USC shows fight in frustrating game

When life gives you Lemon, you give him the football. Maki Lemon was nothing short of heroic, stepping up every single time USC called his name. That reliability will remain a defining feature of the Trojans’ offense.

Still, plenty can be said about USC’s final drive and whether they left too much time on the clock. In hindsight, the answer is clear that they did. Coming out of the two-minute warning, Jayden Maiava connected with Lemon on the left side of the end zone. The play took just five seconds, while Illinois still held all three of its timeouts. Even FOX analyst Joel Klatt questioned the timing. And he was right, USC scored too quickly.

Of course, it’s never as simple as scoring whenever you want and then perfectly managing the clock. Yes, USC may have scored too quickly, but the offense’s job in that moment was to put points on the board. A field goal wouldn’t have been enough, and given they had already turned the ball over twice and even came away with just a field goal after better field position at the end of the first half nothing was guaranteed.

On the play, Jayden Maiava worked through two or three reads before locking in on Lemon as his target. Considering USC was operating with a backup center and a running back in Waymond Jordan who has shown fumbling tendencies, the safest choice was to take the touchdown when it was there. After battling back from double-digit, multi-possession deficits all game, securing the lead mattered most. In that sense, USC’s offense made the right decision.

Perspective of final moments from latest USC game

The defense, however, couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain. The absence of Kamari Ramsey, combined with multiple backups pressed into action in the secondary, ultimately proved too much to overcome. Fortunately for USC, the bye week comes at the right time, and Ramsey’s illness does not appear to be a long-term concern.

Still, the loss will sting for every coach, player, and fan. At this point, it’s becoming a requirement for Lincoln Riley and his staff to prove they can execute in one-score games. USC didn’t fall short because the offense scored too quickly. They lost because this team is still learning how to finish and how to win close battles together. That growth will come. It just didn’t come on this day in Champaign, Illinois.