score lead, 24-7, with 10:01 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Cole Sullivan appears fine after going down

Linebacker Cole Sullivan went down and was being tended to but walked off on his own and rejoined the Michigan huddle during the timeout. USC has the ball 2nd and 10 on the Michigan 36-yard line.

Bryce Underwood throws interception

Michigan had a drive going, but faced 3rd and 10 from the USC 29-yard line. Underwood threw into traffic on the right side of the field and it was intercepted by Bishop Fitzgerald. USC takes over on its own 22-yard line up 21-7 with less than a minute to go in the third quarter.

Zeke Berry interception!

USC had a long run to start its second drive of the second half, with King Miller dashing 47 yards down to the Michigan 29-yard line. USC got down to the 15 and faced 3rd and 12, before Jayden Maiava rolled out to his right and threw an interception to the hands of Zeke Berry. Michigan takes over at its own 4-yard line with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

USC takes a two-score lead

Michigan had USC behind the sticks after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, facing 3rd and 26, but running back King Miller ripped off a 49-yard run before being caught by Zeke Berry with a shoe-string tackle. Two plays later, Miller went 15 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.
USC leads 21-7 with 10:45 remaining in the third quarter.

No sign of Justice Haynes

We haven’t spotted Justice Haynes coming out of the locker room after halftime. Haynes was holding his ribs area late in the first half and went into the locker room late in the second quarter.
UPDATE: Haynes has joined the Michigan team on the sideline in full uniform, including with his helmet on. He was on the exercise bike and now is moving around on the sideline.

Halftime: USC 14, Michigan 7

USC scores touchdown before halftime

USC executed a two-minute drive and scored a touchdown to go up 14-7 with 14 seconds to go in the first half. Michigan was in man-to-man coverage, and Jayden Maiava found Makai Lemon for a touchdown over freshman cornerback Jayden Sanders from 12 yards out.

Michigan evens up the score

Michigan drove 86 yards in 14 plays, chewing up 6:03 on a clinical drive — much of it without Justice Haynes, who’s in the medical tent. Bryce Underwood found Donaven McCulley on 2nd and goal from the 8 for a touchdown. Michigan and USC are tied 7-7 with 3:09 to go in the second quarter.

Michigan forced to punt from USC territory

Michigan had 3rd and 4 from the USC 28-yard line on its second offensive possession that went from the end of the first quarter to the beginning of the second. But Marlin Klein false started, then Bryce Underwood took a sack for a loss of 11 yards — pushing the Maize and Blue out of field goal range. Hudson Hollenbeck punted and pinned USC back at its own 10-yard line. The Trojans lead 7-0 with 11:57 to go in the second quarter.

End of the first quarter: USC 7, Michigan 0

Michigan turns USC over!

USC drove the field again and was heading in to score. But on 3rd and 7, Lake McRee caught a screen pass, had enough yardage for the first down, before Jyaire Hill punched the ball out and Derrick Moore recovered it at U-M’s own 8-yard line. Michigan gets the ball down 7-0 with 3:02 to go in the first quarter.

Warmups have concluded

Michigan and USC have gone back up the tunnel and are headed to the locker room for the final time before kickoff. The USC marching band is set to play.
There’s a lot of Michigan support here, as expected. The Wolverines were met with some boos but also a lot of cheers as they went up the tunnel. Video below:

USC TE appears ready to play

USC tight end Lake McRee is listed as questionable but was working with the starters during team warmups.

Sights and sounds

Quarterbacks that traveled

The quarterbacks that traveled for Michigan: Bryce Underwood, Mikey Keene, Jadyn Davis

Offensive line notes

Jake Guarnera is warming up as the starting right guard, even though Brady Norton (questionable) is warming up. Giovanni El-Hadi is the starting left guard.
LT Evan Link
LG Giovanni El-Hadi
C Greg Crippen
RG Jake Guarnera
RT Andrew Sprague

Full individual warmups begin

The entire Michigan team is on the field for individual position group warmups. The Wolverines are in their white jerseys with blue pants.
Right guard Brady Norton is warming up — he’s listed as questionable on the availability report. It’s worth noting, however, that he may not even be a starter, since sophomore Jake Guarnera has played well in his replacement.

Beautiful day for football

It’s a perfect day for football in the City of Angels. It’s currently 79 degrees and sunny, and will stay above 70 for the entirety of the game. Sunset is scheduled for 6:23 p.m. pacific time, so it’ll likely occur during the middle of the game (late second quarter / halftime / early third quarter).

Players going through very early warmpus

Michigan players have taken the field in sweatpants and blue tee shirts as part of early warmups.

A note on USC availability

From WeAreSC’s Erik McKinney: “Tight end Lake McRee also listed as questionable today (in addition to Elijah Paige). That’s a surprise. [We had] no sense that he’d been limited at all. Will be worth watching during warmups.”

Availability report for Michigan

Of note: Left guard Giovanni El-Hadi and tight end Hogan Hansen are available for the game. Left guard Brady Norton is questionable.

Michigan has arrived for the game

Michigan drops hype video

Michigan’s hype video for the game.