USC continues ascension in Big Ten with decisive win over Northwestern

The 19th-ranked USC Trojans hosted Northwestern on Friday night in a crucial Big Ten matchup. The Trojans were looking to build momentum against a team chasing bowl eligibility. After a competitive first half, USC pulled away behind an efficient, high-powered offense and a relentless second-half defensive effort, cruising to a decisive 38–17 victory.

First Half

USC opened the game with an impressive 16-play drive that drained over seven minutes off the clock and ended with quarterback Jayden Maiava finding star wideout Makai Lemon for the game’s first touchdown. Northwestern quickly answered, matching the Trojans with a seven-minute scoring drive of their own. The fireworks continued, as the first four possessions of the game all resulted in touchdowns before USC’s third drive finally stalled.

The Trojans eventually broke through again before halftime, though the path there was anything but smooth. Maiava threw a poor interception to defensive lineman Najee Story, who rumbled toward the end zone, but Maiava hustled back and punched the ball free just before Story crossed the goal line. The ball rolled out of the back of the end zone, giving USC a fortunate touchback.

On the very next play, running back King Miller reignited the Coliseum with a 55-yard burst that showcased the trademark speed USC fans have come to expect. Two plays later, Miller capped off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run. By halftime, Maiava had already completed 15 passes, six more than his total from the entire Nebraska game and added a six-yard rushing touchdown of his own. The Trojans entered halftime with a 21-14 lead.

Second Half

The second half began much like the first, with USC’s defense forcing a quick Northwestern punt before the offense marched 91 yards down the field for a Ja’Kobi Lane touchdown. The Wildcats answered with a field goal, but that was never going to be enough to keep pace, not with the way the Trojan offense was firing on all cylinders. On the ensuing possession, USC extended its lead to 35-17 with a Makai Lemon rushing touchdown. Then, with just over four minutes remaining, Ryon Sayeri drilled a 22-yard field goal to seal the Trojans’ commanding 38-17 advantage.

Key Takeaways

The Trojans found themselves in a tight battle with the Wildcats early on, but as the game progressed and USC’s talent began to take over, it became evident that Northwestern couldn’t keep pace. The Trojan defense clamped down in the second half, allowing just three points, while the offense operated with elite efficiency. Quarterback Jayden Maiava led the charge with over 300 total yards, and running back King Miller added more than 130 yards on the ground to cap a dominant performance.

Entering the game ranked No. 19 in the College Football Playoff standings, the Trojans can head into the weekend with confidence knowing they’ve done enough to maintain their spot and perhaps inch even closer to securing a coveted place in the 12-team playoff.