On Friday night at the Coliseum, Jayden Maiava erased a costly interception with a full-body tackle that forced a fumble out of the end zone and swung momentum to No. 19 USC in a 38-17 win over Northwestern. The play came after a rough stretch for the Trojans quarterback, whose pass had been intercepted moments earlier and marked his sixth turnover in five weeks. That forced fumble and touchback returned possession to USC and set up a sequence that produced a 14-point second-quarter swing. By the end of the night, the Trojans had answered early concerns with a stronger second half performance, particularly on defense and in the running game.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: No. 19 USC defeated Northwestern 38-17 on Friday night at the Coliseum.
- Jayden Maiava completed 24 of 33 passes for 299 yards, two passing touchdowns and one interception; he also recorded his sixth rushing touchdown of the season.
- Makai Lemon finished with 11 catches for a career-high 161 yards; Ja’Kobi Lane had seven catches for 74 yards, including a one-handed touchdown.
- Walk-on-turned-starter King Miller broke a 55-yard run and scored on the drive that followed the forced fumble, helping create a 14-point swing.
- Northwestern’s Caleb Komolafe had 117 all-purpose yards in the first half and finished with 158 yards total.
- USC’s defense held Northwestern to just 103 total yards in the second half, limiting the opponent to a single field goal after halftime.
- A trick play early — a fake punt pass completed by backup Sam Huard (wearing No. 80) — extended a USC drive that led to a rushing touchdown by Maiava.
- The win marked USC’s fifth conference victory of the season and preserved their slim hopes for College Football Playoff consideration.
Background
USC entered Friday’s matchup carrying lingering doubts about offensive consistency and defensive stops after a difficult road trip to Nebraska and a rain-marred loss at Notre Dame two weeks earlier. Jayden Maiava had struggled in parts of that stretch, including a nine-completion game at Nebraska and multiple turnovers that raised questions about ball security. The Trojans also faced a shorter-than-usual recovery window following the Nebraska game, creating concerns about preparation and stamina.
Northwestern arrived in Los Angeles with a physical running attack led by Caleb Komolafe, who had shown an ability to gain chunk yardage and force second-level problems for opponents. For USC, the season narrative had begun to hinge on whether the program’s defense could stabilize and whether younger offensive contributors such as Makai Lemon and King Miller could sustain more consistent production. Lincoln Riley’s staff also demonstrated a willingness to use creative personnel and special-teams wrinkles to change momentum.
Main Event
The game’s pivotal sequence unfolded early in the second quarter after Northwestern sliced into the red zone and Najee Story intercepted a Maiava throw. As Story rumbled toward the pylon, Maiava hustled downfield, lowered his shoulder into the 288-pound defensive tackle and jarred the ball loose. The ball then bounced out of the end zone for a touchback, returning possession to USC and wiping out Northwestern’s scoring threat.
On the very next play from scrimmage, King Miller exploded through a seam for a 55-yard run that flipped field position and quickly put the Trojans back in scoring position. Two plays later Miller punched in a touchdown, turning what had been a potential momentum swing for Northwestern into a 14-point advantage for USC. Teammates lauded Maiava’s willingness to sacrifice his body — a moment that teammates and coaches described as emblematic of his leadership.
USC also manufactured an early advantage with a 16-play opening drive that included nine completions from Maiava and concluded with a scoring connection to Makai Lemon. Later in the first half the Trojans ran a successful fake punt executed by backup Sam Huard (who had been wearing No. 80 on the play); the completion extended a drive that culminated in a Maiava rushing touchdown, pushing his season rushing TD total to six.
Northwestern countered with effective early rushing, and Caleb Komolafe’s first-half workload produced 117 all-purpose yards by halftime. But after the second-quarter turnover and USC’s response, the Wildcats managed just 103 total yards in the final two quarters as USC’s defense tightened gaps and improved tackling fundamentals.
