USC defeated Northwestern 38–17 to secure a comfortable win. USC covered by 6.5; Game went Over by 0.5.
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At kick-off, conditions at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum were Partly cloudy, 63.5°F, Feels Like 63.5°F with winds of 0.9 mph. Weather is not expected to be a meaningful factor in this game. Historical weather data for this game is preserved in the panel below.
63.5°F
Northwestern's normally stingy pass defense allowed 299 yards and 2 touchdowns to USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, the most yards allowed by the Wildcats all season. This was a significant departure from their previous performances, as they had not allowed a 200-yard passer before this game.
Caleb Komolafe rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown, providing a strong ground presence. The Wildcats also had a 13-play drive ending in a touchdown pass to Griffin Wilde, showing they can sustain drives against top competition.
Defensive lineman Najee Story intercepted a pass and was tackled at the goal line, with the ball being knocked out for a touchback. This play could have given Northwestern the lead and shifted momentum, but instead resulted in a missed scoring chance.
With a 5-4 record, Northwestern needs one more win in their remaining three games against Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois to become bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons under coach David Braun.
Northwestern will host Michigan on Saturday, November 15. The Wildcats will need to improve their pass defense and capitalize on scoring opportunities to compete against a strong Michigan team.
USC's passing attack was dominant, with Makai Lemon (11 catches, 161 yards, 1 TD) and Ja'Kobi Lane (7 catches, 74 yards, 1 TD) combining for 18 receptions and 235 yards. This performance came against a Northwestern defense that had not allowed a 200-yard passer all season, showing the Trojans' ability to exploit even stingy secondaries.
The Trojans rushed for 183 yards, led by King Miller's 127 yards and a touchdown, plus Jayden Maiava's 6-yard rushing score. This balance kept Northwestern's defense off-balance and allowed USC to control the clock, especially in the second half.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava passed for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns, but his most impactful play was a forced fumble at the goal line on an interception return, preventing a Northwestern touchdown. His toughness and leadership were praised by coach Lincoln Riley as setting the tone for the team.
USC opened the game with a 16-play touchdown drive, a stark contrast to their struggles against Nebraska the previous week. This demonstrated improved offensive rhythm and execution, which will be crucial against Iowa's stout defense.
The Trojans remain unbeaten at the Coliseum this season and have won back-to-back conference games, keeping them in the College Football Playoff conversation. To stay alive, they must continue winning, starting with a home game against Iowa.
Northwestern travels 1,749 miles to this game, a cross-country trip.
Northwestern arrives with a 2-hour body clock disadvantage.
USC won by 21 to secure a comfortable win.
USC covered the spread.
The total went Over by 0.5 points.
Blue Chip Analytics power ratings favour USC (22.8) over Northwestern (6.5) by 16.3 points on a neutral field. After adding home field advantage, the rating-implied line may differ meaningfully from the market spread. USC brings a meaningful home field advantage to this matchup (Blue Chip HFA: 2.2). Add this to the neutral-site differential to arrive at a venue-adjusted line.
Blue Chip Analytics power ratings represent expected point margin against an average FBS opponent on a neutral field, calculated from game data sourced via CollegeFootballData.com (CFBD). They are one input: cross-reference with the travel, rest, and weather data above before drawing conclusions.
USC won and USC covered the spread.
