Previewing the Michigan vs. USC matchup with a Trojans insider

By Clayton Sayfie

TheWolverine.com caught up with Erik McKinney of We Are SC ahead of Saturday’s matchup between USC and Michigan Wolverines football. McKinney broke down the Trojans and offered a final score prediction. We begin with the projected starting lineup for Southern California.

USC projected starters on offense

• #14 – Redshirt junior QB Jayden Maiava (6-4, 230) — The UNLV transfer is in his second season with the Trojans, after a stellar 2023 season at his previous school. He took over as USC’s starting signal-caller at the end of last season and has made a big jump forward this year, leading the nation in yards per pass (11.4) and total QBR (93.5). He’s connected on 70.5 percent of his passes for 1,587 yards and 11 touchdowns with 1 interception, adding 57 yards and 4 scores on 20 carries while taking only 3 sacks. Eight of Maiva’s rush attempts and all 4 of the touchdowns have come in the red zone. The deep ball has been a staple of USC’s offense this season, with Maiva completing 16 of his 23 passes of 20-plus air yards for 580 yards and 4 touchdowns with no picks.

• #2 – Junior RB Waymond Jordan (5-10, 210) — The Hutchinson Community College (Kansas) transfer was the 2024 NJCAA DI Football Offensive Player of the Year, rushing 218 times for 1,614 yards with 20 touchdowns in 12 games. He’s had a breakout beginning to the 2025 campaign at USC, too, ranking second in the Big Ten (behind only U-M’s Justice Haynes) with 107.4 rushing yards per contest. He’s accumulated 537 yards on 77 rushes with 5 touchdowns, while also hauling in 6 catches for 49 yards. Redshirt senior Eli Sanders also has a role at running back, recording 264 yards and 2 scores on 47 carries.

• #6 – Junior WR Makai Lemon (5-11, 195) — Leads the Big Ten in receptions (35) and receiving yards (589), and stands tied for fourth with 5 touchdown catches. Last year, he paced the Trojans with 52 catches and 764 yards, scoring 3 touchdowns. Lemon, who lines up mostly in the slot, has a 10.8-yard average depth of target and averages 7.9 yards after the catch per reception. He’s caught 7 passes of 20-plus air yards with 4 touchdowns in those situations.

• #16 – Freshman WR Tanook Hines (6-0, 195) — Has hauled in 9 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. He notched his second career start and played a season-high 52 offensive snaps in the loss to Illinois Sept. 27.

• #8 – Junior WR Ja’Kobi Lane (6-4, 200) — Ranks second on the team with 13 catches and 278 receiving yards, hauling in 1 touchdown grab. He recorded 43 catches for 525 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns in 2024. The big-bodied wideout hasn’t been much of a factor in the red zone yet this year, but last season he had 11 catches, including 8 for touchdowns, on 14 targets in the red area.

• #87 – Redshirt senior TE Lake McRee (6-4, 250) — Has recorded 12 catches for 248 yards and a touchdown this season. A year ago, he made 24 catches for 245 yards in 10 games. McRee has graded out as the team’s second-best run blocker among those with 50-plus offensive snaps, with a 67.8 score on PFF.

• #72 – Redshirt sophomore LT Elijah Paige (6-7, 325) — Listed as ‘questionable’ for USC’s last game against Illinois, warming up but not playing. He started the first four games at left tackle and posted a 69.1 overall PFF rating with 3 pressures and no sacks given up. He started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2024, earning FWAA Freshman All-America and All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition. With Paige out in the last game, redshirt freshman Justin Tauanuu (6-6, 315) moved over from his starting spot at right tackle to replace him.

• #73 – Redshirt sophomore LG Tobias Raymond (6-6, 315) — Started every game this season — including the first four at left guard — but moved over to right tackle amidst some shuffling when Paige went down against Michigan State. He has a 75.0 overall PFF rating with 4 pressures and no sacks given up.