Analysis & Implications
Maiava’s play bottled two narratives at once: it highlighted both his turnover vulnerability and his athletic toughness. Statistically, he rebounded from the interception to deliver nearly 300 passing yards and multiple touchdowns, suggesting the coaching staff has reason to trust his dual-threat skill set going forward. The forced fumble was as much a psychological turning point as a statistical one — converting a potential Northwestern score into a Trojans possession had an immediate scoreboard and morale impact.
Defensively, USC’s second-half adjustments were salient. After yielding chunk runs early, the Trojans limited Northwestern’s ground game and won more first downs on defense, disrupting the Wildcats’ game plan. Holding an opponent to 103 yards after halftime is a measurable improvement and could signal a more resilient unit in conference play, where defensive stops often determine close outcomes.
Special teams and creative play-calling added tangible value. The fake punt completion by Huard was a low-frequency, high-reward decision that extended a drive and helped sustain offensive rhythm. In tight playoff races, those calculated gambles can produce outsized returns — both in field position and in keeping opposing units off balance.
For USC’s postseason outlook, the win preserves mathematical paths to a College Football Playoff berth but does not eliminate the need for strong performances down the stretch. The team must balance the momentum from this victory with improvements in ball security and consistent defensive play to remain viable in CFP discussions.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Stat Line |
|---|---|
| Jayden Maiava | 24/33, 299 pass yards, 2 pass TD, 1 INT; 6th rushing TD of season |
| Makai Lemon | 11 receptions, 161 yards |
| Ja’Kobi Lane | 7 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD |
| King Miller | Long rush 55 yards; key touchdown on ensuing drive |
| Caleb Komolafe (Northwestern) | 158 all-purpose yards (117 in first half) |
The table highlights how production was distributed: USC’s passing attack delivered nearly 300 yards while the ground game supplied the decisive explosive run that immediately followed the turnover. Northwestern’s early rushing edge (Komolafe’s first-half output) diminished as USC’s defense tightened after halftime, reflected in the Wildcats’ 103 second-half yards total.
Reactions & Quotes
Players and coaches framed the forced fumble as a defining act that erased a mistake and galvanized the locker room. Teammates noted Maiava’s mentality and willingness to risk his body for a critical stop.
“I just thought I’d go out there and sacrifice my body for my brothers.”
Jayden Maiava, USC quarterback
Maiava’s concise explanation underlined a leadership-by-example theme that teammates echoed. After the play, wide receivers and running backs praised his intensity and situational awareness, despite the interception that preceded the tackle.
“We’ve got some creative guys on staff.”
Lincoln Riley, USC head coach
Riley highlighted coaching creativity after the fake punt and other situational calls. His remark spoke to the staff’s willingness to deploy unconventional approaches to tilt field position and momentum.
“Just shows you what type of player he is.”
Makai Lemon, USC wide receiver
Lemon’s comment emphasized locker-room confidence in Maiava’s impact beyond the stat sheet, while King Miller and others celebrated the collective response that turned an early hiccup into a decisive advantage.
Unconfirmed
- Exact internal evaluations of Maiava’s long-term starting status and any changes to depth-chart plans have not been publicly detailed by the coaching staff.
- How this single win will affect USC’s College Football Playoff ranking in the next CFP poll remains to be seen and depends on outcomes around the country.
Bottom Line
Jayden Maiava’s tackle-for-fumble was the defining moment in a game that showcased both the Trojans’ resilience and areas that still require tightening. Statistically, Maiava rebounded from an interception to post near-300 passing yards and direct rushing scores; teammates and coaches framed the play as emblematic of a collective identity shift.
USC’s defense delivered a markedly improved second half by limiting Northwestern to 103 yards, and the offense made the most of a few explosive plays to secure a 38-17 victory. The win keeps USC alive in conference standings and preserves hope for postseason objectives, but sustained consistency will be necessary for the Trojans to achieve those goals.