Tag: Southern California

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws the ball against Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Cashius Howell (18) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC rallies to overtake Texas A&M in Las Vegas Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jayden Maiava threw the last of his four touchdown passes with eight seconds remaining, finding Kyle Ford on a 6-yard strike, and Southern California rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Texas A&M 35-31 in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday.

The Trojans (7-6) went through a finale that in many ways mirrored their entire 2024 season, featuring a variety of highs and lows. They concluded their bowl game on a decided high note, going 75 yards in 10 plays and 1:41 to complete the comeback victory.

Maiava shook off throwing three interceptions on the night with a determined final drive that included the successful conversion of a third-and-13 near midfield. Maiava found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 33-yard gain that did not just convert the first down but moved USC into the red zone.

The catch put an exclamation point on Lane’s night. With the Trojans replacing a variety of regular-season starters due to opt-outs and transfers, Lane stepped up for seven receptions that resulted in 127 yards and three touchdowns.

He scored on a 30-yard catch in the second quarter, and the game was tied 7-7 at halftime. With USC trailing 24-7 late in the third quarter, Lane ignited the rally with a 17-yard TD grab.

Lane’s final scoring play came on an 18-yard pass from Maiava that put USC ahead 28-24 with 4:30 remaining in regulation.

“Not afraid to take chances,” Lane said of Maiava while speaking postgame on ESPN.

Lane added about the QB’s three interceptions, “That doesn’t matter at the end of the day. What matters is a win on the column. We all realize what we came to do in Vegas, and that is come out with a win.”

The decisive score came on Ford’s flat route, answering Texas A&M’s go-ahead touchdown on the previous possession scored on Marcel Reed’s 19-yard end zone rush. Reed earlier through three touchdown passes.

Texas A&M (8-5) broke the halftime stalemate with Reed’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Noah Thomas. Then, just a minute after the Aggies’ Randy Bond kicked a 27-yard field goal, Reed hooked up with Jabre Barber from 5 yards out.

Reed went 26 of 42 for 292 yards and carried the ball nine times for 46 yards. He was intercepted twice.

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said, “The story of the game is the story of our season. We can’t cover the forward pass well enough to be a good football team. That’s my fault.”

Maiava finished with 295 yards on 22-of-39 passing as USC bookended its season with last-minute wins over Southeastern Conference opponents at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. On Sept. 1, the Trojans defeated LSU 27-20.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Miidseason QB changes take USC, Texas A&M into Las Vegas Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Meeting for just the fourth time ever and the first time since 1977, Southern California and Texas A&M will clash on Friday in the Las Vegas Bowl.

USC (6-6) returns to the Las Vegas Bowl for the first time since 2013 when the Trojans routed Fresno State 45-20, capping a 10-win season.

The stakes are different for USC this time, as the team comes in looking to avoid a third sub-.500 finish since 2018. The program has not endured three losing seasons over such a limited stretch since finishing below .500 four times from 1957 through 1961.

Despite suffering a 49-35 loss to rival Notre Dame on Nov. 30, however, the Trojans gained positive momentum down the stretch after a late-season bye week when Jayden Maiava took over as starting quarterback.

Maiava replaced Miller Moss, who threw 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions starting the first nine games. USC also dropped five one-score games over that spell.

With Maiava starting at quarterback, the Trojans won one-score games against Nebraska, 28-20, and at crosstown rival UCLA, 19-13. Maiava led late-game touchdown drives to seal both.

“I’m trying to be an energy-creator for my team, do the best I can for my team. I hope they understand that I’m here for them, and I’m going to do anything to put them in the best situation to win games,” Maiava said. “I’m still learning. The biggest thing for me is just be able to not turn over the ball.”

Maiava has thrown for seven touchdowns and rushed for three in the past three games, but also thrown three interceptions — all returned for touchdowns. In his return to Allegiant Stadium, where he played home games with UNLV before transferring to USC, the Henderson, Nev., native will strive to avoid similar issues against Texas A&M.

He will also be throwing to a much different corps of pass-catchers. Starting wide receivers Duce Robinson, Kyron Hudson and Zachariah Branch all entered the transfer portal, along with change-of-pace running back Quinten Joyner.

Starting running back Woody Marks opted out of the game.

Texas A&M (8-4) embarks on its first-ever Las Vegas Bowl with considerably less roster tumult. Starting wide receiver Cyrus Allen ended the transfer portal, but the Aggies otherwise return a corps of primary contributors hoping to rebound from a disappointing final month of the regular season.

