USC
Illinois
No. 21 USC Football Heads To No. 23 Illinois For 'Big Noon Kickoff' Showdown
September 23, 2025 | Football
CHAMPAIGN BRUNCH
*The No. 21 Trojans travel to Champaign, Ill. to challenge the No. 23 Fighting Illini on Saturday, Sept. 27 for an early 11 a.m. CT kickoff.
*USC and Illinois have only played 13 times (USC is 11-2).
*This will be the teams' first meeting in 17 years (the last meeting was the 2008 Rose Bowl).
*This will be USC's seventh visit to the Gies Memorial Stadium, with its most recent visit dating back to 1996.
*USC has won 11 national championships, Illinois 5.
*USC has appeared in an unprecedented 33 Rose Bowls where it has a 25-8 mark (.758) (not including 1 appearance and 1 loss later vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 34 Rose Bowls, 25-9, .735). That is not only the most Rose Bowl wins of any team, but also the most wins by a school in a single bowl. Illinois has been in the Rose Bowl 5 times and is 3-2.
*The Trojans claim 177 All-American first teamers, while the Fighting Illini have 69.
*USC has 886 all-time wins with a .695 winning percentage, while Illinois boasts 645 all-time wins with a .506 winning percentage. (Not including USC's 14 wins and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 900, .698)
BIG NOON KICKOFF
*FOX's Big Noon Kickoff is set to take place in Champaign.
*Big Noon Kickoff has been at 3 USC road/neutral site games (2022 Pac-12 Championship versus Utah at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, 2023 at Colorado and 2023 at Notre Dame). USC is 1-2 in those road/neutral site games. SPARTANS FALL, TROY STANDS TALL
*In a nighttime clash of mythic proportions, the Trojans defeated the Spartans 45-31 in what was USC's Big Ten Conference home opener.
*USC totaled 523 yards of total offense.
*This was the third time this season that USC has recorded over 500 yards of total offense.
*The Trojans had an extremely balanced offense attack, recording 234 yards passing and 289 yards on the ground.
*In the first half, USC produced 355 total yards of offense. This was the most in a conference game since the Trojans hosted Stanford in 2023.
*Four different Trojans scored TDs: QB Jayden Maiava (2 rushing), WR Makai Lemon (2 – 1 receiving and 1 rushing), TE Walker Lyons (1 receiving) and WR Tanook Hines (1 receiving).
*This was freshman Hines' first TD of his career.
*The Trojans are No. 3 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in team passing efficiency (203.05).
*USC is No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in passing yards per completion (16.37).
*The Trojans are No. 5 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten in scoring offense (52.5).
*Per PFF, USC has the highest grade for pass routes in the Big Ten (84.5)
METEORIC MAIAVA SHINES BRIGHT
*USC QB Jayden Maiava went 20-of-26 (.769) for 234 yards and 3 TDs, and also recorded 4 carries for 31 yards and 2 TDs to lead USC to a 45-31 victory over Michigan State.
*Maiava even flashed shades of former Heisman winner Caleb Williams, using his escape maneuvers to evade the Spartan defenders' grasps.
*Through four games (and through just 13 quarters) , Maiava, who is playing like one of the nation's best, has tallied over 1,200 passing yards, 9 passing TDs, 4 rushing scores and zero turnovers.
*Through four games, Maiava leads the FBS with 7 completions of 50+ yards. Only 4 FBS QBs had more than that all of last season. It's the most by a Trojan since USC Heisman winner Caleb Williams led the country with 10 in 2023 (1 more than Maiava had that year as a freshman at UNLV).
*He is the only Big Ten QB and 1 of 4 FBS QBs this season with 20 or more completions of at least 20 yards.
*Maiava is one of two Big Ten players over the last 20 seasons with 12 total TDs and 0 turnovers through the first four games of a season.
*He leads the nation in passing efficiency (208.8), passing yards per completion (17.99) and yards per passing attempt (12.74), and he leads the Big Ten in passing yards (1,223) and passing yards per game (305.8).
*In Week 4, Maiava had the top passing grade among all Big Ten QBs (88.9), per PFF.
*This was the second time in his career that he has thrown for 3 TDs and rushed for 2, with the last time being against Notre Dame in 2024.
