USC vs. UCLA — as it happened
Last updated:
Scoring plays
Win probability
📌 PINNED
Stefano Fendrich & Henry Mode from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; photos by Henry Kofman & Jake Berg.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jayden Maiava and the Trojans will aim to bring the Victory Bell back home and secure a bowl game birth in the process.
We’re reporting live from Los Angeles, Calif. Refresh to see new updates.
Some further reading:
- Will the Trojans be able to battle inconsistencies and off-field drama to get a crucial win over their biggest rivals?
- Head Coach Lincoln Riley secured his quarterback of the future in SoCal. USC must continue to recruit locally to build a winning culture, according to sports columnist Thomas Johnson.
- Read Sports Editor Leila MacKenzie’s theory of USC’s tendency to false start — in more than one way.
SCORE: USC – 16 UCLA – 13
The game at a glance:
- Field goal Bruins, Q1, 11:32
- FIELD GOAL TROJANS, Q1 4:15
- FIELD GOAL TROJANS, Q2 9:25
- FIELD GOAL TROJANS, Q2 0:21
- Touchdown Bruins. Q3 9:37, Garbers to Matavao. Kick good.
- Field goal Bruins, Q3 0:04
- TOUCHDOWN TROJANS. Q4 6:55, Maiava to Lane. Kick good.
- FIELD GOAL TROJANS, Q4 2:09
10:52 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
USC’s defense stood tall and didn’t allow UCLA to gain a single yard, with four straight incompletions from Garbers. The Trojans can just knee the ball out the rest of the way, as USC gets back the Victory Bell and secures bowl game eligibility
10:34 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
FIELD GOAL TROJANS
The Trojan’s drive stalled out, and USC was forced to settle for a field goal. Lantz slots it home as UCLA and Garbers have 2:09 to go down the field and score a touchdown to take back the lead.
10:34 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
USC’s defense holds strong. A dominant stop by the Trojans after Garbers tried to quarterback sneak for one yard on fourth and one. Cobb was the one to sniff it out and give USC the ball back in a crucial spot.
10:29 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS
Maiava works some of his magic. Evading multiple defenders and spinning out of trouble works in his favor this time and he finds a trailing Lane in the back of the end zone. Lane just hauled it in and got the feet down to get USC’s first touchdown of the day. The Trojans lead again, 16-13.
10:28 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
A crazy double-pass drawn up by Riley moves the Trojans into the red zone. Maiava threw it to the falt like a screen to Lemon who then threw it 39 yards down the field to Hudson.
10:24 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
USC’s defense steps up and holds strong and forces a sack of Garbers on third and five. The Bruins followed it with a shank of a punt, and USC will have a chance to take the lead from UCLA’s 49-yard line.
10:21 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
Pushed back to the goal line, doesn’t matter. Garber hits Sturdivant down the field. Sturdivant pulls off an amazing catch hauling it in for a gain of 25 yards.
10:18 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
Maiava couldn’t replicate his magic and got sacked for a loss of 13 on third down. The Trojans are forced to punt the ball back to UCLA. Another booming punt sets the Bruins up at their own 1-yard line. USC has just three first downs in the second half.
10:05 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
As the third quarter ends, Maiava and the Trojans will have incredible field position after a huge 42-yard kickoff return by Lemon, followed by a 15-yard penalty on the Bruins for a late hit out of bounds. When the fourth quarter begins, USC will have 1st and 10 at the UCLA 39-yard line.
9:57 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
Field goal Bruins
The Bruins extend their lead to 13-9 after a 29-yard field goal by Bhaghani. The Trojans trail by four with just four seconds remaining in the third quarter.
9:57 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
More trouble for the Trojan defense, as UCLA has 1st & Goal at the five-yard line after a 45-yard completion from Garbers to redshirt junior wideout J. Michael Sturdivant.
9:49 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
USC can’t get anything going and is forced to punt. On second down, Maiava couldn’t sense the pressure coming, and on third, he couldn’t fit the ball into a tight window. A Trojan punt gives UCLA the ball at the Bruin 9-yard line.
9:42 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
Bruins Touchdown
USC sent the house, but UCLA was prepared. Senior tight end Moliki Matavao slipped out on a designed screen, and Garbers calmly hit him for the 10-yard score. UCLA takes the lead 10-9 on its first drive of the second half.
9:39 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
Garbers was able to scramble for a first down on 3rd & 7, and a booth review confirmed that the UCLA quarterback did reach the line to gain. Garbers and the Bruins have 1st & 10 at the Trojans’ 13 with a chance to take the lead if they can score the game’s first touchdown.
9:35 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
On the first down, Garbers hit his wideout down the sideline with a beautiful throw and catch of 29 yards. The Bruins are the closest to the red zone they’ve been all day.
9:31 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
USC can’t make good on the great starting field position. The Trojans turn the ball over on downs after Riley burned a timeout, and then Maiava missed sophomore wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane on an out route to the sideline.
9:26 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
Due to the three unsportsmanlike penalties right before half on UCLA, the Trojans are starting with great field position. They have it at their own 48-yard line, looking to extend their lead.