• #50 – Redshirt senior C J’Onre Reed (6-3, 320) — The Syracuse (2023-24) transfer started 25 games with the Orange, and is set to start his first clash as a Trojan against Michigan, with redshirt junior Kilian O’Connor going down with an injury against Illinois. Filling in beginning in the first half in Champaign, Reed posted a 54.1 overall PFF rating and gave up 1 pressure.

• #77 – Junior RG Alani Noa (6-3, 315) — Started 18 career contests so far, and has a 61.8 overall PFF grade this season. In pass protection, he’s allowed 3 pressures.

• #74 – Redshirt freshman RT Justin Taunuu (6-6, 315) — Started the first four games at right tackle, before shifting over to the left side once Paige went down. During that switch, Raymond slid over from left guard to right tackle, so he could play here again if Paige is still out. Raymond has a 75.0 overall PFF rating with 4 pressures, including 2 against Illinois in the last game, allowed.

USC projected starters on defense

• #8 – Redshirt junior DT Devan Thompkins (6-5, 290) — Has tallied 15 tackles, including 2 for loss and a sack, this season. He’s added 13 pressures as a pass rusher, all of them coming against Georgia Southern (2), Purdue (7) and Michigan State (4), with none versus Montana State and Illinois. He recorded 24 tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, 1.5 sacks and 3 pass breakups in 2024.

• #97 – Sophomore DT Jide Abasiri (6-5, 295) — Has tallied 5 tackles, including 1 sack, and a quarterback hurry through five tilts, adding 6 pressures. Checking in No. 38 on The Athletic‘s ‘Freaks List,’ Abasiri can run 19.22 MPH, has a 1.60-second 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash and can squat 700 pounds.

• #1 – Sophomore DE Kameryn Crawford (6-5, 265) — Has totaled 12 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks, this season. He’s seen 2.5 of his tackles for loss and a half-sack against Power Four teams (three games). He’s tied for second on the team with 13 pressures.

• #6 – Senior DE Anthony Lucas (6-5, 285) — Has tallied 9 tackles, with 2 sacks, to go along with his team-best 5 quarterback hurries and 15 pressures. He had a season-best 7 pressures against Michigan State but none the next weekend versus Illinois.

• #23 – Sophomore LB Desman Stephens II (6-3, 235) — The Clarkston, Mich., native has recorded 25 tackles, checking in third on the team.

• #18 – Redshirt senior LB Eric Gentry (6-6, 225) — Leads the team with 35 tackles — 7 of which have been behind the line of scrimmage, including 3 sacks — and 3 forced fumbles. He was disruptive in five games last season, before going down with a regular-season-ending injury, posting 33 tackles, including 6.5 for loss with 2 sacks.

• #7 – Redshirt junior NB Kamari Ramsey (6-0, 205) — The UCLA transfer is in his second season with the Trojans after following coordinator D’Anton Lynn across town ahead of the 2024 season. He missed the Illinois game with an injury but is expected to return this weekend, coming off the bye. In four contests this fall, he’s made 7 tackles, including a half-stop for loss, 1 pass breakup and 1 quarterback hurry. In coverage, he’s given up 9 receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets. The 2024 All-Big Ten honorable mention selection has 2 career interceptions.

• #25 – Redshirt freshman CB Marcelles Williams (5-11, 185) — Became a full-time starter this season after appearing in only one outing in 2024. He’s accumulated 15 tackles and recorded a 60.6 PFF coverage rating, giving up 14 catches for 178 yards on 20 targets.

• #17 – Redshirt senior CB DeCarlos Nicholson (6-3, 200) — Has tallied 9 tackles, including 1 sack, along with an interception, which came against Georgia Southern. He has a 64.8 PFF coverage grade, yielding 9 receptions for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns on 13 targets.

