No. 25 USC stays perfect with 45-31 win over Michigan State

Jeff Hauser

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No. 25 USC stays perfect with 45-31 win over Michigan State image

Jayden Maiava led Southern California past Michigan State 45-31 late Saturday night. The Trojans QB threw for 234 yards and four total touchdowns without an interception. Just six incompletions in another outstanding outing. 

The Trojans (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) returned home needing to make a statement and they did. Over 500 yards of total offense in a contest they lead a majority of the time. The schedule doesn't get easier for USC with three ranked opponents up next. 

The Spartans (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten) lost a tough game three time zones away with a 3 a.m. ET ending. Aidan Chiles has flashes of greatness, especially on two long touchdown passes of 75 and 42 yards to open and close the game for MSU. However, the time in between the big strikes is what mattered most. 

USC 45, Michigan State 31 Final 

Q4 2:40- SCORE ALERT: USC 45, Michigan State 31

Q4 2:57- SCORE ALERT: USC 45, Michigan State 24

Jayden Maiava run for 1 yd for a TD (Ryon Sayeri KICK)

Q4 6:30 USC 38, Michigan State 24

Spartans have a turnover on downs and can't convert. The Trojans will take over at the MSU 27. Should be able to eat up more clock and likely add another score. 

Q4 8:20- SCORE ALERT: USC 38, Michigan State 24

Makai Lemon run for 4 yds for a TD (Ryon Sayeri KICK)

Q4 8:48- USC 31, Michigan State 24

Trojans are eating up clock with this drive over six minutes. They get bailed out following an incomplete pass by Maiava with a facemask call. First and goal for USC at the 4 

Q4 11:01-USC 31, Michigan State 24

Maiava with another key conversion on fourth down

Jayden Maiava pass complete to Makai Lemon for 10 yds to the MSU 24 for a 1ST down

Q4 14:45-USC 31, Michigan State 24

USC picks up a big third down conversion 

Jayden Maiava run for 13 yds to the USC 45 for a 1ST down

END OF THIRD QUARTER 

USC 31, Michigan State 24

Offensive plays in the quarter

Michigan State: 22 

USC: 7 

Q3 0:40- SCORE ALERT USC 31, Michigan State 24

Aidan Chiles pass complete to Jack Velling for 1 yd for a TD (Martin Connington KICK)

Q3 5:50- USC 31, Michigan State 17 

Spartans defense come up with a turnover. Jayden Maiava pass complete to Makai Lemon for 7 yds Makai Lemon fumbled, recovered by MSU Grady Kelly at USC 25

Q3 5:58-SCORE ALERT USC 31, Michigan State 17

Aidan Chiles run for 4 yds for a TD (Martin Connington KICK)

Spartans drive down the field eating up 5:24 

Q3 9:36-USC 31, Michigan State 10

Back-to-back USC penalty calls (Running Into The Kicker and 12 men on the field) keeps the drive alive for Michigan State. 

Q3 11:22-SCORE ALERT USC 31, Michigan State 10

Jayden Maiava pass complete to Walker Lyons for 10 yds for a TD (Ryon Sayeri KICK)

Q3 13:00-USC 24, Michigan State 10

Waymond Jordan run for 40 yds to the MSU 17 for a 1ST down

Q3 13:23-USC 24, Michigan State 10

Spartans offenses goes three and out with another punt

Ryan Eckley punt for 57 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the USC 43 , Makai Lemon returns for 23 yds to the USC 43

Michigan State receives second half kickoff from USC 

Team Stats

Halftime MSUUSC
1st Downs918
3rd down efficiency3-65-7
4th down efficiency0-00-1
Total Yards173355
Passing137191
Comp/Att9/1314/20
Yards per pass10.59.6
Interceptions thrown00
Rushing36164
Rushing Attempts1318
Yards per rush2.89.1
Penalties3-314-32
Turnovers00
Fumbles lost00
Interceptions thrown00
Possession14:0815:52

HALFTIME: USC 24, Michigan State 10

Q2 0:00- USC 24, Michigan State 10

Martin Connington 56 yd FG MISSED

Q2 0:37-SCORE ALERT USC 24, Michigan State 10

Jayden Maiava pass complete to Tanook Hines for 7 yds for a TD (Ryon Sayeri KICK)

Q2 0:42- USC 17, Michigan State 10

Michigan State linebacker Wayne Matthews put on a stretcher and taken off the field with an unknown injury. He stayed on the field for several minutes with both teams in shock. 

Q2 1:00- USC 17, Michigan State 10

Eli Sanders run for 15 yards to the MSU 9 for a 1ST down

Q2 1:21- USC 17, Michigan State 10

Waymond Jordan run for 20 yards to the MSU 24 for a 1ST down. Trojans working towards red zone

Q2 1:56- USC 17, Michigan State 10

Jayden Maiava pass complete to Makai Lemon for 17 yards to the USC 47 for a 1ST down

Q2 2:00- USC 17, Michigan State 10

Trojans have slowed down a bit on this drive, but moved up to the 30-yard line facing a third and 3 

Q2 4:19- USC 17, Michigan State 10 

The Trojans backed up to own 11-yard line after unsportsmanlike penalty. MSU looks for a stop before haltime and will get the second half kickoff. 

