Tag: usc trojans
With both teams searching for answers, Nebraska battles USC
Historic powerhouses meet as conference counterparts for the first time on Saturday in Los Angeles when Southern California hosts Nebraska.
Looking to snap their respective skids — Nebraska (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) is riding a three-game losing streak and USC (4-5, 2-5) has lost four out of five — the Cornhuskers and Trojans are shaking things up on offense as they each come out of a bye week.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said Monday that Dana Holgorsen would take over for Marcus Satterfield as offensive coordinator. Satterfield will focus on tight ends, while Holgorsen, the former West Virginia and Houston head coach, will call plays.
“He’s got a long history of success offensively, both as a head coach but certainly as a coordinator before that,” Rhule said of Holgorsen. “He gives us a fresh perspective on looking at what we’re doing and who we’re doing it with.”
In terms of Nebraska’s offensive personnel, one question ahead of Week 12 is at quarterback. Dylan Raiola, the Huskers’ starter throughout the season, came out in the fourth quarter of their 27-20 loss to UCLA on Nov. 2 due to a back injury.
Reserve Heinrich Haarberg came on and completed 2 of 7 passes for 32 yards and threw a game-ending interception. Rhule said on Monday that both quarterbacks are working out in preparation for Saturday, but he did not name a starter.
USC has its own shakeup at quarterback. Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley said Jayden Maiava will start in place of Miller Moss on Saturday after Moss threw three interceptions in a 26-21 loss at Washington on Nov. 2.
The USC offense averaged 30.6 points per game with Moss starting, and the redshirt junior threw multiple touchdown passes in six of nine games. However, the Trojans’ inability to finish in close games resulted in five losses by seven points or fewer.
“We’ve been pleased with his progression, with the way that he’s practiced, with the way that he’s picked up the offense,” Riley said of Maiava after practice Tuesday. “We just felt it was the right time. He’s been working hard here during the last week, and it was definitely a benefit to have the bye week.”
On Tuesday, the NCAA placed the Trojans on one-year probation and fined the program $50,000 for coaching violations in 2022 and early 2023.
Riley, who “was not personally involved in violations nor aware of the violations at the time the infractions occurred,” according to the NCAA, said the program knew of the violations and probation well before the news became public.
–Field Level Media
Maryland, USC bring skids into first-ever matchup
Southern California’s visit to College Park, Md., to face the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday marks the first meeting between the programs — and both come in trying to snap skids.
USC (3-3, 1-3 Big Ten) is coming off back-to-back conference losses after a 33-30 overtime defeat against Penn State last week. All three of the Trojans’ setbacks in their inaugural Big Ten season have been decided in either the final minutes of regulation or overtime, with both Michigan and Minnesota scoring late touchdowns in USC’s previous conference road trips.
Against Penn State, USC squandered a two-score lead in the second half. Miller Moss threw an interception on the Trojans’ final drive of regulation after they crossing into Nittany Lions territory, and Michael Lantz missed his overtime field-goal attempt after USC failed to move the ball.
Moss’ late pick against Penn State and a loss-sealing interception thrown on the final drive against the Golden Gophers prompted questions about the quarterback position during coach Lincoln Riley’s Tuesday media availability.
The coach was firmly committed to Moss over Jayden Maiava.
“I’m very confident that if the situation arose that Jayden was going to play, that he would play well. But Miller’s our starter,” Riley said. “He’s played some really good ball and put us in position to win some games.”
Maryland (3-3, 0-3) continued its trying start to the Big Ten season on Oct. 11, surrendering 20 fourth-quarter points in a 37-10 loss to visiting Northwestern. The arc of that game followed that of the Terrapins’ previous defeat against Indiana, in which Maryland saw a 21-21 tie become a 42-21 disadvantage in a little more than 11 minutes of the late third into the fourth quarter.
Both losses otherwise looked quite different in that the Terrapins enjoyed a plus-4 turnover margin against Indiana but were minus-4 in takeaways with three lost fumbles and an interception thrown against Northwestern.
Maryland running back Roman Hemby, who had 117 yards rushing and 48 receiving against Indiana, finished with 43 total yards against Northwestern.
“On offense, we’ve had explosive plays and moments, but if you want to play complementary football, you can’t have your defense play (too many) plays,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said during his Tuesday news conference. “Now what we’ve got to do is figure out how to score points in the red area, …Typically, red-zone offense starts with being able to run the football.”
The Terrapins rank No. 93 nationally in rushing offense at 132 yards per game, and they average only 3.8 yards per carry. USC is No. 80 against the run, allowing 151.8 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry.
