FOOTBALL — 2024-2025
USC vs. Michigan — as it happened
Last updated:
Scoring plays
Win probability
Bryce Dechert / Daily Trojan
📌 PINNED
Leila MacKenzie & Dana Hammerstrom from Ann Arbor, Michigan; photos by Bryce Dechert
USC has clawed back to start the fourth.
After a back-and-forth third quarter, the Trojans have gotten it back to within a one-score game. USC’s defense has blanked Michigan in the second half, and Moss and the offense are coming off a scoring drive. With one quarter to player, USC has the ball down three.
Trojans trailing at the half.
USC has been just about stagnant in the first half with just 118 total yards and negative 16 yards rushing. Michigan’s lead is thanks to two explosive long rushing touchdowns. Will Moss and co. turn it around in the second half, or will Michigan give the Trojans a rude awakening to the Big Ten?
The Trojans open Big Ten play against Michigan at the Big House, ushering in a new era of one of their most storied rivalries.
We’re reporting live from Michigan Stadium as USC looks to take down the defending champions. Refresh to see new updates.
Some pregame context:
- The last time USC played Michigan in Ann Arbor was nearly 65 years ago in 1958. Since then, the two teams have duked it out in seven Rose Bowls.
- Redshirt junior quarterback Miller Moss will be getting his first true road start this afternoon, whereas Michigan junior quarterback Alex Orji will be starting for the first time in his collegiate career.
- Columnist Thomas Johnson how USC’s schedule is looking a lot easier than it did just a few months ago.
- The Talkin’ Troy podcast team gave its opinions on how they think USC’s offense and defense will match up against the Wolverines.
SCORE: USC – 24 Michigan – 27
The game at a glance:
- Touchdown Wolverines. Q1 3:10, Mullings. Kick Good.
- Touchdown Wolverines. Q2 7:14, Edwards. Kick Good.
- FIELD GOAL TROJANS, Q2 4:15
- TOUCHDOWN TROJANS. Q3 9:10, Moss to Robinson. KICK GOOD.
- Touchdown Wolverines. Q2 5:26, Johnson pick-six. Kick is no good.
- TOUCHDOWN TROJANS. Q3 1:27, Moss to Fair. KICK GOOD.
- TOUCHDOWN TROJANS. Q3 1:27, Moss to Lane. KICK GOOD.
- Touchdown Wolverines. Q4 0:37, Mullings. Kick Good.
4:21 p.m.
Dana Hammerstrom, Sports Staff Writer
Stripes of yellow painted the Big House on Saturday, and it was clear from kickoff that maize was the dominant color in the crowd. After a bleak first half and energizing third and fourth quarters, a battle between two historic teams ended with maize on top and gold defeated, 27-24.
With less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter, a collective gasp rattled the Big House as graduate running back Kalel Mullins pulled a Forrest Gump and left the defense in the dust. Mullins was taken down by USC at the 17-yard line.
In the final moments of the game, Michigan managed to break through a tight Trojan defense and score, giving the Wolverines the three-point lead. Michigan drove all the way down the field after USC had taken the lead earlier in the quarter.
4:07 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Touchdown Wolverines.
USC could not hold the line. Mullings bounced to the outside for the lead, reclaiming score on his 17th carry of the day. Michigan leads 27-24 with 37 seconds remaining. USC does not have a time out.
4:03 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
This game may come down to clock management. Michigan has second and goal at the three-yard line with 51 seconds left. The Trojans have one timeout remaining and lead by four.
4:01 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Earlier this quarter, redshirt senior safety Akili Arnold struggled to get up after landing awkwardly on his back. He is now lying on the field, receiving medical attention after another rough play.
3:57 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Come back to your seats! Mullings battered his way through the line-of-scrimmage and broke three tackles to fight his way 63 yards downfield to the USC 17-yard line.
Prior to that run, the Wolverines had only rushed for 12 yards this half.
3:51 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
With five minutes to go, there is an ongoing mass exodus of Michigan fans departing their seats. The Wolverines only trail by four points, but it appears their supporters’ hope is waning as Michigan has yet to earn a first down this half.
