No. 15 Michigan at USC: It’s critical that the Trojans get back on track against the one-loss Wolverines. USC left Ann Arbor last season battered and bruised, its narrow 27-24 September loss to Michigan having laid bare the program’s most pressing concerns upon joining the Big Ten. In a physical, old-fashioned Big Ten battle, Michigan was simply bigger and stronger at the line of scrimmage, while the Trojans looked largely overwhelmed.
What’s at stake, injuries, who’s better, key matchup to watch, TV info and prediction for Saturday’s Big Ten game
No. 15 Michigan (4-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) at USC (4-1, 2-1), 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday, L.A. Memorial Coliseum, TV/radio: NBC (Ch. 4)/ESPN 710
Line: USC by 2.5
Haley Sawyer (OC Register); Ryan Kartje (LA Times) —
NOTABLE INJURIES
USC: OUT: CB Chasen Johnson (undisclosed), K Caden Chittenden (undisclosed), Kilian O’Connor (lower body); QUESTIONABLE: LB Matai Tagoa’i (undisclosed), RB Harry Dalton III (undisclosed), CB Alex Graham (undisclosed), RB Bryan Jackson (undisclosed), OL Elijah Paige (undisclosed), CB Prophet Brown (undisclosed).
Michigan: OUT: LB Jaydon Hood (undisclosed), RB D. Johnson (undisclosed), WR I’Marion Stewart (undisclosed), OL Giovanni El-Hadi (undisclosed), OL Brady Norton (undisclosed), OL Andrew Babalola (undisclosed); QUESTIONABLE: RB Micah Ka’apana (undisclosed), QB Davis Warren (knee), DL Devon Baxter (undisclosed); PROBABLE: TE Hogan Hansen (undisclosed).
What’s at stake? USC wants to bounce back from a 34-32 loss to Illinois – its first of the season — as it begins a difficult three-game stretch this weekend against Michigan. After that, it’s road games against Notre Dame and Nebraska with a bye week in between. The outcome of these games will have implications on the CFP, recruiting and possibly even head coach Lincoln Riley’s future.
Riley is 30-15 in his fourth season at USC – former Trojans head coach Clay Helton was 31-14 in his first 45 games. This stretch of games is an opportunity for Riley and the Trojans to get a signature win and continue to pump life into a vintage rivalry after last season’s brutal 27-24 loss to the Wolverines in their Big Ten debut.
MICH RB Kalel Mullings sprints away from Trojans on his 63-yd run during the Wolverines’ 27-24 comeback victory over USC last season. The crucial long gain set up the game-winning TD with less than a minute remaining. The Wolverines rushed for 290 total yds while holding USC’s offense in check for much of the game.
Who’s better? Michigan is on a four-game win streak including Big Ten wins over Nebraska and Wisconsin. Their last loss was a 24-13 defeat at the hands of No. 18 Oklahoma. The Wolverines have recovered from some consequential injuries, meaning left guard Giovanni El-Hadi and tight end Hogan Hansen will likely return to the field this weekend and give the offense a boost. USC will have a new starting center in J’Onre Reed, who prepared for the role in the bye week after an injury to Kilian O’Connor.
Riley relies heavily on the center to help orchestrate his offense. Reed will have his hands full with his first start coming against one of the better fronts in the Big Ten.
“J’Onre has played a lot of football. He’s played in a lot of big games,” Riley said. “I’ve had times where I lost centers before. I don’t know that I’ve ever had as accomplished of a second option. So I don’t expect that to be an issue for us.”
This game should have a little bit of everything. Michigan thrives on a bruising run game that’s among the best in the conference in terms of yards per game, while USC has a skilled, explosive offense led by the fantastic combo of QB Jayden Maiava and battery-mate Makai Lemon.
The defenses are neck-in-neck statistically in the Big Ten, making for two fairly evenly matched opponents.
Matchup to watch: Michigan running back Justice Haynes vs. the USC defensive line. The Trojans will want to earn the right to rush Wolverines freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, which means shutting down hard-running Haynes first. That’s no easy task, considering he’s the Big Ten’s leading rusher (over 100 yds per game; five explosive runs of over 40 yds) and the Trojans’ defense had its worst game of the season two weeks ago in Illinois.
