The Big Ten conference has not welcomed the USC Trojans with open arms, and that did not change as the Maryland Terrapins overcame the Trojans 29-28 in the teams’ first-ever matchup.
With just under three minutes left to play, USC found itself in a similar position as last week against No. 4 Penn State. In both matchups, the Trojans needed only a field goal to essentially put the game away, but poor clock management a week ago and a botched field goal attempt this week gave their opponents unexpected opportunities that they then capitalized on.
“We’ve kind of taken our turns,” said USC head coach Lincoln Riley. “Closing out games is hard, number one. We’ve been a good enough team to have a chance to win every game, but we haven’t been quite good enough to separate. And when you put yourself in these moments, you are going to have to make some plays to beat somebody, especially on the road.”
Despite slow starts for both offenses, the Trojans managed to head into halftime ahead 21-7 thanks to some miraculous plays by some of USC’s playmakers, including a one-handed touchdown catch by sophomore wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane halfway through the second quarter. The Terrapins’ first second-half drive was halted by the Trojan defense on a fourth-down attempt and USC forced SECU Stadium into silence.
The Trojans were quickly marching through Terrapin territory until redshirt junior quarterback Miller Moss threw a costly interception that was returned to USC’s 18-yard line. On the subsequent play, senior Maryland receiver Tai Felton punched his way through a handful of Trojans to make it a one-score game, and the Terrapins were right back into it.
Though a 26-yard touchdown from sophomore receiver Duce Robinson pushed the Trojans’ lead back to 14, the Terrapins scored on the next drive and converted a two-point conversion, putting pressure on USC to take control of the clock and manage their lead. After drives from both sides came up empty-handed, the Trojans were just a 41-yard field goal from its first Big Ten road win. But senior Maryland linebacker Donnell Brown snuck through the USC line, blocking the kick and setting up the Terrapins for their game-winning touchdown.
The loss extends USC’s losing skid to three games in which victory was in sight, but one or two noteworthy plays kept victory out of reach. Riley said the Trojans’ issues haven’t been stopping teams on third down or scoring in the red zone. Instead, it’s simply finishing the job.
“Our strain has been [that we’ve] played good enough to have leads, to have opportunities to win games and not finish them,” Riley said. “That’s probably the toughest thing you can experience in football. And we’ve experienced it several times over.”
After the Trojans battled to a win over LSU in their opening game in Las Vegas, USC appeared to be a team that could close out nailbiters. The Trojan defense under new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn put up a serious fight against a notoriously physical SEC team, which was a positive sign heading into Big Ten play.
Since the win over LSU, though, USC has been flipping between good halves and bad halves, struggling to have a complete game. But Riley & Co. have never had any doubt in themselves throughout it all.
“Even after the field goal got blocked defensively, we took the field, and I expected to stop him them like we had to drive before,” Riley said. “Even after they scored offensively, we took the field saying we’re going to drive down there and we’re going to go kick the field goal, win the sucker.”
With five games remaining in the season, USC isn’t playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff, but the focus remains on getting better and learning from their mistakes.
“We’re confident in all these games that come down the wire, like, ‘How did that just happen?’” redshirt senior USC safety Bryson Shaw said. “But full confidence. I know this [one will] hurt, and being on the wrong end like this hurts like crazy, but I know going forward we’re going to keep fighting. It’s the only option we have.”
The Trojans will next face Rutgers Friday night in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.