USC
Michigan
Players Mentioned
No. 11 USC Football Travels To No. 18 Michigan For Inaugural Big Ten Matchup At Big House
September 16, 2024 | Football
BIG HOUSE • BIG TEN
*No. 11 USC will face the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines in its inaugural Big Ten matchup in the Big House - a stage worthy of such a debut.
SHUTOUT SATURDAY
*USC defeated Utah State 48-0 on Saturday, Sept. 7.
*This victory marked USC's first shutout since it defeated UCLA in the infamous 50-0 game in 2011.
*USC is now 7-0-0 all-time against Utah State, with two shutouts (the other in 1930, 65-0).
*USC has allowed 20 points total through its first two games, its lowest total through 2 games since surrendering 15 points in the first 2 games of the 2015 season (Sept. 5 – W, 55-6 vs. Arkansas State, Sept. 12 – W, 59-9 vs. Idaho).
*USC led 10-0 after the first quarter and outgained the Aggies 216-51.
*USC led 27-0 at halftime. It was the first time USC held an opponent scoreless in the first half of a game since Sept. 4, 2021 vs. San José State.
*USC has not allowed any points in the first quarter in its first two games. USC had a total yardage advantage of 379-101 at halftime.
*Utah State was last held scoreless in a game for the first time since Sept. 3, 2022 at Alabama (55-0).
*Holding Utah State to 190 total yards was the fewest yards allowed since USC held Oregon State to 181 total yards in 2014.
*The 103 net yards passing by Utah State tonight was the fewest passing yards surrendered in a game by the Trojans since holding California to 93 net passing yards on Nov. 10, 2018.
*USC's defense gave up just 2 third-down conversions.
*The Trojans rushed for 249 yards against Utah State. It was the most rushing yards totaled since USC rushed for 322 yards against Oregon State in 2018.
*QB Miller Moss, in his first career start at the Coliseum, went 21-for-30 for 229 yards and a TD.
*Moss only played the first half and the first offensive series of the second half.
*QB Jayden Maiava, USC's first Polynesian QB, made his Trojan debut. He went 8-for-11 for 66 yards and recorded 1 carry for 7 yards to score a TD.
*RB Woody Marks tallied 13 carries for 103 rushing yards (7.9 avg.) with 1 TD. It was his third career 100- yard rushing game.
*Marks' 103 rushing yards were prior to the end of the first half. The last Trojan to record at least 100 rushing yards in the first half was Ronald Jones II who rushed for 109 rushing yards in the first half of the Arizona State game in 2017.
*Marks' 33-yard run in the first quarter was a career-long. His previous career-best run was 32 yards, which was set last season while with Mississippi State.
*RB Quinten Joyner recorded a career-high 10 carries for a career-high 84 yards (8.4 avg.) and 2 TDs.
*Joyner had an 80.0 offense grade (9th highest among P4 and independent RBs).
*RB Bryan Jackson had his first 7 carries as a Trojan, rushing for 34 yards (4.9 avg.)
*RB A'Marion Peterson had a career-high 3 carries for a career-high 18 yards (6.0 avg.) with his first career TD.
*USC had 14 receivers make a catch versus Utah State.
*TE Lake McRee led the Trojans with 81 yards on 4 receptions (20.3 avg.). He had a career-long reception of 34 yards in the second quarter.
*WR Makai Lemon tied a career-best with 3 receptions for a career-high 23 yards and scored a TD.
*LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold recorded 7 tackles which tied for the team lead. He also intercepted a deflected pass in the second quarter. The interception was the fourth of his career, first as a Trojan (3 with Oregon State).
*LB Eric Gentry also had 7 tackles, including one sack, the first of the USC defense in the 2024 season. Gentry now has 5 career sacks.
MEET ME IN MICHIGAN
*USC and Michigan have only played 10 times (USC is 6-4), including just twice in a non-bowl meeting.
*This will be teams' first meeting in 18 years (the last meeting was the 2007 Rose Bowl, following 2006 season).
*USC is the only program to play both Ohio State and Michigan 5 or more times and have winning records versus both.
*This will be USC's first visit to Ann Arbor since 1958 (66 years ago) and just the second time ever.
*This will be USC's first visit to state of Michigan since 1987 (37 years ago) when the Trojans visited Michigan State.