3:47 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Orji is sacked for a loss of four yards, and the Wolverines will have to punt on 4th and 14 from deep in their own territory.
3:44 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS
Moss fired a 24-yard pass near the right entrance to the endzone on 3rd and 16. Lane spun his shoulders mid-air to snag the pass between a pair of defenders for the score. USC has its first lead of the day up 24-20 with less than seven minutes remaining in the affair.
3:42 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
TURNOVER, TROJANS BALL
Junior defensive end Anthony Lucas forced the ball out of Edwards’ hand as he came down from a short rush. Senior linebacker Eric Gentry recovered the fumble at Michigans’ 19-yard line.
3:36 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The Michigan line executed a series of effective quarterback hurries, and Moss could not get a viable pass off. USC was forced to punt back to the Wolverines with 8:48 remaining in the matchup.
3:32 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
WIth a new starting quarterback under center, Michigan has been limited to just a handful of plays: rush, screen pass and scramble. The USC defense seems to have figured out the Wolverines’ scheme, as it forced another three-and-out and has allowed only eight offensive yards this half.
3:24 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Michigan and USC combined have posted seven three-and-outs. The Trojans’ most recent drive ended in an early exit, and the resulting punt placed Michigan at its own 34-yard line.
3:19 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Now that the Trojans have leveled the possession game, the defense has had no problem slowing the Wolverines’ offense. The USC resistance forced another three-and-out, handing the offense the ball down three points.
3:12 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS
Moss found Fair all alone in the endzone, connecting for an easy 16-yard touchdown. After a strange sequence of events, the Trojans are back within three points at 20-17.
3:11 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Moss, looking hesitant after tossing a pick-six on the previous drive, was stripped in the pocket, and the ball was recovered by Michigan’s sophomore edge rusher Cameron Brandt. After getting a few yards downfield, Marks stripped Brandt and retained possession for USC at the Wolverines’ 26-yard line for a clean set of downs.
3:07 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
In an effort to erase Moss’ interception blunder, redshirt senior runningback Woody Marks steamrolled his way through the line-of-scrimmage and into open space for 65 yards.
3:02 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Touchdown Wolverines.
There may be another nightmare No. 2 in Ann Arbor. Junior cornerback Will Johnson picked off Moss and took it to the house. Michigan did not make the extra point and the Trojans are down double-digits again, 20-10.
2:56 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The USC defense is rested and renewed. Ending with a six-yard sack, it forced the Wolverines to go three-and-out on their first drive of the second half.
Moss will begin another drive from the Trojans’ 34-yard line.
2:50 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS
Moss aired a quick pass to the back of the endzone, where sophomore wide receiver Duce Robinson made an easy catch for the Trojans’ first touchdown of the day.
It’s a one-possession game as USC trails Michigan 14-10.
2:47 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Head Coach Lincoln Riley called USC’s first time out of the second half. The Trojan offense is playing with calm certainty as they’ve cruised for 63 yards over 4:24 minutes. In the huddle, they are preparing to make a ploy into the end zone from Michigan’s 12-yard line.
In this drive, USC has thrown the ball 9 times and rushed just once.
2:40 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Redshirt junior tight end Lake McRee is limping off the field after a hard hit to his knee. Last season, he was sidelined during the Holiday after suffering a torn ACL in December.
2:37 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Now, with Michigan Stadium veiled in an evening shadow, the Trojans are back on the field, ready to make a comeback.
2:18 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
These offenses are playing two different games of football. Michigan has called 27 rushes to seven passes, whereas the Trojans posted eight rushes and 21 passing attempts.
The Wolverines have no reason to abandon the ground game, as they’ve put up 199 rushing yards and two touchdowns compared to the Trojans’ negative 16 yards.
2:13 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Leveled. Despite a sliver of hope for at least a field goal, the Trojans’ final drive of the first half ended in a 12-yard sack as time expired. USC heads into the locker room down 14-3 and will need to make some offensive adjustments during the break if it intends to keep a win within reach.
2:08 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Junior wide receiver Jay Fair picked up his first reception of the afternoon at a key time. The 24-yard completion over the middle of the field puts USC near field goal range with 13 seconds left in the half.
