It feels as though USC football has had to check a box for every game it’s played until it is truly marked as a Top 25 AP poll caliber team. First came the question of whether redshirt junior quarterback Jayden Maiava could carry an efficient offense in the Missouri State opener. And then there were doubts about the consistency of the Trojans’ defense and their secondary rising to the challenge of a high-quality offense against Georgia Southern and Purdue.
But what about Michigan State? Once again, the Trojans set out to prove that their defense could match the physicality of the Spartans and be disciplined through all four quarters. Through all the doubts and challenges that USC (4-0, 2-0) has faced, the team continues to prove it can win, with another high scoring 45-31 victory over MSU (3-1, 0-1). But will that be enough with a tough Big Ten schedule of ranked opponents like No. 23 Illinois and No. 19 Michigan ahead?
Defensive consistency still needs tweaking, but the Trojans did help to prove their ranking standing in their after-dark showdown versus the Spartans despite the following doubts.
- Would USC’s offense continue to soar through the physical MSU defense?
The obvious answer was yes. The Trojan run game looked better than ever, rushing a total of 289 yards. Redshirt senior running back Eli Sanders and junior running back Waymond Jordan, better known as the “Junkyard Dog,” were flying down the field making big plays for the Trojans.
Maiava continued to look exceptional and comfortable in the pocket with 234 passing yards, using his own run game to get first downs as well as a couple of rushing touchdowns. His connection with star junior wide receiver Makai Lemon continues to grow, as Lemon racked up 127 receiving yards and was targeted eight times, most by any USC player.
“The quarterback goes scrambling around,” Spartan redshirt junior defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren said. “We just didn’t get him down. We should have but we didn’t. That’s in the woods now.”
But Maiava was missing his other amazing junior receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, whose absence was “unexpected and arose mid-week” according to head coach Lincoln Riley. The question of who would fill the missing gap was answered by sophomore tight end Walker Lyons, who scored his second touchdown of the season on a 10-yard reception in the third quarter.
Even without one of USC’s most reliable offensive contributors, the depth in the running back position, Lemon’s speed and efficiency, and Maiava getting the tight ends involved made the Trojan offense look confident and versatile.
“Our O-line, backs, tight ends, everybody really played well,” Riley said about the team’s offensive performance. “We broke a lot of tackles. Waymond [Jordan] and Eli [Sanders], those guys that were really impactful. A real complete performance by those guys.”
- Could USC exercise the discipline coaches have been emphasizing through fall camp?
The second-biggest concern was USC’s ability to play disciplined defense and control its penalties. Unfortunately that concern continued, with both broken coverages in the secondary and penalties creating opportunities for the Spartans.
The Trojans looked hopeful in the first three quarters, with only one broken play in the secondary that led to a 42-yard passing touchdown to redshirt junior receiver Chrishon McCray. That discipline was soon overshadowed by the USC’s defensive breakdown in the third quarter.
“We had one early in the game… gave him a 40-yard touchdown pass right there to begin the game, " said Riley about the defensive breakdown play. “We have about one of them a game, and we’ve got to put a lid on it.”
The Trojans were mostly able to control MSU’s run game, though junior quarterback Aidan Chiles was able to get past USC’s defensive line for some rushing yards. USC’s main objective coming into the week was containing Chiles in the pocket and not letting him scramble, when his arm and legs can be deadly.
Riley emphasized the previous week that stopping Chiles was going to be the main challenge defensively.
“Sometimes it’s sacks,” Riley said. “Also, sometimes it’s just trying to affect a guy and make him feel our presence and being able to try to bottle him up, which is a tough task.”
The Trojans definitely made their presence felt with two sacks on Chiles in the game, but he was still able to record three touchdowns and 212 passing yards to keep the game close.
Despite hopefulness in the first three quarters, the Trojans defense began to continue their trend of racking up penalties. Late in the third USC had three penalties that led to MSU going on a long scoring drive: roughing the kicker, hands to the face and defensive pass interference. The Trojans have shown flashes of what their disciplined defense can look like, but now face the problem of maintaining it for all four quarters.
“You’ve to handle the self-inflicted [penalties], and that’s where we have to do better, and we’re going to emphasize it if it’s important,” Riley said.
Another drive altered by a USC penalty came late in the third when a Lemon fumble followed by an offside penalty turned into a Spartan touchdown to senior tight end Jack Velling.
As USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn emphasized in previous games, “penalties like that can kill drives.” It appears to be a point of emphasis for the Trojans that still needs some reinforcement.
- Can USC be consistent through all four quarters?
As mentioned, the Trojans began to slip in the third quarter both offensively and defensively. Last season, USC lost five games where they led in the fourth quarter.
College football games are long,” Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith said. “You win the thing in the fourth quarter. We got ourselves set for a fourth quarter battle, and we didn’t have enough.”
Though they pulled out the victory against the Spartans, not following through late in games is not a new theme for the Trojans. The issue should be a concern as they look to face hungry teams like No. 9 Illinois, No. 21 Michigan and No. 22 Notre Dame in the future.
USC had five penalties in the third quarter alone and recorded a turnover that kept the Spartans one score away from tying. They had few too many risky plays – like a tipped Maiava pass that luckily fell into the arms of USC redshirt senior tight end Lake McRee, saving the near-interception. These plays, had they not worked out in USC’s favor, could’ve completely flipped the energy and made it a tight game in the fourth.
“We’re not satisfied,” Riley said. “We know we’ve got a big opportunity here coming up next week, another road Big Ten game. Those are like gold.”
The Trojans look to improve their consistency in a battle with No. 23 Illinois on Sept. 27th on the road.
Check out more photos from Saturday’s action here:
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