*The last time USC played a team from state of Michigan was in 2017 when USC faced Western Michigan it its home opener. That game was known for USC's blind long-snapper, Jake Olson, making his USC debut when he delivered the snap for the final extra point. The moment was the culmination of the remarkable dedication to football shown by Olson, who completely lost his sight in 2009.
MILLER TIME
*After week 2, Moss was the second highest rated starting QB in the Big Ten (10th among all QBs) per PFF with a 90.8 grade.
MAKING HIS MARK
*With his 3 receptions against Utah State, RB Woody Marks extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 47, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
PLAYERS WITH A CATCH IN AT LEAST 25 CONSECUTIVE GAMES
| NAME | POS | SCHOOL | CATCHES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woody Marks | RB | USC | 47 |
| LaJohntay Wester | WR | Colorado | 40 |
| Kyle Williams | WR | Wash. St. | 40 |
| Brant Kuithe | TE | Utah | 35 |
| Jaylin Noel | WR | Iowa St. | 34 |
| Brennan Presley | WR | Ok. St. | 33 |
| Andrew Armstrong | WR | Arkansas | 30 |
| JP Richardson | WR | TCU | 30 |
| Derwin Burgess Jr. | WR | Ga. Southern | 30 |
| Elijhah Badger | WR | Florida | 29 |
| Corey Dyches | TE | California | 29 |
| Barion Brown | WR | Kentucky | 29 |
| Raylen Sharpe | WR | Fresno State | 29 |
| Jordan Moore | WR | Duke | 29 |
| Kaedin Robinson | WR | App. State | 28 |
| Elijah Sarratt | WR | Indiana | 28 |
| Donavon Greene | WR | Wake Forest | 28 |
| Money Parks | WR | Utah | 27 |
| Ife Adeyi | WR | Sam Houston St. | 27 |
| Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State | 26 |
| Joey Hobert | WR | Texas State | 25 |
| Luther Burden | WR | Ohio State | 25 |
MICHIGAN SCOUTING REPORT
*Michigan defeated Arkansas State 28-18 at home on Saturday (Sept. 14).
*The run game was the strength of the offense against the Red Wolves. Michigan rushed for 301 yards on 44 carries.
*Michigan scored 3 times on the ground after entering the game without a rushing touchdown through 2 games.
*RB Kalel Mullings finished the game with a career-high 153 rushing yards on 15 carries and 2 TDs.
*He currently leads the team with 270 rushing yards on 36 attempts with 2 TDs on the season.
*RB Donovan Edwards set season highs with 17 rushes for 82 yards and a TD.
*On Monday (Sept. 16), Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore announced that Alex Orji has moved into the starting QB role.
*Against the Red Wolves, QB Davis Warren finished 11-for-14 passing for 122 yards and 3 INTs.
*Warren has now thrown 6 interceptions this season through 3 games.
*QB Alex Orji entered the game late in the third quarter.
*Orji went 2-of-4 for 12 yards and 1 TD. He also rushed for 27 yards on 3 attempts. Orji's ability to run gives Michigan another way to move the ball.
*The Michigan defense stopped Arkansas State's rushing attack by holding them to a loss of 6 yards on 11 attempts in the first half and just 58 rushing yards on the day (46 of which came in the fourth quarter).
*Michigan had a 21-3 lead at halftime but were outscored 15-7 in the second half.
*Star TE Colston Loveland caught 3 receptions for 30 yards before leaving the field with an injury in the third quarter.
*Loveland has been by far Michigan's most consistent weapon in the passing game (19 receptions for 187 yards, 9.8 avg. and 1 TD) and is considered one of the best tight ends in the nation.
*WR Tyler Morris (5 receptions for 32 yards, 6.4 avg.) missed the game with an undisclosed injury.
RANKINGS
*USC is ranked No. 11 in the latest AP Poll and in 12th the USA Today Coaches Poll.
*Michigan is ranked No. 18 in the latest AP Poll and 17th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
BIG TEN COMPETITION
*Before joining the Big Ten Conference in 2024, USC has won 35 of its last 46 games (and 42 of its last 54) against Big Ten foes.
*USC has twice played 3 consecutive games against Big Ten teams: Northwestern in the 1996 Rose Bowl, then Penn State and Illinois in 1996, and Indiana in the 1968 Rose Bowl, then Minnesota and Northwestern in 1968.
*There have been 5 times (1962-68-72-76-89) when USC has faced 3 Big Ten teams during a single season, but not consecutively.