2:00 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Do you hear that? Sounds like the two-minute drill. USC has 1:40 to march 92 yards downfield for a score before the end of the first half.
1:49 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
USC completed its first scoring drive and now trails Michigan 14-3.
The drive ended in a short field goal after Moss and the offense went 64 yards on eight plays. With just over four minutes remaining in the half, the Trojans may have another opportunity to put more points on the board prior to intermission.
1:47 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Redshirt junior quarterback Miller Moss rolled out of the pocket and broke a tackle that would’ve led to another fourth and long for the Trojans. As Miller looked to throw away the ball, he found Branch open for a short pass who took the completion 42 yards downfield.
1:44 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Objectively, that was pretty. Sophomore wide receiver Zachariah Branch gracefully reeled in a 24-yard completion on first down to place the Trojans near midfield.
1:39 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Senior running back Donovan Edwards rushed left for a 41-yard rushing touchdown — the Wolverines second big break of the day.
Michigan is up 14-0 on USC and has posted more than 10 times the Trojans’ total yards.
1:36 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
In the first quarter, sophomore wide receiver Makai Lemon received on-field medical attention. After walking off of the field, mostly of his own volition, he was sent to the locker room for a suspected concussion evaluation. Lemon left the stadium in an ambulance.
1:33 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The Trojans are making progress — they got a first down. But a pair of incompletions led to another punt and Michigan will begin another drive at its own 20-yard line.
1:25 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The USC defense has been on the field for over two-thirds of the game. It will get a much-needed breather as the offense takes over at the Trojan 13-yard line.
1:15 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
There appears to be a forcefield at the line of scrimmage, repelling the Trojans’ ground game. USC failed to get a first down again and handed the Wolverines another possession off a short punt.
1:12 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Graduate running back Kalel Mullings slipped through the middle of the line and took off for a 53-yard touchdown. Michigan leads the Trojans 7-0 as the game nears the end of the first quarter.
1:06 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
That’s another three-and-out for the Trojans. This time, featuring a nine-yard sack. Michigan will begin its drive on its own 37-yard line.
USC has held possession for a whopping 2:55 minutes and has generated negative six yards of offensive “production.”
12:59 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The Wolverines hardly reached midfield before booting a punt straight to the Trojans’ endzone for a touchback.
Thus far, Michigan has rushed the ball on 80% of its offensive plays for an average of 2.63 yards per carry.
12:54 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
In true Big Ten fashion, the Trojans punted from inside their own end zone to cap off a three-and-out.
Michigan will take over from its own 42-yard line.
12:50 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The Trojans are backing themselves up closer to their own endzone. A false start puts the center at the three-yard line for 2nd & 13.
12:48 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
On 3rd & 8 in Michigan territory, Orji had a promising opportunity to scramble outside the pocket for a first down, but was tripped up by senior linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold to force fourth down.
After the punt, USC begins its first drive of intraconference Big Ten play from its own six-yard line.
12:44 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
With junior quarterback Alex Orji making his first start under center, the Wolverines rushed the ball on their first four downs. Michigan converted on 4th & 1 to keep its opening drive alive.
12:39 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The Trojans won the coin flip and deferred possession to the second half. Michigan will receive the opening kick.
12:36 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The banner has been tapped (and tapped and tapped) so now it’s time to tap in because this momentous Midwest matchup is minutes from getting underway.
12:25 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
Fifteen minutes before kickoff, the largest stadium in college football is filling up. It looks like USC supporters will be exceptionally out-ratioed by maize and blue.
11:54 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The Spirit of Troy has been banished to the upper southeast corner of Michigan Stadium, placing the ensemble of congratulatory percussion closer to the Wolverine’s basketball stadium than the football field.
11:39 p.m.
Leila MacKenzie, Sports Editor
The Trojans’ captains for their Big Ten debut:
Redshirt junior quarterback Miller Moss
Redshirt junior wide receiver Kyron Hudson
Redshirt senior center Jonah Monheim
Senior linebacker Easton Macarenas-Arnold
Redshirt senior safety Akili Arnold
