Jayden Maiava, King Miller, USC defense delivers 31-13 win over No. 15 Michigan

Bishop Fitzgerald provides a defensive exclamation point with a late-game interception to seal this one. USC will take a knee with just 20 seconds left and post a critical win over the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines, 31-13.

Michigan can’t convert on fourth down inside its own 30-yard line and USC will take over with just 3:01 remaining and an opportunity to finish this game off with the ball.

USC running back Bryan Jackson wasn’t suited up to play and was listed as “out” on the availability report. Because of all the injuries to USC running backs in the first half, Jackson put his uniform on during halftime and has been active for the second half. He just took a handoff 29 yards for a touchdown to push the USC lead to 31-13 with 4:21 remaining in the game.

USC’s secondary has given up big pass plays all season and Michigan just hit another. Underwood found Andrew Marsh over the outstretched hand of DeCarlos Nicholson and then Christian Pierce couldn’t wrap up Marsh, who went 69 yards for the score. The Wolverines can’t convert the two-point conversion and USC now leads 24-13 with 9:17 remaining.

USC kicker Ryon Sayeri comes up clutch with a 54-yard bomb to push the USC lead to 24-7 with 10:01 remaining. Sayeri has been phenomenal this year as a walk-on who took over the starting job when transfer portal addition Caden Chittenden couldn’t get past a hamstring injury during fall camp.

The USC Trojans are 15 minutes away from a huge Big Ten win. USC has the ball at its own 2-3 yard line facing 2nd and nine, leading 21-7 to open the fourth quarter.

USC safety Bishop Fitzgerald comes up with a huge play as Underwood overthrows his receiver on third down and Fitzgerald cruises over to pick it off. Michigan was driving following the interception and Fitzgerald’s play puts all the momentum back on the Trojans’ sideline. That’s his fourth pick of the season.

After dodging multiple pressures in the backfield, Jayden Maiava escapes the pocket and looked like he had some room to pick up yards. Instead, he tried to dump the ball off to Lemon before going out of bounds and overthrew him right into the hands of Michigan cornerback Zeke Berry. Maiava had been so good all night and that is just a throw he cannot make. The play is being reviewed but if it stands, Michigan would take over at its own 4-yard line with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.

The USC defense forces another Michigan punt and the Trojans take over at their own 29-yard line, leading 21-7 with 7:57 remaining in the third quarter.

USC is down to just walk-on King Miller in the running back room the rest of the way due to injuries to other backs and Miller is absolutely delivering. After running for 49 yards on a 3rd-and-26 play, Miller goes around the edge for a 15-yard touchdown to push the USC lead to 21-7 with 10:45 remaining in the third quarter.

With the help of an offensive pass interference call, USC forced its second three-and-out of the game to open the third quarter. Michigan shanks a punt that goes just 28 yards and USC will open the half with great field position at its own 48-yard line.

Score: USC 14, Michigan 7
Total yards: USC 242, Michigan 151
Passing yards: USC 181, Michigan 79
Rushing yards: USC 61, Michigan 72
Penalties: USC 0-for-0, Michigan 2-for-10
Turnovers: USC 1, Michigan 0

Jayden Maiava: 15-for-18 for 181 yards and two touchdowns
Makai Lemon: 4 receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown

Makai Lemon makes a phenomenal leaping grab in traffic on a slot fade ball between three Michigan defenders for a 12-yard touchdown grab with just 14 seconds remaining in the first half. Unreal grab by Lemon.

Michigan goes 86 yards in 14 plays and takes 6:03 off the clock to tie the game at 7 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Underwood to wide receiver Donaven McCulley.

True freshman defensive lineman Floyd Boucard goes down in the pile on a Michigan run play and stays down. Trainers come out to help him off and he appears to be grabbing his left knee. He’s helped to the sideline and limps into the injury tent. Boucard has been a really impressive player for a true freshman along the defensive line this season.

USC can’t overcome a tipped pass on first down and backwards throw on second. Michigan takes over at its own 14-yard line with 9:12 remaining in the first half.

USC safety Bishop Fitzgerald and defensive end Braylan Shelby combine on a third down sack to force a second Michigan punt in as many drives. The Trojans take over at their own 10-yard line with 11:57 remaining in the second quarter, leading 7-0. Michigan was probably in position to attempt a field goal had Underwood thrown it away, but he tried to roll out and the USC defense tracked him down.

The first quarter comes to an end with USC leading 7-0 but Michigan in the middle of a 7-play, 50-yard drive. Trojans need to get a stop with the Wolverines facing 2nd and 6 when the second quarter opens.

Michigan defensive back Jyaire Hill hits Lake McRee hard after a reception and knocks the ball loose. Michigan recovers the fumble at their own 8-yard line and a scoring drive for USC is snuffed out.

USC is stopped short on third down but the Trojans go for it on 4th and 1 from their own 38-yard line. Waymond Jordan breaks a number of tackles and picks it up to keep the drive alive.

USC opened the game defensively in a three-linebacker look with Eric Gentry, Desman Stephens and Jadyn Walker.

The USC defense forces a three-and-out as Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood throws incomplete on first and third down. This is as good of a start as USC could have asked for as the Trojans will take over at their own 29-yard line after the Wolverines’ punt.

The USC offense goes 75 yards in 11 plays in a clinical drive to put the Trojans up 7-0 with 8:57 remaining. The Trojans rushed for 23 yards and Jayden Maiava was 5-for-5 for 52 yards and a 2-yard touchdown to Ja’Kobi Lane.

QB Jayden Maiava, RB Waymond Jordan, LT Tobias Raymond, LG Micah Banuelos, OC J’Onre Reed, RG Alani Noa, RT Justin Tauanuu, WR Ja’Kobi Lane, TE Lake McRee, WR Tanook Hines, WR Makai Lemon

Michigan wins the toss and elects to defer to the second half. USC will receive the opening kick coming out of the peristyle end of the Coliseum.

Based on pregame warmups, it looks like Tobias Raymond will slide out to left tackle and Micah Banuelos will start at left guard, leaving Justin Tauanuu to stay at his normal right tackle spot. Against Illinois, USC had Tauanuu play left tackle and Raymond at right tackle with Paige out.

Paige won’t play for the Trojans today as he misses his second game in a row.

Maybe some good news for USC as tight end Lake McRee is in full uniform and warming up with the Trojan tight ends ahead of the game.

USC’s team captains once again include quarterback Jayden Maiava and linebacker Eric Gentry, as they have all season. Today, they’re joined by offensive lineman Tobias Raymond, safety Christian Pierce and long snapper Hank Pepper.

The Trojans might be facing an uphill climb against the Michigan defensive front as both left tackle Elijah Paige and tight end Lake McRee are listed as questionable for the game. Neither went through very early warmups at full speed. McRee wasn’t spotted on the field at all.