NEW LEAGUES
*USC is 4-1 the first time it has played a league game as a member of a new conference.
*The Trojans lost their first Pacific Coast Conference outing (12-0 to Cal in 1922 in the first football game played in the Rose Bowl stadium), then won their first time out as a member of the Athletic Association of Western Universities (22-15 at Washington in 1959), Pacific-8 Conference (27-24 at Stanford in 1968), Pacific-10 Conference (37-10 at Oregon in 1978) and Pac-12 Conference (23-14 versus Utah in 2011 at home).
IN SEPTEMBER
*USC has a 198-55-8 (.774) all-time record while playing in the month of September (does not include 3 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 201-55-8, .777).
SUPER BOWL SITES
•Just 3 teams in the nation are scheduled to play at 3 different Super Bowl sites:*USC – All home games are at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; USC defeated LSU 27-20 at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 1; USC will play UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 23
*Notre Dame – The Irish will play Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 19; Notre Dame will face Navy at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 26; The Irish will challenge the Trojans in the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 30
*Navy – The Midshipmen will play Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 26; Navy will face Rice at Rice Stadium on Nov. 2; The Midshipmen will challenge South Florida at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 9.
OLYMPIC RECORD
*USC is 205-70-10 (.737) in seasons that the Summer Olympics have been held (including this season). The Trojans won 4 national titles (1928, 1932, 1972, 2004) and played in 11 bowls (winning 8) during those Olympic seasons. (Does not include 2 wins--including 1 bowl appearance and 1 bowl win--vacated by NCAA penalty; original record: 207-70-10, .739.)
PRESIDENTIAL RECORD
*USC is 223-70-14 (.749) during presidential election years (including this season).
*To be determined later this season, but the Trojans are 127-29-5 (.804) in years when Republicans won the White House and 94-41-9 (.684) when Democrats won. (Does not include 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; revised record: 223-70-14, .748 overall and 128-29-5, .806 with Republicans.)
*USC has won 4 national championships (1928-32-72-2004) during presidential election years.
TURNAROUNDS
*In USC's 135 seasons, the Trojans have lost 4 or more games 45 times. Following 9 of those 4-plus loss seasons, USC "turned it around" to win the Rose Bowl the next year (1938-43-62-67-72-76-78-84-16).
TV OUTLETS
*USC has appeared live on 34 different television broadcasting outlets. The Trojans have won on the air of all but 3 of those outlets (KTLA, Innovative and a local Memphis station).
*This weekend's game on Big Ten Network will be the 35th television broadcasting outlet that USC has appeared on.
*USC has appeared on live national, regional or local telecasts 580 times.
NIGHT TIME
*USC's first night game (5 p.m. or later) was on Oct. 14, 1944 against St. Mary's Pre-Flight in Fresno.
*The first USC night game in the Coliseum was Oct. 23, 1944 versus Washington.
*USC's 10 night games in 2010 and 2017 are a school record.
*USC opened a season with 6 consecutive night games for the first time in 2015.
*USC is 193-80-4 (.704) at night, including 114-36-4 in the Coliseum. (Does not include 5 wins and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 198-81-4, .707 overall, 117-35-4 in the Coliseum including 3 home wins and 1 loss).
*USC had a school-record 32-game win streak at home at night from 1997 to 2010.)
*USC's most night foes: Oregon State (27), Notre Dame (18) and Washington State (16).
HOME SWEET HOME
*Just 13 players across the nation returned to their previous school after spending one or more seasons at another NCAA institution.
| NAME | SCHOOL | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|
| Beau Allen | Kentucky | Ga. Southern & Tarleton State |
| Jori Benson | Utah | UConn |
| Tyler Buchner | Notre Dame | Alabama |
| Vita Calvaruso | Arkansas | Wisconsin |
| Duce Chestnut | Syracuse | LSU |
| Omarion Cooper | Florida State | Colorado |
| Gilber Edmond | South Carolina | Florida State |
| Kyle Ford | USC | UCLA |
| Jam Griffin | Oregon State | Ole Miss |
| Henry Ikahihifo | Nevada | California |
| Lorando Johnson | Baylor | Arkansas |
| Christian Rorie | Duke | Texas State |
| Corey Rucker | Arkansas St. | South Carolina |
TIME ZONE CHANGES
*Travel has been a hot topic throughout the offseason, but the Trojans are no strangers to cross-country competition.
