All six of Southern California’s Big Ten Conference losses since joining the league last season have been by one-score margins, a streak that began in 2024 against the Trojans’ visiting opponent on Saturday, No. 15 Michigan.
The Wolverines (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomed USC (4-1, 2-1) to the conference last September by scoring a 27-24 comeback win in Ann Arbor, Mich.
When Michigan visits Los Angeles for this season’s encounter, the Wolverines will see a Trojans team returning to action from a bye and one game removed from a 34-32 loss at Illinois on Sept. 27.
But although USC ran into a familiar scenario for its first loss of the season, the 2025 Trojans are not the 2024 Trojans that finished 6-6 in the regular season. The same is true for Michigan, as coach Sherrone Moore noted during his media availability.
“This is this year, not last year,” Moore said when asked of avoiding a slide similar to 2024. ” … This is a different team, I think, with a different mindset and a different focus.”
A season ago, the Wolverines’ win over the Trojans, decided on an 89-yard drive in the closing minutes, was part of a 4-1 start. Michigan went 3-4 the rest of the regular season.
Following its 24-10 win against Wisconsin last week, Michigan is again 4-1 and a winner of three straight since a 24-13 setback at Oklahoma in Week 2.
“They just adjust,” Moore said of the current Wolverines defense, which comes into Los Angeles allowing just 16.2 points per game. ” … You watch the film and they are physical. They are tenacious. They are fast. They want to hit you.”
That includes hitting opponents in the backfield, where Michigan has racked up 15 sacks — tied for 18th-most in the FBS. Jaishawn Barham, Derrick Moore and Cole Sullivan lead the way, each with multiple sacks on the season.
Generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks has turned into takeaway opportunities for the Wolverines, too, with Michigan having picked off seven passes through its first five games.
Conversely, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava went the first four contests without throwing an interception.
That streak ended at Illinois, but Maiava finished the game 30-of-43 passing for 364 yards with two touchdowns. Both scores, thrown to Makai Lemon, came during a fourth-quarter rally in which USC pulled ahead, 32-31, with 1:55 remaining.
“I’m fired up,” said Maiava of facing Michigan. Last season, Miller Moss started the game in Ann Arbor, making Saturday Maiava’s first opportunity to face the Wolverines in Michigan’s first visit to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1957.
“Super good team we’re about to play. Can’t wait,” Maiava said.
Maiava is now 98 of 139 on the season for 1,587 yards — his 317.4 yards per game trailing only Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson at 343 — and he has thrown 11 touchdowns to the one interception.
Lemon’s 117.8 yards receiving per game, meanwhile, rank second nationally and he has hauled in five touchdown catches for a USC offense averaging 48.4 points per game, third nationally.
“There’s not too much we’ve got to adjust because of Michigan,” Lemon said following USC’s practice on Tuesday. “We’ve just got to keep doing our job, paying attention to detail, and we’ll be good.”
