{"id":364162,"date":"2025-11-08T09:06:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T09:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/364162\/"},"modified":"2025-11-08T09:06:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T09:06:19","slug":"with-one-big-hit-jayden-maiava-pushes-no-19-usc-past-northwestern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/364162\/","title":{"rendered":"With one big hit, Jayden Maiava pushes No. 19 USC past Northwestern"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

His pass had just been picked off, a most unfortunate turn at a most unfortunate time for USC<\/a>, when Jayden Maiava<\/a> took off sprinting toward the pylon.<\/p>\n

The past month to that point hadn\u2019t been one to remember for the Trojans quarterback. The week before, at Nebraska, Maiava completed just nine passes<\/a>. Two weeks before that, he struggled through a rain-soaked loss in South Bend<\/a>. This interception was his sixth in five weeks \u2014 and a pass he surely preferred to have back.<\/p>\n

But as Northwestern\u2019s Najee Story<\/a> rumbled toward that same pylon with ball in hand, USC\u2019s quarterback closed in, lowered his shoulder and catapulted his entire body toward the 288-pound defensive tackle. On a Friday night filled with strange twists for the Trojans, who walked away with an 38-17 win<\/a> over Northwestern, none was more consequential than that moment, as Maiava\u2019s hit jostled the ball loose and it bounced in the end zone and out of bounds.<\/p>\n

\n

THIS PLAY WAS CRAZY \ud83d\ude31<\/p>\n

Jayden Maiava throws an interception to Najee Story and then Maiava forces Story to fumble into the end zone for a touchback \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/7bJqzJAuZo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cShoot,\u201d Maiava said, \u201cI just thought I\u2019d go out there and sacrifice my body for my brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In this case, his sacrifice made all the difference. The fumble gave USC possession \u2014 and turned the tide in a game<\/a> that the Trojans absolutely couldn\u2019t afford to give away as they hang on to slim hopes of making the College Football Playoff.<\/p>\n

It barely seemed to matter that Friday\u2019s game-breaking moment began with a bad mistake from Maiava. Teammates were too in awe of their quarterback to remember that part.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust shows you what type of player he is,\u201d USC wideout Makai Lemon<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe does everything,\u201d added running back King Miller<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s Superman, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

But it was USC\u2019s defense that played hero from then on. A unit that seemed not long ago like a glaring problem for USC held Northwestern to just three points in the second half, the second time in two games the group allowed just a field goal after halftime.<\/p>\n

\"USC <\/p>\n

USC defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart wraps up Northwestern running back Caleb Komolafe during the first half Friday.<\/p>\n

(Eric Thayer \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just kind of got settled in,\u201d safety Bishop Fitzgerald said. \u201cWe started stopping the run. We won early downs. So we got them off schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

The schedule was its own issue coming in, after a shorter-than-usual turnaround from the Nebraska trip. But after halftime, none of the concerns that followed USC into Friday night would look as pressing by Saturday morning. Northwestern, after gashing the Trojans early on the ground, managed just 103 total yards in the second half.<\/p>\n

Maiava also was much sharper as a passer. Aside from his second-quarter interception, Maiava completed 24 of his 33 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. More than half of that output came from Lemon, who bounced back from his worst week of the season to reel in 11 catches and a career-high 161 receiving yards. Fellow wideout Ja\u2019Kobi Lane was nearly just as good with seven catches for 74 yards, including an acrobatic, one-handed score.<\/p>\n

Once again, the Trojans\u2019 offense benefited from a big performance from Miller, the walk-on-turned-starter who continues to thrive since taking over USC\u2019s backfield. It was Miller who would make Northwestern pay after losing that fumble in the end zone in what amounted to a 14-point, second-quarter swing.<\/p>\n

\"USC <\/p>\n

USC running back King Miller carries the ball ahead of the Northwestern defense in the second half Friday at the Coliseum.<\/p>\n

(Eric Thayer \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

On the very next play, Miller burst through a hole in Northwestern\u2019s defense and sprinted 55 yards. Two plays later, he punched in a touchdown to give USC a 21-14 lead. It was the last points the Trojans would need to secure their fifth Big Ten victory of the season.<\/p>\n

USC tried to set the tone right away with a 16-play opening drive. Maiava had nine completions on the first possession alone, capped by a touchdown to Lemon.<\/p>\n

But after matching that with its own long touchdown drive, Northwestern immediately stopped USC for what appeared to be a three and out. The Trojans sent out the punt team.<\/p>\n

Only after the fact would anyone notice that the player wearing the usual No. 80 worn by USC punter Sam Johnson<\/a> was in this case backup quarterback Sam Huard<\/a>, whose number had officially been changed from No. 7 weeks earlier, in anticipation of this particular call.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got some creative guys on staff,\u201d USC coach Lincoln Riley<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

The diabolical call paid off. Huard completed the fake punt pass for a first down. Five plays later, Maiava took off toward the end zone and punched it in for his team-leading sixth rushing score of the season.<\/p>\n

Northwestern matched that effort, too, marching down the field behind running back Caleb Komolafe<\/a>, who had 117 all-purpose yards in the first half alone. He finished with 158.<\/p>\n

USC\u2019s defense didn\u2019t get its first stop until the final five minutes of the first half. But on the ensuing drive, Northwestern very nearly flipped the game on its head, as Maiava threw that pick in the middle of the field.<\/p>\n

No one could\u2019ve predicted that, seconds later, the game would turn again, back in the Trojans\u2019 direction. Miller ripped off a long run soon after that, and USC found its stride, cruising the rest of the way to victory.<\/p>\n