*Just in the last 22 years…
- In 2005 and 2013, USC traveled to Hawaii and Notre Dame.
- In 2010, USC traveled to Hawaii and Minnesota.
- In 2009, USC traveled to Ohio State and Notre Dame.
- In 2007, USC traveled to Nebraska and Notre Dame.
- In 2004, USC traveled to Landover, Md. to play Virginia Tech at FedEx Field, to BYU and to Miami, Fla. to play Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl for the BCS Championship Game.
- In 2003, USC traveled to Auburn and to Notre Dame.
- In 2002, USC traveled to Colorado, Kansas State and Miami, Fla. to play Iowa in the Orange Bowl.
USC-MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS
*USC has 2 players from the state of Michigan (LB Desman Stephens II and LB Jadyn Walker), while Michigan has 10 players from the state of California.
*USC defensive ends coach Shaun Nua coached the defensive line at Michigan from 2019–21.
*USC Director of Player Personnel Weston Zernechel is married to Michigan's Director of Football Operations Erin Zernechel.
*Former longtime USC Band Director Dr. Arthur C. Bartner graduated from Michigan in 1962. He held the role at USC from 1970- 2020.
*USC Associate Athletic Director (Operations) / Galen Center General Manager Paul Neidermire worked at Michigan as Director of Event Management from 2011–2017.
*USC women's basketball assistant coach Wendale Farrow worked as an academic mentor at Michigan.
*USC women's soccer assistant coach Megan Hinz played soccer at Michigan from 2014–17.
*Michigan women's soccer head coach Jennifer Klein served as the associate head coach at USC from 2014-17. She was a part of USC's 2016 National Championship team.
*USC CB Shawn Sehra and Michigan DL Rayshaun Benny both prepped at Oak Park HS.
*USC CB Marcelles Williams, USC P Rey Sanchez and Michigan EDGE Cameron Brandt are from Carson, Calif.
*USC S Kamari Ramsey and Michigan EDGE Cameron Brandt both prepped together at Sierra Canyon.
*USC DT Bear Alexander and Michigan OL Gregg Crippen both prepped at IMG Academy.
*USC DT Nate Clifton, Michigan DB Myles Pollard and Michigan DB Mason Curtis are from Nashville, Tenn.
*USC CB Jacobe Covington, USC SNP Hank Pepper and Michigan K Dominic Zvada are from Chandler Ariz.
*USC LB Desman Stephens II and Michigan WR Logan Forbes are from Clarkston, Mich. and both played at Clarkston HS.
*USC P Eddie Czaplicki, Michigan LB Liam Groulx and Michigan WR Channing Goodwin are all from Charlotte, N.C.
*USC RB Woody Marks, USC CB DeCarlos Nicholson and Michigan K Hudson Hollenbeck all formerly played at Mississippi State.
*USC QB Jayden Maiava and Michigan DB Ricky Johnson were teammates at UNLV.
*USC WR Zachariah Branch, USC S Zion Branch, USC DE Garrett Pomerantz and Michigan RB Micah Ka'apana prepped together at Bishop Gorman HS.
*USC SNP Hank Pepper and Michigan DB Jaden Mangham were teammates at Michigan State from 2022–23.
*USC S Akili Arnold, USC LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Michigan OL Jeffrey Persi are all from Mission Viejo, Calif.
*USC OL Mason Murphy and Michigan OL Jeffrey Persi both prepped at J Serra Catholic HS.
*USC DT Kash Amos and Michigan WR I'Marion Stewart are both from Chicago, Ill.
*USC DE Sam Greene and Michigan DB Shomari Stone are both from Washington, D.C.
*USC LB Ryan Quintanar, USC QB Miller Moss, USC WR Xavier Jordan, USC QB Dylan Gebbia and Michigan QB Davis Warren are from Los Angeles, Calif.
*USC Deputy Athletic Director / COO Jason Cappadoro, USC Men's Basketball Director of Video Operations Titus Shelton and Michigan DB Anthony Arnou were all members of the Fresno State Athletic Department in 2021.
*USC women's volleyball associate head coach Spencer McLachlin and Michigan QB Jack Tuttle were a part of the Indiana Athletic Department in 2022.
SCOUT TEAM PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
*Each week, head coach Lincoln Riley will honor 3 Scout Team Players of the Week.
- Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week: QB Dylan Gebbia
- Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week: DE Kameryn Fountain
- Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Week: TE CJ Woods