• #19 — Redshirt senior S Bishop Fitzgerald (5-11, 205) — The NC State transfer has been the most impactful Trojan on defense, registering 25 tackles, including a half-stop for loss, 3 interceptions and a pass breakup. His 91.1 PFF coverage grade ranks second nationally among safeties with 100-plus such snaps. He’s given up 7 catches for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11 targets. In two seasons with the Wolfpack, he totaled 97 tackles, including 7.5 for loss, 16 pass breakups and 5 interceptions.

• #24 – Junior S Christian Pierce (6-1, 205) — Mostly a special teams player in 2024, Pierce has broken out with 21 tackles, including 2 for loss with a sack, and a pass breakup in 2025. He has a 73.7 overall PFF grade and 75.4 rating in coverage, while allowing 6 receptions for 20 yards on 11 targets.

USC specialists

• #48 – Redshirt freshman K Ryon Sayeri (5-11, 180) — Has made 8 of his 9 field goal attempts with a 48-yard long this season. His lone miss came between 30 and 39 yards. His only kick of 40-plus yards was the 48-yard make at Purdue.

• #80 – Redshirt senior P Sam Johnson (6-3, 225) — The Valparaiso transfer was a second-team All-American in the FCS in 2024, averaging 47.1 yards per attempt with 24 of 50-plus and 19 pins inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. This season, he’s averaging 45.2 yards per punt with 1 of 50-plus and 3 pins inside the 20.

• #6 – Junior KR/PR Makai Lemon (5-11, 195) — The dynamic wide receiver came into the season with 19 kickoff returns with a 27.1-yard average and a long of 80 yards. In 2025, he’s returned 7 for 144 yards (20.6-yard average) with a 24-yard long. He’s returned 2 punts for 25 yards (12.5-yard average) with a 23-yard long. He has 6 fair catches on punts.

Jayden Maiava off to strong start

Few quarterbacks — and, according to multiple statistics, no players — are playing at a more efficient level than Maiava at the beginning of this season. Maiava took over as the starter for the final four games of last season, replacing Miller Moss, who later transferred to Louisville, and has been even better in 2025 than he was at the end of 2024.

“He’s been excellent this season and erased a lot of the concerns that surrounded him this offseason,” McKinney said. “He’s making the right decisions consistently and he’s playing with a ton of confidence.

“He has just 1 interception through five games and that was a huge concern after he threw 6 in his four starts and 3 in the bowl game alone. He’s not a guy who is going to run it a lot, but he’s been good with when to give and when to keep on reads this season and that’s a huge improvement from what the position did last year.

“He’s not [former No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner] Caleb Williams by any stretch, but some of his throws this year have had that kind of placement and touch.”

USC offense has been ‘really balanced’

With two running backs leading the way, USC has been productive on the ground, producing 227 rushing yards per game to rank 17th in America. It’s well-documented how explosive the passing attack has been, with the Trojans registering 338 yards per game to check in No. 3 in the FBS.

“The offense has been really balanced this year and that’s a place [head coach] Lincoln Riley has been trying to get to since he arrived at USC,” McKinney pointed out. “The rushing numbers are probably going to keep dropping slightly every week USC doesn’t play Missouri State or Georgia Southern, but they did put up a ton of yards on the ground against Michigan State. Jordan is a more dynamic back than Woody Marks was last season.

“Makai Lemon is a significant weapon at wide receiver. He’s one of those guys who is really, really difficult to take away completely because USC can get him the ball in a bunch of different ways.

“And the tight ends have become a real weapon in the passing game of late. Not sure they compare yet to some of the guys Michigan has had of late, but Lake McRee and [sophomore] Walker Lyons have made some really clutch catches this season.”

The offensive line has been banged up and hit or miss, however, McKinney noted.

“The concerns are along the offensive line, especially in this game,” he explained. “USC lost starting center Kilian O’Connor to injury against Illinois and he’ll miss at least the next two games. The backup is a transfer portal guy in J’Onre Reed, who we all figured would wind up the starter when he got to USC but that never happened. Starting left tackle Elijah Paige was injured against Michigan State and sat out the Illinois loss. There’s a chance he’ll be back for this weekend, but how close he is to 100-percent healthy will be something to watch.