*Maiava's 15-yard TD run with 2:42 left in the first quarter was the longest of his USC tenure.
*His two rushing TDs matched a career high.
*Maiava earned national recognition as a Davey O'Brien Great 8 for his performance against Michigan State.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MAIAVA
*Matt Leinart, USC Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Keep an eye on Jayden Maiava and the Heisman race. It's early but bookmark this…."
*Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "When you have a quarterback like Jayden Maiava who is a dual threat, you always have to pay attention. Don't go to sleep, otherwise his feet will eat!"
POLYNESIAN TRADITION AND APPLE TV COLLAB
*Including USC QB Jayden Maiava, USC's first-ever starting quarterback of Polynesian descent, USC has a rich tradition of Polynesian players that have been integral members of the football program.
*USC currently boasts 15 players of Polynesian decent on the roster: OL Micah Banuelos, OL Ratumana Bulabalavu, WR Makai Lemon, QB Jayden Maiava, OL Alani Noa, DT Kobe Pepe, OL Makai Saina, LB Matai Tagoa'i, OL Erwin Taomi, OL Justin Tauanuu, LB AJ Tuitele, TE Taniela Tupou, OL Elijah Vaikona, OL Willi Wascher and WR Zacharyus Williams.
*On Saturday, Aug. 30, Apple TV debuted a promo video collaboration with USC Football for its hit streaming series Chief of War starring Jason Momoa.
*In the video, centered around USC's Polynesian heritage, Momoa addresses QB Jayden Maiava and the Trojan football team.
WAYMO -- ALL YOU SEE IS TAILLIGHTS
*USC RB Waymond Jordan has become one of the nation's most exciting college football backs.
*Against Michigan State, he rushed for 157 yards in the game and had 25 receiving yards, giving him a season-high 182 all-purpose yards.
*Per PFF, Jordan has the top rushing grade among Big Ten running backs (90.0) throughout the entire season.
*In Week 4, Jordan received the highest rushing grade (91.6) and the second highest offensive grade (91.4) among all Big Ten running backs, per PFF.
*Jordan is No. 7 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in rushing yards (443).
*He is No. 9 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten in scoring (11.5) and No. 10 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (110.8).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT WAYMO
*Matt Leinart, USC Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Been hearing great things about Waymond Jordan all offseason. This kid is going to be special this year."
*Antonio Morales, The Athletic National Writer - "One of the things USC has done consistently well under Lincoln Riley is identify transfer running backs: Waymond Jordan is the latest gem. He just rushed for a 36-yard TD and is up to 132 yards today. Trojans lead 38-13 early in the third."
*Jeff Dubrof, Sports Anchor KCCI-TV (Des Moines, Iowa) - "Learn the name Waymond Jordan folks. He's gonna be one of the best running backs in America this year."
RUN GAME DOMINANCE
*USC owned the line of scrimmage all night which allowed for such a balanced attack by the Trojans.
*USC is averaging 252.3 rush yards per game and 7.1 yards per rush.
*All of USC's rushers averaged over 5.5 yards per carry (RB Waymond Jordan, 8.7; QB Jayden Maiava, 7.8; RB Eli Sanders, 5.6; WR Makai Lemon, 5.5).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT KING MILLER
*Gary Danielson, CBS Sports Analyst - "This guy (Miller) has made big plays. He's demanded and earned carries on this football team."
*Brad Nessler, CBS Sports Analyst - "King Miller has been sensational so far this year."
LEMON IN THE LIMELIGHT
*USC WR Makai Lemon continues to be one of the nation's most exciting college football players and a Biletnikoff contender.
*He finished the game with 225 all-purpose yards, recording 127 receiving yards, 64 kickoff return yards, 23 punt return yards and 11 rushing yards.
*Lemon's 225 all-purpose yards were the most this season by a Trojan and the third most of his career.
*Lemon had 2 TDs in the game (one receiving, one rushing), marking the second time this season he has had multiple TDs in a game.
*Lemon's rushing TD with 8:20 left in the 4th quarter was the first rushing TD of his career.
*Lemon's two rushing attempts in the game were the first carries of his career.
