There are nights in college football that feel like more than just wins. They feel like statements. Friday night lights at the Coliseum was one of those nights, and Makai Lemon made a statement.
In USC’s 38–17 win over Northwestern, Lemon didn’t just load up the statsheet: he defined the game. The junior wide receiver erupted for a career-high 161 receiving yards on 11 catches, matching his personal best in receptions and even adding on a touchdown early in the first quarter and another later in the fourth quarter. This marked his seventh touchdown of the year, putting an exclamation point on a night that reminded everyone why he is still one of the most talked-about receivers in the country.
This was much different than his performance last weekend, when Lemon only had 18 receiving yards on two receptions against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
From the opening drive, Lemon’s chemistry with redshirt junior quarterback Jayden Maiava was on full display. Maiava hit Lemon for a touchdown on USC’s first possession, then followed with a rushing touchdown on the next drive. It marked the third time this season Maiava has logged both a passing and rushing touchdown in the same game. His 10-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Ja’Kobi Lane in the third quarter gave him 17 passing touchdowns on the year, tying his single-season career high from his UNLV days.
But this game wasn’t about the numbers as much as the connection on the field. Lemon has become one of the engines of USC’s offense, and Friday night cemented that status. Every time the ball found his hands, momentum swung USC’s way. His route-running was elite and he was catching everything he could see. He’s evolved from a complementary player on the team into a guy that defensive coordinators have to adjust their game plan around.
Head coach Lincoln Riley seemed to sense something special brewing.
“Lem[on], he’s a good player. He’s a good route runner,” Riley said after the game. “He understands defenses, and he understands our entire offense, not just running routes. He understands what we’re trying to accomplish.”
USC’s win also carried a sense of history. It was the first meeting between the Trojans and Wildcats since the 1996 Rose Bowl, when Keyshawn Johnson — who fittingly led USC out of the tunnel last night — earned MVP honors in a 41–32 victory. The Trojans are now 6–0 all-time against Northwestern, and Riley improved to 41–0 when holding opponents under 20 points.
The defense held the Wildcats to just three points in the second half, marking the second straight week USC has done so. Redshirt freshman running back King Miller added another explosive performance, rushing for 127 yards and one touchdown.
Still, the story of the night was Lemon. He isn’t waiting for his moments anymore: he is instead creating them on his own.
USC is now 7–2 overall and 5–1 in the Big Ten, and are very much alive in the conference race. The Trojans will look forward to playing the Iowa Hawkeyes next weekend to keep their playoff hopes alive. If they’re going to make a legitimate push down the stretch, they’ll need more nights like this where their key players shine like stars.