The Aggies were once 7-1 and in contention for the College Football Playoff. A 1-3 November, with the lone win coming against New Mexico State, spoiled their bid for the 12-team tournament.

They dropped a pair of heartbreakers to close the regular season with a 43-41, quadruple-overtime defeat Nov. 23 at Auburn, and a 17-7 loss to rival Texas on Nov. 30.

The difficult finish to a promising first season under coach Mike Elko could have taken some of the shine off the bowl-game opportunity. However, the relative calm in Texas A&M’s roster turnover suggests otherwise.

And, according to Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed, playing against a brand name like USC, with Texas A&M having a chance to score its first-ever win over the Trojans, adds some excitement.

“Us being A&M, them being USC, it’s a really big game for us,” Reed said.

The quarterback made his first career start in the Aggies’ 2023 Texas Bowl matchup with Oklahoma State. Reed split snaps with Conner Weigman for the first half of the 2024 season before Reed took over as the full-time signal caller down the stretch.

“From then to now, I’ve grown tremendously as a football player and a leader,” Reed said. “The sky’s the limit.”

Reed completed 121 of 198 passes for 1,572 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in the regular season. He added 501 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Miller Moss (7) reacts following a turnover on downs against the Washington Huskies during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Ex-USC QB Miller Moss headed to Louisville

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Former Southern California quarterback Miller Moss officially committed to Louisville on Saturday.

Moss posted an edited graphic of him wearing a Louisville jersey on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a caption that reads, “Let’s do it #TheVille.”

ESPN had Moss as the 10th-best player in the transfer portal, also tabbing him as the third-best player at his position. He has one year of college eligibility left.

In four seasons with the Trojans (2021-24), Moss completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,469 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Moss was replaced as Southern California’s starter after getting nine games under center this season. Before the move, Moss had 2,555 passing yards, 18 TDs and nine picks.

–Field Level Media

Sep 1, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Southern California Trojans mascot Tommy Trojan leads the Spirit of Troy marching band onto the field before the game against the LSU Tigers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Reclassified 5-star DE Jahkeem Stewart signs with USC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Five-star defensive end Jahkeem Stewart committed and signed to play at Southern California on Wednesday, becoming the defensive headliner in the Trojans’ 2025 class.

Stewart, from New Orleans, initially was the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class. He reclassified to the 2025 class in October, and the 247Sports composite lists him as the No. 3 defensive lineman and the No. 16 overall player in the nation.

He will enter USC with just 12 games of varsity football experience. According to ESPN, he made 85 tackles (33 for loss) and 20 sacks as a sophomore in 2023 at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. When he transferred to Edna Karr High School this fall, he was ruled ineligible and sat out his junior season. He elected to reclassify and graduate from high school in three years.

Stewart’s signing returns one five-star player to the USC fold. Earlier, a pair of five-stars — quarterback Julian Lewis and defensive lineman Justus Terry — decommitted from the Trojans.

The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Stewart also made official visits to Ohio State, LSU and Oregon.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Miller Moss (7) throws the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Trojans QB Miller Moss entering transfer portal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal with one season of eligibility remaining, he told ESPN on Monday.

Moss appeared in 21 games (10 starts) for the Trojans from 2021-24, completing 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,469 yards with 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

“I really enjoyed my time at USC,” he told ESPN. “It was transformative for my life as a whole and for me growing up for the last few years. I’m thankful. I gave that program everything I had.

“There comes a point where there’s a time to move on to new opportunities, and I’m hoping to better myself as a person and a player.”

Moss made nine starts this season for USC (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten), passing for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions before being replaced by Jayden Maiava.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2023; Carrollton, GA, USA; Carrollton Trojans quarterback Julian Lewis (10) scrambles out of the pocket against the Westlake Lions during the first half at Grisham Stadium. The 15-year-old Carrollton High student has already committed to playing for the University of Southern California Trojans and has been considered one of the top high school quarterback prospects. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images

Five-star QBs Julian Lewis, Husan Longstreet change college commitments

Posted on | by Field Level Media

In an apparent ripple effect in the college football recruiting cycle, quarterback Julian Lewis decommitted from Southern California, according to multiple reports, and fellow five-star Husan Longstreet announced he has flipped from Texas A&M to the Trojans on Sunday afternoon.