*Per PFF, Lemon has the highest receiving grade among WRs in the Big Ten and the fourth highest in the Power Four (88.4).
*Lemon also has the most yards after carry among any Big Ten Receiver (254) and the second most in the Power Four.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT LEMON
*Kendell Hollowell, Reporter, USC Trojans on SI - "Just put the ball in Makai Lemon's hands and let him do the rest."
*Matt Leinart, USC Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Lane and Lemon remind me of some guys I used to play with."
*Brad Nessler, CBS Sports Analyst – "Makai Lemon after the catch is so dangerous!"
*Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Makai Lemon is a gamebreaker. I call him 'Quick-6' because he can score from anywhere on the field – inside or out."
LOOK OUT FOR LANE
*WR Ja'Kobi Lane is yet another Biletnikoff contender in the Trojan wide out room.
*Although Lane did not see action last week, he is still ranked No. 3 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in yards per reception (26.56).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT LANE
*Cody Kessler, former USC QB and CFB & NFL Analyst - "Ja'Kobi Lane is a walking highlight reel!! 8 does it again, there's just no way you can even guard that!!"
*Matt Zenitz, CBS National College Football Senior Reporter - "Stuff like this is why USC staffers have compared Ja'Kobi Lane to players like A.J. Green and Drake London."
*Jalen McKenzie, former USC and NFL offensive lineman - "Young bull Ja'Kobi Lane upholding USC as WRU."
*Greg McElroy, Always College Football - "Ja'Kobi Lane is NOT HUMAN"
*Former USC WR and current Atlanta Falcons star Drake London was asked if Lane reminds him of himself. He said, "No, he's much more smooth. He makes catches that I don't see in the NFL that much."
*Matt Leinart, USC Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "Lane and Lemon remind me of some guys I used to play with."
DEFENSIVE LINE DOMINANCE
*The Trojan defense line continued to manhandle the trenches all night long.
*After 2.0 sacks on Saturday against the Spartans, the USC defense now has multiple sacks in every game this season.
*After being the nation's most improved defense in 2024 under USC defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, the improvements continue. USC recorded 21 total sacks in 2024, and through just four games, the Trojans have already notched 16.
*The average size of the defensive line-two deep is 300 lbs., compared to last year's 278 lbs.
*USC leads the nation in team sacks (4.00).
*For the fourth game in a row, the USC defense allowed less than 150 rushing yards (it held MSU to 112).
*DT Devan Thompkins recorded a career-high 6 tackles versus Michigan State.
*DE Braylan Shelby tallied 1.5 TFLs while DE Kameryn Crawford (formerly Fountain, who legally changed his name last week) notched 1 TFL.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE DEFENSIVE LINE
*Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst – "The bodies they have up front – these are the type of players that can help them compete for national championships the next few years."
STEWART PLAYS ENDGAME IN THE TRENCHES
*Superstar freshman DT Jahkeem Stewart, known as "Thanos", continued to find his way into the backfield to disrupt the Spartan offense.
*Stewart had a career high 3 tackles and career high 2.0 TFLs
*At just 18-years old (and a reclassified freshman who could still be in high school), the 6-5, 290-pound freshman decorated his stat sheet with 3 tackles, including 2 for loss of 6 yards and 1 QBH.
*In Week 4, he recorded the top grades among all Big Ten defensive linemen in defense (92.5) and run defense (93.3) per PFF.
*His run defense grade was also the highest among all Power Four defensive linemen, and his defense grade was third in the Power Four among defensive linemen.
*Per PFF, Stewart has the No. 2 run defense grade this season (88.7) among Big Ten defensive lineman with over 60 snaps.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT STEWART
*Jason Benetti, FOX Sports Play-By-Play - "It's almost like Jahkeem Stewart knows the opponent's playbook!"
GAME-CHANGING GENTRY
*USC LB Eric Gentry continues to showcase why he is one of the nation's best defenders and the best linebacker in the country.
*He tallied 6 tackles, including 2 for loss of 2 yards. Gentry, who has an extremely high football IQ, continued to put himself and the defense in a position to succeed.
*He leads the nation in solo tackles (6.75) and leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss (1.75).