A Trojans run defense already hindered due to absences, with linebacker Eric Gentry sidelined indefinitely with a neck injury and lineman Bear Alexander opting to redshirt, also will be without end Anthony Lucas for the rest of the year. Lucas, who has 16 tackles and a pass breakup, underwent a medical procedure on Tuesday to address lower-body injury, according to Riley.
–Field Level Media
In rare trip to Coliseum, No. 4 PSU seeks some revenge vs. USC
For the first time since 1991, Southern California welcomes Penn State to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a pivotal Big Ten Conference showdown Saturday.
The fourth-ranked Nittany Lions (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are facing the Trojans at USC’s home stadium for the first time as conference foes. Saturday also marks the first meeting since USC won a thrilling 52-49 matchup in the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 2, 2017.
The Trojans’ victory in that classic Rose Bowl encounter spoiled Penn State’s latest Big Ten-title-winning season. The Nittany Lions aim to return to that apex in 2024 and are off to a solid start with back-to-back double-digit wins in their initial league games.
Penn State cruised against USC’s fellow Los Angeles-based Big Ten newcomer, UCLA, in a 27-11 rout last week. After taking the lead in the second quarter vs. the visiting Bruins, the Nittany Lions controlled the game, surrendering only a touchdown in the final minute with the outcome no longer in doubt.
With running back Nick Singleton out last week due to an undisclosed injury, Kaytron Allen led the way with 78 rushing yards and a touchdown. Penn State coach James Franklin anticipates Singleton returning this Saturday to pair the standout every-down back averaging 7.7 yards per carry and 102 yards per game with Allen, an effective short-yardage back.
Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar connected on 17 of 24 passes for his third consecutive game with a completion percentage of better than 70 percent and no interceptions thrown. He has thrown nine touchdown passes and only one interception through five games.
In moving to 5-0 with the blowout win, Penn State became the only program in the country to start 5-0 in each of the past four seasons.
“Those things are special,” Franklin said in his news conference Monday. “Don’t take them for granted, because a ton of programs would love to be able to say the same thing. But at the end of the day, all that matters is that we’re 1-0 this week. If we don’t handle our business this week, that stat we’re talking about won’t mean anything.”
While the Nittany Lions come in looking to extend their perfect start, USC (3-2, 1-2) is attempting to avoid falling to .500 overall this deep into a season for the third year since 2018. The Trojans are also trying to avoid a deep hole in their inaugural Big Ten campaign after enduring road losses in the closing minute at Michigan on Sept. 21 and at Minnesota last Saturday.
The 24-17 setback against the Golden Gophers was the first time this season USC was outscored in a second half, as the Trojans gave up two late rushing touchdowns to Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer. The second came on a fourth-and-goal sneak with 56 seconds remaining to break a 17-17 tie and give Minnesota a 14-7 second-half edge.
Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said at media availability Tuesday that USC contacted the Big Ten about various calls in last week’s game, including Brosmer’s game-winning touchdown, which was initially declared stopped before a video review.
“We had plenty of other opportunities. I’m not sitting here blaming the officials,” Riley said. “It’s unfortunate, yes, but obviously a lot of things we can do better and need to do better.”
Part of USC’s recent misfortune has been turnovers. The Trojans had two possessions at Minnesota stall in Golden Gophers territory due to interceptions thrown by Miller Moss.
USC is also playing without linebacker Eric Gentry. Riley said on Tuesday that Gentry’s absence appears to be indefinite and that the standout might wind up sitting out the remainder of the year to use it as a redshirt season.
–Field Level Media
USC Trojans at Michigan Wolverines Pick, Betting Odds, Preview
Miller Moss leads No. 13 Southern Cal against Utah State
With an impressive opening win to his credit, Miller Moss makes his home debut as the No. 1 quarterback for No. 13 Southern California on Saturday when the Trojans welcome Utah State to Los Angeles.
Moss comes in fresh off a 378-yard passing effort in the Trojans’ 27-20 victory over LSU on Sunday in Las Vegas. He finished 27 of 36. He completed 5 of 6 passes to set up running back Woody Marks’ game-winning touchdown carry with 8 seconds remaining.
It was Moss’ turn in the spotlight taking over for 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and 2024 NFL No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams.
USC (1-0) improved to 2-0 with Moss starting under center, following a 42-28 defeat of Louisville in last season’s Holiday Bowl. With the role of quarterback seemingly in good hands, the Trojans head into Week 2 looking to continue the progress on the offensive line.