Lewis, who had verbally committed to USC in August 2023, is a senior at Carrollton (Ga.) High School after reclassifying from the Class of 2026. Lewis is ranked second in the ESPN 300 for the Class of 2025, while the No. 31 player in the country, No. 5 quarterback and No. 6 player in Georgia, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

He took an unofficial visit to Georgia on Saturday, watching the Bulldogs beat Tennessee, and Lewis also visited Colorado on Oct. 26. Indiana also has gotten his interest.

Longstreet, who had committed to Texas A&M in April, announced on social media Sunday that he will play for in-state USC. The senior at Centennial High in Corona, is the No. 34 player, No. 6 QB and second-ranked player in California, according to the 247Sports Composite.

The No. 47 player in the 2025 ESPN Top 300, Longstreet and his team won a state playoff game on Friday night with Trojans quarterbacks coach Luke Huard in attendance. Longstreet then attended USC’s home game in Los Angeles against Nebraska on Saturday.

The early signing period begins on Dec. 4.

–Field Level media

Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Miller Moss (7) looks to pass against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Reports: USC benches QB Miller Moss, turns to Jayden Maiava

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Southern California is benching starting quarterback Miller Moss and will replace him with transfer Jayden Maiava, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

The Trojans (4-5) are on a bye week after losing four of their past five games. They are preparing Maiava to start in their next game, Nov. 16 against Nebraska.

It’s been a free fall for USC, which was ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after their season-opening win against LSU.

Moss threw three interceptions in a 26-21 loss to Washington on Saturday. In nine starts, he has completed 233 of 362 passes (64.4 percent) for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

He was all but anointed as the 2024 starter last winter after he threw for a Holiday Bowl-record six touchdowns as a replacement for Caleb Williams, who skipped the game to prepare for the NFL draft.

Maiava, a redshirt sophomore, started 14 games for UNLV in 2023 as the Rebels made their first appearance ever in the Mountain West championship game. He completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 277 yards and three touchdowns as he was named 2023 Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

The Trojans are 2-5 in the Big Ten in their first season and need two wins to become eligible for a bowl game. They close the season with games against traditional rivals UCLA (Nov. 23) and Notre Dame (Nov. 30).

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Kyle Ford (81) hurdles Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Flip Dixon (10) in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Woody Marks (3 TDs), USC blast past Rutgers

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Woody Marks rushed for three touchdowns, Miller Moss passed for two scores and rushed for a third, and Southern California snapped a Big Ten Conference losing streak while outscoring Rutgers 42-20 on Friday night in Los Angeles.

USC (4-4, 2-4 Big Ten) pounced on the visiting Scarlet Knights early, building a 21-3 lead less than 15 minutes into the contest. Marks started the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to cap the Trojans’ opening drive of 77 yards.

It was the first of four consecutive USC drives that ended in touchdowns.

After Rutgers (4-4, 1-4) scored on a 26-yard field goal by Jai Patel, Makai Lemon returned the kickoff 80 yards to set up the USC offense at the Scarlet Knights’ 20-yard line. Four plays later, Marks punched in his second score, also from 1 yard out.

The kickoff return was part of a standout night for Lemon, who caught four passes for 134 yards. Forty of those yards came on a touchdown connection with Moss just before the end of the third quarter, as USC shut the door on a Rutgers’ comeback attempt.

The Scarlet Knights, who lost their fourth straight game, cut their initial deficit down to a single possession earlier in the third period when Athan Kaliakmanis capped a seven-play, 86-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Christian Dremel. A successful two-point conversion pass play brought the score to 28-20, but Rutgers’ next four possessions ended in two punts and two turnovers on downs.

In the meantime, USC scored on Moss’ 7-yard touchdown run and then scoring pass to Lemon. Moss also scored in the second quarter on an 11-yard completion to Kyle Ford.

Moss finished 20-of-28 passing for 308 yards. Marks rushed for 94 yards on 15 carries, punctuating his three-touchdown night with a 22-yard scoring run late in the second quarter.

Kaliakmanis went 27-of-47 for 313 yards. Kyle Monangai ran 18 times for 86 yards, while Antwan Raymond carried 15 times for 36 yards. Raymond scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter.

Dymere Miller led Rutgers with 11 receptions for 131 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 12, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Miller Moss (7) throws a pass in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Slumping squads clash in first-ever Rutgers-USC matchup

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sputtering Rutgers and Southern California meet for the first time ever on Friday in Los Angeles, each looking to pull out of a midseason tailspin.