*He is No. 6 in the nation and no. 2 in the big ten in forced fumbles (.50)
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT GENTRY
*Robert Griffin III, Heisman Trophy winner and FOX Sports Analyst - "This guy is playing linebacker better than anyone else in the country right now."
GAME BALLS
*After the game, USC head coach Lincoln Riley presented game balls to WR Tanook Hines, SNP Hank Pepper, WR Jaden Richardson, DE Braylan Shelby and the Trojan offensive line.
RANKINGS
*USC is ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 22 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. Illinois is No. 23 in both polls.
IN SEPTEMBER
*USC has a 202-56-8 (.774) all-time record while playing in the month of September (does not include 3 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 205-56-8, .777).
TV OUTLETS
*USC has appeared live on 35 different television broadcasting outlets. The Trojans have won on the air on all but 3 of those outlets (KTLA, Innovative and a local Memphis station). USC has appeared on live national, regional or local telecasts 596 times.
IN THE MORNING
*This is USC's first pre-noon kickoff since a 10 a.m. MT kickoff at Colorado in 2023.
USC • ILLINOIS CONNECTIONS
*USC has 1 player from the state of Illinois (DT Kash Amos), while Illinois has 5 players from the state of California.
*USC WR Tanook Hines, USC CB Braylon Conley, USC OL J'Onre Reed, USC DE Jadyn Ramos, and Illinois OLB Alec Bryant are all from Houston, Texas.
*USC WR Corey Simms, Illinois QB Carson Boyd, Illinois LB Jojo Hayden, Illinois OL Melvin Priestly and Illinois OL Brandon Henderson are all from St. Louis, Mo.
*USC RB Eli Sanders, USC S Kennedy Urlacher, USC SNP Hank Pepper and Illinois RB Ca'Lil Valentine all prepped at Chandler HS (Ariz.).
*USC CB Shawn Sehra and Illinois WR Alexander Capka-Jones prepped together at Oak Park HS (Calif.).
*USC DT Kash Amos, Illinois WR Malik Elzy, Illinois RB Aaron Ball, Illinois RB Corey Rashad, Illinois WR Tysean Griffin and Illinois DL Cameron Brooks are all from Chicago, Ill.
*USC S Isaiah Rubin, USC OL Travis Leonard, USC DT Kobe Pepe and Illinois DB Donovan Turner are from Long Beach, Calif.
*USC CB Alex Graham, Illinois CB Des Straughton and Illinois OL Tyler McMillan are all from Detroit, Mich.
*USC LB Eric Gentry, Illinois DL Tomiwa Durojaiye and Illinois OL Zafir Stewart are all from Philadelphia, Pa.
*USC Assistant General Manager Dre Brown previously served as the director of player personnel at Illinois. Brown also played at Illinois, rushing for 902 yards and 7 TDs during his career from 2015-19, including 584 rushing yards and 5 TDs as a senior in 2019. He was also a standout kick returner, ranking 21st in the nation and fifth in the Big Ten in kickoff return average in 2019 (25.3) on his way to leading the Illini in all-purpose yards (1,299).
*USC Director of Football Sports Performance Trumain Carroll served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Oklahoma State in 2014, at the same time that Illinois special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Robby Discher was a graduate assistant for the Cowboys. Carroll was also the director of strength and conditioning at SMU from 2015-17, the same time that Illinois Wide Receivers Coach Justin Stepp was the wide receivers coach for the Mustangs. Additionally, Carroll was also the director of strength and conditioning at Kansas State in 2022, when Illinois Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Thad Ward was the receivers coach for the Wildcats.
*USC Director of Recruiting Strategy Skylar Phan served as director of on-campus recruiting at the University of Houston in 2022, the same time that Illinois linebackers coach Archie McDaniel served in a similar role at Houston.
*USC Head Football Athletic Trainer Dustin West was an associate athletic trainer for football at Arkansas from 2019-20, the same time that Illinois Wide Receivers Coach Justin Stepp was the wide receivers coach there. West was also a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Auburn in 2012, the same time that Illinois Senior Analyst Myers Hendrickson was a defensive quality control analyst for the program.
*USC Senior Offensive Analyst John McDonell coached the offensive line at Tulane in 2012, the same time that Illinois Senior Offensive Assistant Mike Neu was the quarterbacks coach for the Green Wave.
