LOS ANGELES, CA — Under the bright lights of the Coliseum, Makai Lemon turned in the best performance of his career, piling up 161 receiving yards, a touchdown catch, and a scoring run as No. 20 USC cruised to a 38–17 win over Northwestern on Friday night.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava led the charge with 299 passing yards and two total touchdowns, while King Miller rushed for 127 yards and a score. The Trojans (7–2, 5–1 Big Ten) racked up 482 total yards — the most Northwestern has allowed all season — and remained perfect at home as they continued their push toward the College Football Playoff picture.
“We knew this would be a real test,” said USC coach Lincoln Riley. “Two games in a short span, a cross-country turnaround, and facing a rested, physical team. Our guys answered that challenge in a big way.”
First Half: USC Strikes Early, Northwestern Hangs Around
USC wasted no time showing off its offensive firepower. The Trojans opened the game with a 16-play, 75-yard drive capped by Lemon’s 7th touchdown catch of the season. Maiava completed nine passes on that opening series — matching his total from last week’s defensive slugfest in Lincoln.
Northwestern (5–4, 3–3) responded with a 13-play drive of its own, ending in a short touchdown grab by Griffin Wilde. But the Trojans answered with creativity and precision. After faking a punt to keep a drive alive, Maiava finished it off himself with a 6-yard rushing touchdown to regain the lead.
Wildcat running back Caleb Komolafe tied the game again with a 10-yard run, but a bizarre sequence shifted the momentum for good — and it came courtesy of Maiava’s hustle. After Northwestern’s Najee Story, a 300-pound lineman, intercepted a pass and lumbered toward the end zone, Maiava chased him down and punched the ball loose at the goal line. The ball rolled into the end zone for a USC touchback.
“That’s Jayden in a nutshell — fearless,” Riley said. “You don’t want your quarterback throwing himself into a 300-pounder, but that kind of effort inspires a whole team.”
Moments later, King Miller broke free for a 12-yard touchdown, sending USC into halftime up 21–14.
Second Half: Lemon and Lane Light It Up
The Trojans’ dynamic receiver duo of Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane took over in the second half. Lane made a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab midway through the third quarter, juggling the ball while blanketed by a defender to extend USC’s lead to 28–14.
“Anytime the ball’s in the air, I just try to make something happen,” Lane said.
Lemon later added a 4-yard jet sweep touchdown — his second score of the night — to cap the victory and seal back-to-back Big Ten wins for the Trojans.
Meanwhile, Northwestern’s offense sputtered. Quarterback Preston Stone threw for just 150 yards, and the Wildcats’ ground game couldn’t find the same rhythm it had early.
Takeaways
Northwestern: The Wildcats’ pass defense, one of the Big Ten’s best, finally met its match. They’ll need at least one more win — against Michigan, Minnesota, or Illinois — to lock up bowl eligibility.
USC: The Trojans showed maturity and toughness on short rest, something that’s eluded them in recent seasons. With momentum building, they’re poised to climb the CFP rankings — but they’ll need to win out to stay in the Playoff hunt.
Up Next:
Northwestern: Hosts Michigan on Nov. 15
USC: Returns home to face Iowa on Nov. 15