USC (3-4, 1-4 Big Ten) has endured a rough introduction in its inaugural season in its new conference, losing four of its past five games — all in either the closing minutes of regulation or overtime. Most recently, the Trojans squandered a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter en route to a 29-28 loss at Maryland.

“The obvious thing everybody’s going to say (is), ‘Well, you’ve got to finish games better,’” USC coach Lincoln Riley said following the Trojans’ Monday practice. “We’ve had some opportunities to separate in these games and we haven’t. … I don’t see one central issue, like this (one) position group or this player or this scheme or this coach.”

Riley’s assessment that no one issue has contributed to the Trojans’ late-game woes coincided with the coach reasserting that Miller Moss remains the starting quarterback. Moss has thrown for 1,954 yards with 14 touchdowns on the season, but he has been intercepted at least once in each of the past five games (six times overall).

USC struggled to establish a consistent rushing attack at Maryland, however, and its pass defense surrendered 373 yards to the Terrapins.

Rutgers (4-3, 1-3) ran out to a 4-0 start, including taking down USC’s fellow Big Ten newcomer and 2023 national runner-up Washington on Sept. 27. The Scarlet Knights have since dropped their past three, bookending a 42-7 blowout loss to Wisconsin with one-score setbacks, 14-7 at Nebraska and 35-32 last Saturday vs. UCLA.

Now Rutgers heads to the West Coast for the first time in the newly expanded coast-to-coast Big Ten. With the game coming on a short week and having a kickoff time of 11 p.m. ET, the Scarlet Knights plan to travel earlier than normal and arrive in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

“We generally never go out a day early. We stay on Rutgers time,” coach Greg Schiano said during his Monday press conference. “But when you have an 8 o’clock start Pacific (time), I don’t think it’s prudent to stay on Rutgers time.

“At 2:30 in the morning (Eastern time), hopefully the game is on the line,” he added. “And I don’t like my decision-making at 2:30, and I don’t like our players’ decision-making at 2:30.”

Among the decisions Rutgers faces on Friday is how best to solve its defensive struggles. The Scarlet Knights followed giving up more than 300 rushing yards in the loss to Wisconsin by allowing 32-of-38 passing for 383 yards against UCLA.

The Bruins ranked among the nation’s worst passing offenses heading into last week’s matchup.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) reacts after throwing a touchdown during the first half against the Southern California Trojans at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Maryland scores late to hand USC another close loss in Big Ten

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Billy Edwards Jr. went 39-of-50 passing for 373 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for the game-winning score in the final minute as Maryland edged Southern California 29-28 on Saturday in College Park, Md.

Maryland (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) took possession for its decisive drive when Donnell Brown sprang up to block Michael Lantz’s 41-yard field-goal attempt, which would have put USC ahead by two possessions with under two minutes remaining.

A wild sequence on the return, including a Quashon Fuller lateral to Ruben Hyppolite, set the Terrapins offense up at midfield.

Edwards made savvy plays under pressure, including a shovel pass while under duress and then his successful 3-yard scramble to the end zone with 57 seconds left in regulation. Edwards fooled the USC defense with a zone-read hand-off fake to running back Roman Hemby. Jack Howes’ extra-point was good for 29-28.

The Trojans (3-4, 1-4) could not muster a scoring drive in the remaining seconds in suffering their fourth one-possession loss in league play.

Hemby scored a 10-yard touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter as Maryland cut a two-touchdown deficit down to 28-22. Edwards then converted a two-point try with his pass to Kaden Prather with 9:56 left in regulation.

USC moved the ball into Maryland territory on all four of its fourth-quarter possessions but only scored on the first when Miller Moss threw the third of his three touchdown passes. This one was a 26-yarder to Duce Robinson, with Moss’ other scoring passes going 15 yards to Ja’Kobi Lane and 22 yards to Kyron Hudson.

Moss finished the game 34 of 50 for 336 yards, but his one interception was pivotal. Lavain Scruggs picked off Moss midway through the third quarter with USC ahead 21-7 and driving to go ahead by three scores.

Scruggs’ ensuing 51-yard return led to Edwards’ 18-yard touchdown pass to Tai Felton on the very next snap, injecting life into the Terps for their strong finish. Felton matched Prather with a team-high nine receptions and had 84 yards. Prather totaled 111 yards.

Makai Lemon led USC with eight receptions for 89 yards. Woody Marks rushed for 82 yards on 17 carries in the loss.

Maryland’s comeback marked the fourth time, all in Big Ten games, that USC lost on a score in either the final minutes of regulation or in overtime.

–Field Level Media