Ann Arbor – Many thought this would be a “backs against the wall” game for Michigan, as they were playing as home underdogs for the second time in three weeks and needed a positive start to Big Ten play.
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore made a change at the quarterback position earlier this week, handing the job to Alex Orji, who is known more for his ability as a runner and was hoping to provide an offensive spark. The No. 18 Wolverines improved their record to 3-1 with a 27-24 comeback win over No. 11 USC in the Trojans’ first Big Ten game as a new conference member.
Kalel Mullings finished the game with 17 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 37 seconds left. The Wolverines’ defense pulled off a major shock, as cornerback Will Johnson made his second pick-six of the season and edge Josaiah Stewart made three tackles for loss, including two sacks. Johnson missed most of the fourth quarter with an apparent injury, but said on UM radio after the game that he was “fine.”
RESULT: Michigan 27, USC 24
Michigan led 14-3 at halftime but struggled in the second half, paying the price for a fumble deep in its own zone. With just over eight minutes left, running back Donovan Edwards fumbled the ball, giving USC possession at the Michigan 18-yard line. Three plays later, the Trojans, facing a third-and-16 attempt, took a 24-20 lead on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Miller Moss to Ja’Kobi Lane with 7:01 left.
But the Wolverines, who had not recorded a first down in the second half, responded. They had a false start on the second play of the drive, then Orji ran 10 yards to tight end Marlin Klein. Mullings then broke free on a 63-yard run to the USC 17-yard line with 2:12 left in the game.
On the second and decisive attempt from the 3-yard line, Michigan made the odd decision to pass and Orji threw an incomplete pass. Mullings then ran 2 yards and made the fourth and decisive attempt at the USC 1-yard line. Michigan reclaimed the lead, 27-24, when Mullings scored the winning score on a 1-yard run.
Michigan, without injured tight end Colston Loveland, the team’s top receiver, totaled 322 yards on offense but only managed 32 yards passing. Orji completed 7 of 12 carries for 32 yards and had 43 rushing yards on 13 carries.
USC (2-1, 0-1) trailed 14-3 early in the second half but took the lead in the third quarter. The Trojans outgained Michigan 180-6, with 96 rushing yards and 84 passing yards, and converted 4 of 6 third-down attempts. They had eight first downs to Michigan’s zero.
The Trojans drove 75 yards on the first drive in 12 plays and scored on a 9-yard pass from Moss to Duce Robinson to cut the lead to 14-10. Moss passed 10 times during the drive and completed three passes on third down.
After a three-and-out for Michigan and USC’s clear momentum, cornerback Johnson gave the Wolverines a boost with his second pick-six of the season. This time he intercepted a pass from Moss and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. That was the third of Johnson’s career, a Michigan record. However, Dominic Zvada missed his first extra point of the season with a low kick that deflected, increasing Michigan’s lead to 20-10.
USC reached the Michigan 6-yard line on the next drive, but on third-and-6, Moss was sacked for the second time by Stewart and lost the ball. Kenneth Grant recovered the ball, who ran 18 yards, but then USC running back Woody Marks forced a fumble and recovered it. The Trojans scored two plays later, cutting the score to 20-17 on a 16-yard pass from Moss to Jay Fair.
The Wolverines extended their lead to 14-0 when Edwards ran 41 yards for a touchdown with just under seven minutes left in the first half. At that point, Michigan had outscored USC 197-14 — 176 rushing yards for the Wolverines — and had nine first downs to one.
USC, which started with three consecutive three-and-outs, finally got on the scoreboard on the ensuing drive. The Trojans managed two big pass plays of 24 and 42 yards, but the eight-play, 64-yard drive ended with an incomplete pass on first down, a loss of one yard on the next play and another incomplete pass due to pressure from Derrick Moore on Moss. The Trojans got within 14-3 with a 29-yard field goal by Michael Lantz.
The Trojans struggled with difficult field position in the first half. Their first drive started at the USC 6-yard line, another at the 13-yard line, and the last at the 8-yard line. Their average starting position was the 17-yard line. On that final drive of the half, the Trojans drove 41 yards in nine plays to the Michigan 39-yard line, but on third-and-8, Moss was sacked for the second time, this time by Grant.
At halftime, Michigan had a 220-yard lead to USC’s 118, but the Wolverines had only 21 passing yards and the Trojans had minus-16 rushing yards; they lost 21 yards on two sacks.
Michigan was 2-for-2 on fourth down, but it was the Wolverines’ defense that set the tone in the first quarter, limiting the Trojans to three consecutive three-and-outs and just three yards. They were minus-6 offensive yards after two possessions, and Stewart had a sack for a loss of 9 yards.
The Wolverines took a 7-0 lead on their third possession and maintained that lead with a second fourth-down conversion that gave Mullings a one-yard gain. On the next play, Mullings broke free after a well-blocked play and scored a 53-yard touchdown.
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