“Going into last year’s meeting, USC very, very obviously did not have the right game plan to deal with the Michigan edge rushers. We’ll see what it looks like this year.”

USC front seven coming off rough game against Illinois

While Illinois had success rushing the ball, compiling 171 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries (4.9 yards per attempt), the stats show that the Trojans have a top-30 run defense, allowing only 108.4 yards per game (29th).

The pass rush also stands out, with the Trojans ranking sixth nationally with a 43.2-percent pressure rate and checking in tied for ninth with 17 sacks. The Trojans have 40 tackles for loss, a figure that slots tied for 16th in the FBS.

“We heard all offseason about how good the defensive line was going to be this year and that group for sure looks the part,” McKinney said “Then they stepped onto the field at Illinois and got pushed around for 60 minutes. That was the one group that had been pretty good for the first four games and then it just no-showed in the first big game.

“Is that the reality check it needed to refocus and show up against Michigan? Or is that what the unit looks like when it’s not playing Purdue and the handful of Michigan State players still awake at 1 am ET?

“Linebacker Eric Gentry is a superstar. During his time at USC, if you randomly picked any defensive category at any time during the season, he’s probably been within the top two or three players there. Because of his frame (6-foot-6, 225 pounds), it always feels like maybe he’s not suited for these big, physical matchups. Except then last year against Michigan he had 12 tackles (8 solo), 3 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. He had a gigantic, late-game forced fumble against Illinois and now has 3 this season. He is guaranteed to make at least one big play every game.”

Pass defense is a big concern

Even against Illinois’ less than stellar offensive line, USC only pressured the quarterback 22.2 percent of the time with only 1 sack. The Trojans have had just 3 sacks combined versus MSU and the Fighting Illini. Each of USC’s last four opponents have thrown for 235-plus yards, including 331 and 3 scores by Illinois. The Trojans rank 17th in the Big Ten by allowing 251 passing yards per game.

“USC will have safety/nickel Kamari Ramsey on the field this weekend after he missed the Illinois game due to food poisoning,” McKinney said. “Injuries to other defensive backs have pushed him into a nickel role this year. But USC’s pass defense has been so bad it’ll be interesting to see if he starts to get moved around a bit back to his regular safety spot.

“The cornerbacks for the Trojans have struggled all year. USC gives up big pass plays every week, and at this point it feels like if there were any answers to be had there, we’d have already seen them. It’s been a combination of miscommunicatons, one-on-one physical beats and missed tackles. Pretty much something for everybody. USC gave up 12 pass plays of 30 or more yards last year. The Trojans have given up 10 already this year.”

USC wins if _______.

“[Michigan junior running back] Justice Haynes gets lost at Disneyland on Saturday morning,” McKinney said in attempting to finish the above sentence.

“Okay, maybe not to that extent. USC isn’t going to completely shut Haynes and the Michigan running game down, but the Trojans have to make it tough on him and not get hit by the same 41-, 53- and 63-yard runs that hurt them so much last season. And Haynes is clearly more explosive than what Michigan had in that game. USC needs enough run stuffs on early downs to force Michigan into passing situations on third down, to put the game on the arm of Bryce Underwood. 

“USC’s offense isn’t unstoppable this season, but it’s potent enough that it can go score-for-score with Michigan if it comes to that. The defense is going to need to generate stops, and it’s going to do that by selling out against the run and seeing if Underwood can complete 70 percent of his passes for 270 yards and no turnovers on the road in this kind of environment.”

McKinney’s final score prediction

“I think I’d give this matchup to either team playing at home (even though there will be plenty of Michigan fans in attendance),” McKinney began. “Michigan is going to hit multiple big plays. That’s a guarantee. But I do think the USC defensive line shows up enough and has a bounce-back game after stewing on that Illinois performance for two weeks. This USC offense can and will score.”

Prediction: USC 31, Michigan 27