A fierce Nebraska effort, especially on defense, and a hostile black-clad crowd pushed No. 23 USC to the brink, but in the end, the Trojans came back to defeat the Cornhuskers, 21-17, Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The Huskers defense slowed down USC’s top-ranked passing offense. Jayden Maiava was 9-for-23 for 135 yards and one interception, 176 yards under his season average. But the Trojans’ run game was effective, rushing for 202 yards and over five yards per carry, right at their season average.
The game couldn’t have started any better. Nebraska forced a three-and-out on the first drive and took over on their 25. The Huskers churned their way down the field on a 14-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up over seven minutes of game time. Emmett Johnson was a factor early, running six times for 28 yards. The short passing game was mixed in as well, with Dylan Raiola hitting four-of-six passes for 39 yards, with the possession capped by a spectacular 14-yard touchdown from Raiola to Dane Key.
The teams traded three-and-outs before USC took over at its 19. The Trojans started to run King Miller and minced down the field, gaining 74 yards in 11 plays before settling for a 48-yard field goal to cut Nebraska’s lead to 7-3 with 13:23 to go until halftime. USC tallied another field goal on its next drive to cut the NU lead to 7-6 with 6:07 to go until halftime.
After the ensuing kickoff went into the end zone for a touchdown, the Huskers took over at their 25. Raiola was five-for-five on the drive, gaining 52 yards. After a pass interference call moved Nebraska to the USC 10, Johnson ran it in to boost the Huskers’ lead to 14-6 with 1:37 to go until halftime.
The Huskers went three-and-out on their next drive, but Andrew Marshall picked off Maiava’s pass on the first play of the ensuing possession. Nebraska took over at the Trojans’ 34. After gaining one first down, Raiola dropped back to pass on first down from 23-yard line and was sacked by Anthony Lucas, forcing a fumble. The loose ball was recovered by Kameryn Crawford and USC took over at its 33 as Raiola was helped off the field with an apparent ankle injury.
The Trojans moved the ball to near midfield. But on fourth-and-two from the 47, Bryan Jackson was stuffed after a one-yard gain, with Javin Wright and Riley Van Poppel locking him down. The Huskers took over at their 46 and drove into USC territory before Kyle Cunanan attempted a 52-yard field goal, but missed off the right upright to keep the game 14-6 with 5:23 to go in the third quarter.
Taking over at their 39, the Trojans pounced on the opportunity. On third-and-five from the 39, Maiava hit Tanook Hines for a 29-yard gain to the NU 32. Maiava ran for 16 yards on the next two plays, the second one notching the touchdown. USC went for two and Miller ran in the two-point conversion to tie the game at 14 with 3:32 remaining in the third quarter.
Nebraska took the kickoff to the 23. The Huskers picked up four first downs before the drive sputtered at the Trojans’ 20. This time, Cunanan banged through a 39-yard field goal to put the Huskers back on top, 17-14, with 12:53 to go in regulation.
USC started its next drive at the 25. On second down, Maiava hit Jaden Richardson for a 43-yard completion to the Nebraska 32. Maiava ran for a first down to convert a third down on the next set of downs. On first down from the 21, the Trojans drew a pass interference call to move the ball to the NU six. Miller wasted no time cashing in the penalty for a six-yard touchdown run to give USC its first lead of the game, 21-17, with 10:06 to go in the game.
The Huskers gained one first down on their next drive but had to punt. USC burned four-and-a-half minutes on their next drive and punted the ball to the NU four. Nebraska gained two first downs, but on fourth-and-one from the 27, Johnson stumbled as he took the handoff, fell down at the line of scrimmage short of the marker, and USC ran out the clock.
Raiola finished the game 10-for-15 for 91 yards and a touchdown, but with his status for next week in question. Lateef was five-for-seven in his first work in a competitive game, but for just seven yards. He also ran six times for 18 yards. Johnson rushed 29 times for 165 yards and a touchdown. Hunter was NU’s top receiver with five catches for 30 yards. Miller paced USC’s rushing attack with 129 yards on 18 carries and a touchdowns, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Despite the subpar passing game, Maiava rushed 11 times for 62 yards and a touchdown. Hines was the leading receiver, with two catches for 41 yards. Desmin Stephens, II, led USC’s defense with 10 tackles. Wright had his fifth straight 10-plus tackle game with 11 stops, a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
The Huskers will now take on UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on KLIN and Froggy 98.