The USC Trojans have done it.
After a packed home matchup between two Big Ten powerhouses, the Trojans walked away with a confident victory over the Michigan Wolverines, with a score of 31-13.
On the surface of this game, this makes USC look really good, and Dave Portnoy looks very bad after his comments on USC being a “soft program.”
But beyond the dominant win, which has put a newfound morale boost within the South Central squad, what else has this game paved the way for?
It is bigger than just one week. Let’s talk about more timely factors.
The Trojans’ victory over the Wolverines came at a cost, as both starting running backs for the Los Angeles team, junior Waymond Jordan and redshirt senior Eli Sanders, went down with injuries in that game. Jordan looks to be out for four to six weeks recovering from surgery on his ankle, while Sanders is out for the year with a knee injury, a massive blow to the offensive output of a run-heavy offense.
On the plus side, walk-on redshirt freshman running back King Miller claimed his throne against Michigan, putting up 158 rushing yards with only 18 carries and one touchdown, coasting on massive plays and giving the Trojans an enormous edge on the floor. On top of that, Miller was also awarded the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. With Miller picking up main duties for the run game, the strong rushing offense looks to face their biggest challenge yet against longtime rivals, the Fighting Irish.
The emergence of Miller’s skill isn’t the only Trojan spotlight that caught the eyes of the nation.
Junior wide receiver Makai Lemon made an exceptional grab for a touchdown before the end of the first half against the Wolverines in double coverage, which just seemed impossible. Lemon also recorded a strong stat line of 93 yards for nine catches in that game, and his shifty moves on and off the ball gave his play style a story of its own.
Makai Lemon is such a stud (A+ throw here too).
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 12, 2025
Won't be a Combine darling with his size/speed, but he does WR-things (route-running, focus, RAC) at a high level.
Lemon can be the Emeka Egbuka in the 2026 draft class. https://t.co/ekeky7i7FY
Analysts, fans and viewers alike took to social media to post about Lemon’s incredible catch and playstyle, as well as junior Quarterback Jayden Maiava’s impressive throw, both of whom have been playing at an incredibly high level this year.
Lemon was considered the next Emeka Egbuka in the 2026 draft class, a star-studded receiver who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is excelling with similar movements to Lemon.
With a massive surge of momentum behind Lincoln Riley’s Trojans going into one of their most pivotal games of the season against the Fighting Irish, these recent outings might be the shove the players need to push their team into more national consideration.
Beyond all this relevant information, there are many other facets that were at play that night between the Trojans and Wolverines.
Among the attendees at the Coliseum for the Trojans’ clash with the Wolverines was an absolutely stacked list of potential and committed recruits in the upcoming years from 2026 to 2028.
A notable number of five-star, four-star, and three-star recruits attended to watch USC secure a dominant victory over Michigan, despite battling injuries, with a total of 70 in attendance.
Of that total, 24 of those recruits, making up the 2026 recruit class, are committed.
Following the win, amid the shakeup of other teams —such as Penn State’s back-to-back losses and the subsequent firing of head coach James Franklin, which led to the loss of recruits— many Big Ten committees have shifted their view towards USC.
Two new commits have been announced following the win this week, with sophomore cornerback Jakwon Morris, rated as the No. 1 cornerback in Junior College, joining the list, along with another senior cornerback, Jayden Crowder, committing shortly after.
Not only does this reinforce a shaky USC defense, but these commits will continue to pile on as USC boasts one of the strongest recruiting classes for future years.
USC can continue to build momentum with a win against its rival and the No. 13 Fighting Irish next week, creating more recruits and getting more attention.
The more the merrier for the boys in cardinal and gold.