The theme for this weekend is simple: start fast.
Two weeks ago against Illinois, a slow start from USC’s defense cost them the game, and the echoes of that breakdown still reverberate through the program.
According to defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, the solution isn’t complicated: commit to playing a USC brand of ball. It’s about controlling what they can control — communication, assignment discipline, and physicality — rather than dwelling on what went wrong in Champaign.
“Practicing hard and practicing the right way, is process-oriented and on gameday when they hit the field it’s not like practice, they have to go out there especially up front and set the tone early,” Lynn said.
But intention and execution are two different things, and Michigan’s arrival at the LA Coliseum will test whether the Trojans have truly learned from their mistakes.
Players were able to heal up after the bye week, and some needed the recovery more than others.
“Man I was just glad to get time off, my hands were all messed up and a few days was good to get them back into somewhat of shape,” sophomore defensive tackle Jide Abasiri said.
Abasiri stressed that they must be more disciplined against a potent Wolverine offense.
“During the bye, we were all just itching to get back. We’re hungry and weren’t gonna let Illinois beat us twice so it’s time to show out,” he said.
Against Illinois, USC’s defensive front was physically overwhelmed on the ground — a performance that Michigan’s coaching staff undoubtedly studied closely. The Wolverines, boasting the nation’s 13th-ranked rushing offense, will look to exploit those same weaknesses with their physical running game led by junior running back Justice Haynes.
USC’s defensive unit presents a puzzling contradiction. The Trojans have been effective in generating pressure, ranking second in the Big Ten sacks with 17. Defensive lineman DeCarlos Nicholson has played increased snaps, while redshirt freshman cornerback Marcelles Williams has stepped into a starting role and contributed to a pass rush that can disrupt opposing offenses.
Yet the bright spots are overshadowed by glaring weaknesses that have been ruthlessly exposed. The most alarming? USC’s pass defense ranks eighth-worst nationally, allowing an average of 10 explosive plays per game. The Trojans have given up 51 pass plays of 10 yards or more — and that’s despite not facing a single top-40 passing offense this season.
Over the past two games against Michigan State and Illinois, the Trojan defense has allowed over 800 yards and given up 65 points.
Vulnerability is particularly pronounced over the middle of the field, where opponents have consistently found success. Injuries have also compounded the defensive backfield’s struggles with cornerback starters redshirt senior Prophet Brown and sophomore Chasen Johnson both sidelined.
With cornerback depth murky entering this critical stretch of the season and arguably the defense’s best player, junior safety Kamari Ramsey, playing out of position, the Trojans’ defensive scheme must make tangible improvements.
That means playing with a heightened sense of physicality at the line of scrimmage, filling running lanes more effectively and tackling more consistently in space. It especially means not giving up the big play.
The reset button Lynn is searching for requires more than motivation. It demands that every defender understands their assignment and matches Michigan from the opening snap. No more slow starts. No more communication breakdowns. No more giving up easy yards.
Junior defensive end Braylan Shelby emphasized how getting back to the fundamentals will help his teammates have a better output on Saturday.
“Being able to slow down football and take it back to what we know is key, we have to build ourselves back day-by-day,” Shelby said.
Saturday marks the second straight season the two football powers will meet, but it means even more for USC. It’s a chance to prove that last week was an aberration rather than a trend.
It’s an opportunity to show they can start fast, finish strong and play their brand of football when it matters most with the Spirit of Troy rallying behind them.