“Jonah (Monheim) did a good job handling (moving to center),” USC coach Lincoln Riley said Tuesday. “Our young guys, Elijah (Paige) and Alani (Noa) had some awesome plays, and they had some plays they’ll have to get better at. They looked like talented, young guys (who) are going to be really good players … and going to have to improve.”
Although Riley noted the revamped offensive line had some misses against LSU, in a game the Trojans totaled only 69 rushing yards, the offense has the attention of Utah State interim coach Nate Dreiling.
“You guys saw how good the quarterback was. He can make every throw in the book and he processes things so fast,” Dreiling said. “Then you throw in the receivers. They’ve got a couple (big) guys (6-foot-6 Duce Robinson and 6-4 Ja’Kobi Lane). They’ve got the fastest receiver in the country (Zachariah Branch). They’ve got two tailbacks — the Mississippi State kid (Marks) who transferred in is a phenomenal player.
“They’re what you’d expect a playoff-caliber team looks like,” Dreiling added.
Utah State (1-0) prepares for a USC receiving corps that also features Kyron Hudson, whose leaping, one-handed catch in traffic in the second quarter vs. LSU provided a highlight of Week 1. Hudson led USC in receptions (five) and yards (83) against LSU.
The Aggies had their own standout wide receiver performance last week, with Kyrese White tallying 131 yards on just three receptions with two touchdowns in a 36-14 win over Robert Morris. Utah State scored 26 unanswered points to notch the win.
White’s scoring snags went 53 yards from Bryson Barnes and 57 yards from Spencer Petras. Both quarterbacks played significant snaps against Robert Morris. Barnes was 11 for 21 for 198 yards with two touchdowns, while Petras finished 10 of 15 with a touchdown but was intercepted twice.
Barnes also contributed to Utah State’s 303-yard rushing output, totaling 88 to match running back Robert Briggs Jr. for the team high. Barnes scampered 63 yards for a touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The Aggies’ offense overcame a sluggish start and halftime deficit in the opener, which marked the first game under Dreiling, who was hired as defensive coordinator but elevated to interim head coach when Blake Anderson was fired in July.
–Field Level Media
Both still potent despite losing stars, No. 13 LSU faces No. 23 USC
LSU had to replace a quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy last season.
USC had to replace a quarterback who was taken No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft in the spring.
But both teams still have high hopes as they prepare to meet in their season opener Sunday night in Las Vegas.
The Tigers are ranked No. 13 in the AP poll even after Jayden Daniels left for the NFL and was drafted No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders. The Trojans are ranked No. 23 even after Caleb Williams was taken by the Chicago Bears with the top pick.
Daniels’ successor is Garrett Nussmeier, a three-year backup who has made just one start, but in it he passed for 395 yards and three touchdowns in a victory against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl in January.
That victory gave the Tigers 10 wins for the second time in as many seasons under head coach Brian Kelly, who hopes his third team can open the season with a victory after his first two teams opened with losses to Florida State.
“Openers are difficult,” Kelly said. “You practice so much — spring practice, preseason practice — and then you’ve got to flip it to performance where it’s your first performance and you have to execute at a high level in your opener. I think every coach has that uneasiness in the opener because they don’t know exactly what you’re going to get.”
The Tigers should be explosive again on offense with several talented skill players and an experienced line that features four players with a combined 111 starts.
“We’re going to run the ball,” LSU tackle Will Campbell said. “That’s not something we’re hiding.”
Daniels was the team’s leading rusher each of the past two seasons and the top rusher among running backs last season (Logan Diggs) transferred to Ole Miss.
Kelly tried to upgrade the defense, which was one of the worst in school history last season, by hiring former Missouri coordinator Blake Baker.
Baker’s defense will get a strong test right away from the Trojans, led by Miller Moss, the successor to Williams at QB (who preceded Daniels as the Heisman winner in 2022), and versatile playmaker Zachariah Branch.
“I am trying to continue to grow bigger, faster and stronger,” Moss said. “I want to throw the ball further, harder and throw better on the run. I’ve grown a lot emotionally this offseason. That’s my biggest area of growth in transitioning to a new role of leadership.”
Moss, like Nussmeier, has made just one start and it was an outstanding performance in a bowl game last season as he passed for 372 yards and six touchdowns in a victory against Louisville in the Holiday Bowl.
Like the Tigers, the Trojans changed coordinators after a poor defensive performance last season. The new coordinator is D’Anton Lynn, who was at UCLA last season.
The USC-LSU game is one of three games between ranked teams this weekend.
“These games are fun,” Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said. “They’re great because you look forward to it all offseason. In the first game, there’s always a sense of new excitement and waiting to see what you really are and what the opponent really is.”
–Field Level Media
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