Los Angeles, CA — In front of a raucous Coliseum crowd, freshman walk-on King Miller turned a dream opportunity into a statement performance. The unheralded tailback ran for 158 yards and a touchdown, powering Southern California to a 31–13 victory over No. 15 Michigan on Saturday night.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns, and USC’s defense forced three turnovers as the Trojans (5–1, 3–1 Big Ten) delivered their most complete game of the season.
Playing without two starting offensive linemen and their top three running backs, USC leaned on toughness, tempo, and a walk-on who refused to play like one. The Trojans rushed for 224 yards against what had been the nation’s seventh-ranked run defense.
“We knew we had to answer the challenge,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “You could just feel the grit in this group tonight. They played for each other — physical, disciplined, relentless.”
A Walk-On’s Moment
Miller — elevated from scout team duties just weeks ago — stole the show in dramatic fashion. With the Trojans decimated by injuries at running back, the freshman slashed through Michigan’s front with 49- and 47-yard bursts that set up scoring drives.
He capped his night with a 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, becoming USC’s first walk-on to score since 1994.
“It’s surreal,” Miller said, smiling. “Every carry felt like a dream. Our group always says whoever’s number gets called, we’ll be ready. Tonight was my turn.”
USC’s Big Plays Set the Tone
The Trojans jumped ahead early on Ja’Kobi Lane’s short touchdown grab to finish a crisp opening drive. After Michigan briefly tied the game late in the second quarter, USC answered instantly.
With just seconds before halftime, Makai Lemon made a dazzling 12-yard touchdown catch, tumbling to the turf under tight coverage to give USC a 14–7 lead at the break.
“That play changed everything,” Riley said. “That’s the kind of effort that energizes a whole team.”
Defensive Backbone
Safety Bishop Fitzgerald anchored a fired-up Trojans defense with two interceptions, one of them halting a red-zone drive late in the third quarter. USC’s front pressured freshman Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood throughout, sacking him three times and limiting the Wolverines to just one touchdown through their first six drives.
Underwood finished with 207 yards and two touchdowns, including a late 69-yard strike to Andrew Marsh that trimmed USC’s lead to 24–13. But the comeback bid ended quickly when Bryan Jackson, a backup tailback cleared midgame after being listed as “out,” sealed the win with a 29-yard touchdown run.
Injuries and Missed Chances Doom Michigan
Both teams lost their featured backs before halftime — Waymond Jordan for USC and Justice Haynes for Michigan — but only one side adjusted.
Michigan’s offense sputtered for much of the night, managing just two red-zone scores on eight trips. Their defense produced two takeaways inside the 10-yard line but couldn’t overcome field position and third-down struggles.
“Credit to USC — they played hard and deserved it,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. “We’ve got things to fix. We’ll own it and respond.”
Trojans Regain Their Identity
The win marked USC’s first over Michigan since the 2007 Rose Bowl and could push the Trojans back into the AP Top 25. For Riley, it was a glimpse of the physical brand of football USC has been working to reclaim since joining the Big Ten.
“This is who we want to be — tough, balanced, and together,” Riley said. “Now we’ve got to keep building on it.”
Stat Leaders
USC
Jayden Maiava: 20–31, 265 yards, 2 TDs
King Miller: 21 carries, 158 yards, 1 TD
Makai Lemon: 6 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Bishop Fitzgerald: 2 INTs
Michigan
Bryce Underwood: 18–30, 207 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Andrew Marsh: 4 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD
Donaven McCulley: 5 receptions, 49 yards, 1 TD
Up Next:
USC: Travels to South Bend for a showdown with Notre Dame next Saturday.
Michigan: Returns home to host Washington in a key Big Ten battle.