Underwood hasn’t been much of a threat through the air, but during his past three games, he has rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns.
“I’ve just been impressed when you watch Week 1 to Week 2 to Week 3 to Week 4, you see him getting better and better each week,” D’Anton Lynn said. “I think he’s going to be a hell of a player.”
USC used the bye week to get back to basics in the trenches, focus on its goal of starting fast on Saturday, and return to the defensive prominence that was apparent in the first four games of the season against lesser opponents.
Lynn said he had no idea why USC’s front looked so flustered from the start against Illinois, while linebacker Eric Gentry said the situation was “the worst of the worst that we could have played.”
“It all starts with the front,” Lynn said. “We have to be able to stop the run. We have to be able to affect the quarterback. When you’re not doing those things, it makes it hard to protect other areas of the field. It all starts right there.”
USC wins if: The Trojans will need to maintain composure from top to bottom, especially late in the game and prove themselves on both sides of the trenches. Illinois was a winnable game in spite of the injuries that USC dealt with, but everything unraveled in the fourth quarter due to a pass interference penalty and play-calling which has been criticized for being too aggressive and ignoring game clock considerations.
“I think we’re in a much different place on the line than we were at this time last year, with some of our depth and the improvements we’ve made,” Riley said. “We’ve got a really good group. They’ve got a really good group.”
Injury update: Riley said starting left tackle Elijah Paige has “a chance” but is “not a shoo-in” to suit up against Michigan as he continues to be hampered by a nagging injury that he’s fought for more than a month.
If Paige is unable to play, redshirt freshman right tackle Justin Tauanuu would presumably get another start on the left side after he gave up a team-high six pressures during the loss to Illinois.
USC OL Justin Tauanuu blocks MICH ST DL Ben Roberts on Sept. 20 at the Coliseum. (Jessie Alcheh / AP)
OK folks…..get ready for an AP jump. 2:00 EST.
Where do you think they will go to, I am looking at around 14.
A wild guess,………maybe 18. If we beat ND on the road next week…..12…..but your guess is as good as mine. Definitely top 20.
LR made a real good choice going with this guy at O-Line coach. He’s got that O-Line playing well…..much better than last years O-Line.
I can’t help wondering about the food poisoning thing at Illinois. I don’t want to accuse anyone of anything . I just can’t help wondering. SC’s defensive front four was playing well. Then all of a sudden they are MIA against Illinois…..pushed all over the field. Then they come up against Michigan, a team that is averaging 238 yards a game on the ground(13th in the nation) and they bounce back and hold them to 109 yards rushing. Very suspicious how that front four could fall apart in just one game especially when the mom of one of the USC… Read more »
Well rotten is frequently how food poisoning starts.🤢🤣
Ramsey was so sick he couldn’t suit up, and yet no one else was ill? I am glad Riley downplayed it, but if the truth were to be known, it looks like several other players, especially on the D Line were sick. If that doesn’t happen, we are undefeated.
And let me add this about the front four:
Remember that before the SC game the Illinois O line couldn’t keep anyone from pressuring their quarterback. But the SC D line couldn’t get near him.
Just got home. Serious when I say that the coliseum tonight was on major fire and clearly made a difference. I guess the 12th man ? You could tell the kids were feeding off of it and the loudness was impressive. I’d say a game changer. It does all boil down to the big boys on the O / D lines. Great win.
interesting stat: USC has only punted 7 times in 6 games= lowest in the country.
Great win today. Also, the greatly reduced penalties was a welcomed change in the right direction.
Bryan Jackson was in sweats until the beginning of the third quarter. Great job. Miller is gonna be incredible for USC at RB.
Jackson and Miller, Thunder and Lighting!
Pleased the defense kept playing hard to keep Michigan from creeping closer in the scores. Really pleased with the rushing success. This is a little payback to last year’s loss at Michigan. Now the team has some success & confidence going into the ND game.
Gee, I wonder what the pollsters think. I am tired of USC being ignored.