Q2 4:26-SCORE ALERT USC 17, Michigan State 10 

Martin Connington nails 29-yard field goal to bring the Spartans within one score.

Q2 5:50- USC 17, Michigan State 7 

1st and goal for Michigan State after putting together a good drive off the big stop. 

Q2 8:30- USC 17, Michigan State 7 

Spartans defense get a big stop on fourth down, forcing the Trojans into a turnover on downs. MSU takes over at own 45

Q2 9:22- USC 17, Michigan State 7 

Michigan State forced to punt. Ryan Eckley punt for 57 yds, fair catch by Makai Lemon at the USC 11

Q2 11:36- SCORE ALERT USC 17, Michigan State 7 

Jayden Maiava pass complete to Makai Lemon for 40 yds for a TD (Ryon Sayeri KICK)

93 yards in two minutes, including a major penalty

Losing Hall for Michigan State is a big deal! And on the next play after targeting, touchdown by USC.

Q2 12:14- USC 10, Michigan State 7

A game-changing targeting call on Michigan State's Jordan Hall, who was ejected. 

Jayden Maiava pass complete to Lake McRee for 6 yards to the MSU 40 after the foul.  

Q2 14:10- USC 10, Michigan State 7 

Chiles sacked on a huge third down play by the Trojans. Michigan State is forced to punt. Ryan Eckley punt for 55 yds, fair catch by Makai Lemon at the USC 7

END OF FIRST QUARTER 

USC 10, Michigan State 7 

Q1 0:32-USC 10, Michigan State 7

A defensive holding call give MSU a first down at their own 43

Q1 2:30-USC 10, Michigan State 7

Spartans start at own 23 after USC kickoff. Aiden Chiles gets another shot to respond

Q1 2:38 SCORE ALERT USC 10, Michigan State 7

Jayden Maiava run for 15 yds for a TD (Ryon Sayeri KICK)

USC has a huge misdirection play that goes to the house

Can Jayden Maiava and the USC offense get rolling again on their second possession?

Q1 5:27 SCORE ALERT- Michigan State 7, USC 3

Aidan Chiles pass complete to Chrishon McCray for 42 yards for a TD (Martin Connington KICK)

A great first drive for the Spartans, who wasted no time going 75 yards in six play with 3:36 off the clock

Q1 9:06 SCORE ALERT- USC 3, Michigan State 0 

Ryon Sayeri 25 yd FG GOOD

The Trojans can't punch in their first drive with a great defensive stand by MSU

Q1 10:02- No Score

USC takes the opening kickoff and drives down into the red zone.   

LIVE updates: Follow along with all the action as USC battles Michigan State in Week 4 

USC and Michigan State meet late Saturday night in Los Angeles in what shapes up as an intriguing clash between contrasting styles. Both teams enter unbeaten at 3-0, but the numbers suggest USC holds a decisive edge, especially on the offensive side.

The 25th-ranked Trojans lead the nation in total offense, averaging 604 yards per game, with a balanced attack built around quarterback Jayden Maiava. Through three contests, Maiava has thrown for 989 yards and six touchdowns without an interception, while running back Waymond Jordan has added a powerful ground element at 240 rushing yards per game. USC is scoring 55 points per outing, second-best in the FBS, and converting third downs at a 51.7% clip.

Michigan State counters with a more modest output, ranking 72nd nationally in total offense at 386.7 yards per game. Quarterback Aidan Chiles has been efficient, completing over 71% of his passes, but the Spartans have struggled to sustain consistency, particularly in the passing game. Freshman receiver Nick Marsh has emerged as a playmaker with three touchdown catches.

Defensively, USC remains vulnerable through the air, allowing 233 passing yards per game, but it has tightened in key moments, ranking second nationally in red zone defense. Michigan State’s defense has been sturdy against the run, which is ninth in the country at 64.3 yards per game, but susceptible to the pass, where it sits near the bottom at 118th.

Turnovers and discipline could be critical. USC owns a +5 turnover margin but is also one of the most penalized teams in the nation. Michigan State, far more disciplined at just 35 penalty yards per game, will need that advantage to offset USC’s firepower.

Kickoff is set for 11 p.m. EDT on FOX, with USC as an 18.5-point favorite.

Jeff Hauser

Jeff Hauser is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has over twenty years of experience and is a two-time Emmy Award winner, Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award voter. Among the events he has covered are the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, World Series, World Cup, and WBC Boxing. Hauser is a regular guest on FOX Sports and ESPN Radio. He previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, SB Nation and Athlon Sports.