Lemon scores through air, on ground in No. 20 USC’s 38-17 win over Northwestern
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Makai Lemon had a touchdown catch and a scoring run while making 11 receptions for a career-high 161 yards, helping No. 20 Southern California stay in the College Football Playoff race with a 38-17 victory over Northwestern on Friday night.
Jayden Maiava passed for 299 yards and connected with Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane for touchdowns as the Trojans (7-2, 5-1 Pac-12) remained unbeaten at the Coliseum this season, showcasing a persistent offensive performance that totaled 482 yards. That total marks the most allowed all season by the stingy Northwestern defense, which also had yet to surrender a 200-yard passer.
King Miller rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown, while Maiava also scored on the ground. Lemon sealed the win with a 4-yard jet sweep touchdown with 11:31 left in the game, securing a victory that keeps the Trojans in the national title conversation well into mid-November for the first time since coach Lincoln Riley’s inaugural season in 2022.
Preston Stone passed for 150 yards, and Caleb Komolafe rushed for 118 yards and a score for the Wildcats (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten), who suffered just their second loss in six games. Griffin Wilde caught an early touchdown pass for Northwestern, which has never beaten USC in six meetings, most recently falling in the 1996 Rose Bowl.
USC’s dynamic receiving duo once again dazzled. Lemon posted 165 total yards, while Lane had seven catches for 74 yards. Lane put the Trojans ahead 28-14 midway through the third quarter with a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch under tight coverage from Fred Davis.
After struggling to sustain significant drives while holding off Nebraska last week, USC opened its first home game in nearly a month with a 16-play drive capped by Lemon’s seventh touchdown catch of the season. Maiava completed nine passes on the drive—the same number he managed the entire night in Lincoln.
Northwestern responded with a 13-play drive that ended with Wilde’s short touchdown catch. Maiava then made a 6-yard touchdown run after USC extended its possession with a clever fake punt on a pass thrown by third-string quarterback Sam Huard, who changed his uniform number before the game to No. 80, the same as the punter Sam Johnson.
Komolafe’s touchdown run tied the game again, and Northwestern nearly took the lead when defensive lineman Najee Story intercepted a pass and rumbled 25 yards toward the end zone. However, Maiava dislodged the ball at the goal line, forcing a touchback. Miller’s 12-yard touchdown run shortly before halftime put USC ahead for good.
Takeaways
Northwestern: The Wildcats’ vaunted pass defense couldn’t slow the Big Ten’s best passing offense enough but performed fairly well on the national stage. They must find at least one more win among Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois to ensure bowl eligibility for the second time in coach David Braun’s three seasons.
USC: The Trojans rose to the occasion on a short week and took care of business—something Riley’s teams have struggled to do repeatedly over the past three seasons. They will likely rise in both the AP Top 25 and College Football Playoff rankings but would need to win out the rest of their schedule to reach Riley’s first Playoff appearance at USC.
Up next
- Northwestern: Hosts Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 15.
- USC: Hosts Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 15.
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AP College Football
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