9:17 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
There have been lots of punches thrown, but no devastating blows for either side. UCLA has been able to rip off big chunk plays, with Garber evading pressure and using his legs to get out of trouble. Maiava has been able to do the same for USC, but neither team can make the touchdown breakthrough. It’s a field goal affair so far, with questions being asked of both teams’ red zone offenses.
9:05 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
Players have to be separated right before halftime, as Cobb and a number of other USC players were celebrating the lead and chirping at some Bruins as they headed for the locker room. Three unsportsmanlike penalties are called, all on UCLA, as we have a proper rivalry game here at the Rose Bowl.
9:02 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
The Trojans hold a 9-3 lead over their bitter rivals as the halfway point is hit. Maiava and USC have moved the ball well, but some deeply repetitive and ineffective play-calling in the red zone means the Trojan lead is just one score as the teams hit the locker room.
8:54 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
FIELD GOAL TROJANS
After a few more incomplete end zone fades, for good measure, Lantz will come out for another chip shot field goal attempt. The senior kicker is good from 23, and the USC lead extends to 9-3 with just 21 seconds remaining in the half.
8:52 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
USC is chewing all the time off the clock, taking more than five minutes on the current drive right before halftime. Maiava links up with McRee for 26 yards right up the seam to get the Trojans into the red zone where they’ve struggled so far today.
8:47 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
One of the plays of the game so far, as Maiava dances around the pocket, losing defenders left and right, before breaking away for an 8-yard gain for a first down. The Trojans have 1st & 10 at the Bruin 45 with just under three minutes left in the half.
8:39 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
Nearly another turnover for USC, as redshirt senior linebacker Mason Cobb had a chance to bring in a tip drill interception on 3rd & 5 but could not hold on after taking a huge hit from Garbers himself. The Bruins will now get ready to punt as Cobb receives some medical attention.
8:36 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
A big play for the Bruins, as Harden carries for 26 yards on 1st & 15, bringing UCLA into Trojan territory.
8:28 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
FIELD GOAL TROJANS
Redshirt senior kicker Michael Lantz is out again after another poor red zone effort by Maiava and the offense. Lantz is good from 23 yards out, and the Trojans go ahead 6-3 with 9:24 to go in the first half.
8:28 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
The Trojans have 1st & Goal from the four-yard line after a beastly 21-yard run up the right side from sophomore running back Quinten Joyner.
8:26 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
Riley opts to trust Maiava, going for it on 4th & 3 after burning two timeouts. Maiava maneuvered the pocket beautifully, eventually finding senior wide receiver Kyron Hudson and paying off Riley’s faith.
8:22 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
This time, the Trojans actually turned over the Bruins, as redshirt senior wideout Logan Loya was wide open on 4th & 2 but was not looking for the pass from Garber. First & 10 USC from its own 43-yard line.
8:16 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
End of the first quarter here at the Rose Bowl as the Trojans and Bruins are still deadlocked at 3. Maiava has had an odd first quarter, completing just 2 of 7 passes but amassing 80 yards through the air.
8:07 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
FIELD GOAL TROJANS
After getting down to UCLA’s 3-yard line, Maiava sailed one pass over redshirt junior Lake McRee and then freshman tight end Walker Lyons couldn’t haul it in in the back of the endzone on third down. Head Coach Lincoln Riley elects to go for a field goal to tie the game up.
8:03 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
After picking up a first down, Maiava looked cool and confident in the pocket and hit sophomore wide receiver Makai Lemon in stride in the middle of the field for 64 yards. USC is in the red zone.
7:58 p.m.
Stefano Fendrich, Managing Editor
Big stop for the Trojans on third down after the 40-yard rush. USC forced Garbers out of the pocket, and he was left to sail the ball out of bounds. After a second punt due to a penalty on UCLA, the Bruins pin USC deep at the Trojan 5-yard line after Branch lets it sail over his head.
7:53 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
Immediate trouble for USC on defense, as Bruins junior running back T.J. Harden breaks loose for 40 yards on the first play of the drive.
7:49 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
The Trojans will punt after redshirt sophomore quarterback Jayden Maiava was unable to connect with sophomore wideout Zachariah Branch on third down. The Bruins will start at their own seven-yard line after a booming 52-yard punt by senior punter Eddie Czaplicki.
7:46 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
Field goal Bruins
While it looked like a huge play early on by the Trojan defense, a booth review found that redshirt senior linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold did not strip sack Garbers — instead, just an incompletion as the Bruins’ quarterback arm was going forward. After the play was overturned, UCLA attempted a long 51-yard field goal, which was good. 3-0 Bruins.
7:36 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
The Trojans won the toss and deferred kickoff to the second half. Redshirt senior quarterback Ethan Garbers and the Bruins will get the first crack at it as the game kicks off.
7:27 p.m.
Henry Mode, Sports Editor
Less than ten minutes to kickoff here at the Rose Bowl. Still a lot of empty seats as the UCLA Marching Band performs the national anthem. The Trojans and Bruins will take the field imminently for a lower-profile but still high-stakes edition of California’s most bitter rivalry.