*USC Defensive Analyst / Assistant Linebackers Coach AJ Howard played for the New England Patriots in 2018-19 and was a Southeast area scout for the team in 2021-22, while Illinois Skill Development Coordinator Joe Kim served as the Patriot's director of skill development. Howard also played with Illinois Assistant Running Backs Coach James White while on the Patriot's roster.
*In 2022, USC Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance Derrick Baker was the director of athletic performance for New Mexico, while Illinois Assistant Offensive Line Coach Byron Bell was a graduate assistant (offensive line) for the Lobos.
*USC Director of Recruiting Strategy Skylar Phan served as the director of on-campus recruiting at Houston from 2022-23, during which time Illinois Assistant Linebackers Coach Matt Ellerbrock was a defensive analyst for the Cougars.
ILLINOIS TROJANS
*In USC's history, just 17 football lettermen claim Illinois as their hometown and attended school in the state before coming to Troy: TE Austin Applebee, 2017-18 (Seneca, Ill./Seneca); HB Marger Apsit, 1928-30 (Aurora, Ill./East); C Mercer Barnes, 1949-50 (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora); S Rob Dooley, 2013 (Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy); TB Ben Easington, 2020 (Evanston, Ill./Evanston); TB Ty Isaac, 2013 (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy); CB-WR-RET Adoree' Jackson, 2014-16 (Belleville, IL/ Serra [Calif.]); WR Ryan Kaiser, 2000-01 (Naperviller, Ill./Naperville North); ILB Clay Matthews, 1974-77 (Kenilworth, Ill./New Trier East); OLB Steve O'Grady, 1977 (Flossmoor, Ill./Mendel); LG John Pranevicius, 1940-41 (Chicago, Ill./Crane Tech); WR Kyle Prater, 2011 (Maywood, Ill./Proviso West); DT Art Riley, 1973- 74 (Phoenix, Ill./Thornridge); DL Jack Sullivan, 2023 (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East); QB Frank Swirles, 1939 (Evanston, Ill./St. John's [Wisc.]); QB Quincy Woods, 1997 (Richton Park, Ill./Rich East); WR John Zilka, 2005 (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest).
ILLINOIS SCOUTING REPORT
*No. 9 Illinois fell to No. 19 Indiana 10-63 on Saturday (Sept. 20).
*Indiana outgained Illinois 597 yards to 161.
*QB Luke Altmyer completed 14 of 22 passes for 146 yards and a TD, but was under pressure all night. He had 9 carries for -27 rushing yards. He was sacked 7 times.
*Through four games, Illinois has allowed 16.0 sacks
*The Hoosiers rushed for 312 yards and Illinois rushed for 2 yards.
*RB Kaden Feagin has rushed for 240 yards on 55 carries ( 4.4 avg.) with 3 TDs this season to lead the Illini.
*WR Hank Beatty leads the aerial attack with 21 receptions for 302 yards (14.38 avg.) and 1 TD.
*In its first two games against Power Four opponents this season, Illinois is averaging 2.0 yards per carry and 5.5 sacks allowed per game.
*WR Collin Dixon had four receptions for a career-high 86 receiving yards, including a 59-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
*Illinois' defense was led by captain LB Dylan Rosiek's eight tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss.
*Illinois was 1-for-10 on third downs, taking five sacks on third downs.
*Illinois crossed midfield twice throughout the game.
*Indiana won time of possession 39:47 to 20:17.
*OLB Gabe Jacas is Illinois' leading sack man with 3.5 for minus 14 yards.
*The Illini secondary faced the injury bug against Indiana -- starting CB Kaleb Patterson left the game with an injury, DB Matthew Bailey, Illinois' top tackler (22 on the season) left the game after suffering an injury in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss, DB Torrie Cox Jr. left late in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss, DB Mac Resetich left the game with an injury and S Miles Scott was ejected in the first half for a targeting penalty, though he will be able to play at the beginning of this week's game.
*Additionally, CB Xavier Scott will have surgery this week and is expected to be out the majority of the year.
*DB Jaheim Clarke did not play in the game against Indiana due to injury.
*Illinois returned 16 starters from last year's 10-win season