36 rushing 32 passing 489 yards of offense MI 106 yards on the ground. Great job.
I thought USC would win this game 27-24.
But I never thought we’d totally BLOW MICH OUT!
I think we were due don’t you?
Oh ya! We were due al right! and USC deserved every bit of this terrific beat down of Ol’ Blue, aka MEECHIGAN.
It’s all about pressure! The Trojan DL has officially returned.
Linebacker play came to life tonight also.
It has returned after playing at Illinois(the Lucrezia Borga of the big 10)
Up 18 with 4:21, good win, but us with the over need 12 more, not gonna get it, I’ll take the win.
Hey, We got the BEST time slot. All eyes on the Trojans for this huge beat down of MICH.
Looking forward to seeing the coaches shake hands after the game. I’m sure it will be very polite, but LR will be smiling with a special glint in his eye.
Where’s J Stewart? Obvious passing downs, put him in and cut him lose.
Let’s hold them to 13. Lots of recruits in the house. Let’s end this game strongly.
Yes!!! Jackson rumbles!
We’re totally loaded at RB. I’ve said here before that this USC RB room is the best I’ve EVER seen at the school.
The depth is crazy good!
Agree. Haven’t seen RB’s like these guys in a long time. King actually was king tonight.
LR is actually milking the clock with the Trojan running game. Pigs can fly!
We’re actually killing MICH — 31-13
2 penalties tonight. Wow
This ones in the fridge.
Well-deserved LR. Congrats on getting your team ready today. This sets up USC much better for South Bend next week.
I’m sticking my neck out and putting this up now.
21 in the game. Jackson
Not only is it a catch it should also be targeting
Looks like the Trojan start celebrating too early
We’re gonna win. We gotta believe! ✌
Hmm, looks like were starting to play not to lose rather than win.
Clock management
Of course the defense gives up an easy one.
Yes! 3 score game. I finally feel much better.
Not any more
Kicker does it! Sayeri!
That closes it out.
Holy crap that kick was awesome
This is a totally different team this week. It looks like the by week paid some dividends.
King is getting a rhythm. That’s what good RBs need to have good games.
💯
Maiava is back to slicing these guys up again. Phew!
Lemon should be a consensus first team All-American this year.
He should be invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony.
A few of the preseason favorites are have a bad season. Allar at PSU is out for the year. Nusmier at LSU forgot how to be good.
could happen.
definately
Freshman QB makes fresham mistakes! Fichtgerald!
One more quarter to go, get a TD and this baby is over.
USC is playing a terrific game. Well coached and executed.
Great to see USC battling so hard and so fired up. We be comin’!
I am surprised at the pressure we are getting on Underwood.
This is the most fired up I’ve seen USC since LR took over. Congrats LR!
Wow!! Defense bails out Maieva.
A stupid pic and a fumble…we should blowing these guys out 35-7, but instead we’re letting them right back in it. Sorry. But I don’t trust our defense, we needed those two TDs that weren’t.
And now for our Olay defense.
Letting MICH back in this game.
Now we’ve given MICH new life. You can’t make this stuff up. Not if you’re a USC fan these days.
Gave them life, then took it away!! WooHoo
I love Gentry. In case you couldn’t tell.
WTF!!! Maiava is not that bright. Run out of bounds and kick a field goal.
Jayden!
Unbelievably stupid throw by Maiava. I can’t believe he actually did this. Shades of 2024.
Just when USC was on the verge of totally locking up the game in the 3rd Q.
to go along with the stupid throw in the first quarter.
Damnit Miava. Just run.
Or throw it away.
Trademark poor decision by JM. Thought he got over those.
Gave them exactly what they needed. Even a FG probably would have ended the game.
No such luck. Bad habits obviously run deep.
King Miller has emerged as a true star. Awesome to see from a walk-on RB.
21 run 20 pass so far for USC
Could this possibly be the USC D? We are cranking it right now.
Stephens is the leading tackler, thats new.
He’s playing well for sure. So is our entire D in the 2nd half so far.
The Stork strikes again.
Oh yeah, I remember “the mad stork”= Ted Hendricks, Miami Hurricanes, 6’7” tall.