LOS ANGELES — USC’s Greedy Vance Jr. iced the Trojans’ 28-20 win against Nebraska with an interception of Huskers quarterback Dylan Raiola in the end zone as time expired at the Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
It was a one-point game for most of the fourth quarter, kept close by Nebraska’s Ceyair Wright blocking USC’s 27-yard field goal attempt at the start.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, who made his first career start in place of Miller Moss, scored the game-clinching touchdown on a 2-yard rush with just over two minutes left. He finished with three passing touchdowns as well.
The loss marked Nebraska’s fourth in a row. Coach Matt Rhule made an adjustment at offensive coordinator prior to the game, giving play-calling duties to former Houston and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen — who joined Nebraska on Nov. 5 — and demoted Marcus Satterfield to tight ends coach.
The Huskers have games against Wisconsin and Iowa left to break their seven-year bowl drought — the longest in the Power 4. USC also needs another win for bowl eligibility and could clinch it against UCLA or Notre Dame.
The Athletic’s analysis:
Jayden Maiava is up and down in his first start as USC’s quarterback
The numbers look OK. Maiava, a UNLV transfer, was 25-of-35 passing for 259 yards, three touchdowns and an interception but the actual gameplay tells a different story.
Maiava rushed for 20 yards and opened up some of the play-action aspects of the offense, particularly on a 48-yard touchdown pass to Duce Robinson in the third quarter.
But Maiava looked raw and was fairly erratic. There were lows: a pick-six in the first quarter and a third-quarter fumble that led to a field goal. That’s 10 points right there.
Maiava’s first highlight play came in the first quarter when he evaded a sack, scrambled to the sideline and lofted a 28-yard pass to Robinson. His arm strength and athleticism were obvious on the play. A Nebraska defender camped right under the pass and probably should’ve picked it, but Robinson made a great play on the ball. Maiava threw a touchdown on the next play.
Maiva’s second touchdown pass was a 12-yard throw to Kyron Hudson in the second quarter. Hudson made a tremendous catch on the ball after it initially deflected on him. On the pass’ flight though, it looked like it was going to be picked by a Cornhusker defensive back.
Maiava played with fire throughout the game and USC’s offense didn’t look dramatically better than it was earlier in the season — though it seemed a bit more explosive. It was Maiava’s first game action since late last season, so we’ll see if the decision-making improves with more reps. The good news for USC is that it can try to iron some of these issues out after a win. — Morales
Nebraska’s ‘new’ offense shows flaws of the past
The altered Nebraska offense on Saturday looked a lot like the Nebraska offense of October and early November. Really, what else could an observer expect?
Holgorsen, the imported offensive coordinator who took over the play calling from Satterfield after Holgorsen joined the Huskers less than two weeks ago, does not work magic. Nebraska manufactured one touchdown drive. It could not convert a USC turnover at the Trojans’ 16-yard line into a touchdown.
The Huskers did show a couple of new wrinkles, notably a more consistent tempo than the slog of a pace at which Satterfield’s system operated. Raiola incorporated Luke Lindenmeyer and Janiran Bonner into the passing game. Running back Emmett Johnson got loose as a check-down option for a 29-yard touchdown reception — just the second touchdown throw for Raiola since Week 5.
Holgorsen and the offensive staff appeared to make a nice adjustment at halftime in finding room between the tackles for Dante Dowdell and Emmett Johnson to run. The Huskers used to gash the Trojans for gains of 20, 15 and 13 yards on their opening two possessions of the second half.
But as Rhule said last week, he wants an offense that scores points. Nebraska got 13 from that side of the ball. — Sherman
Nebraska fizzles when faced with opportunity
The vibe at the Coliseum felt like a low-level bowl game. USC enjoyed no home-field advantage, with the seats about half full of Nebraska fans. The pre-Thanksgiving bowl vibe was not so odd, considering that, of late, neither USC nor Nebraska has played like a team that deserves to participate in a December or January postseason event.
The day began with a dust-up at midfield when Nebraska players gathered on the “SC” logo for a prayer upon arrival at the stadium. The Trojans did not approve. It was reminiscent of the response the Huskers received from Colorado players last season before the Buffaloes put a beatdown on Nebraska.
Hard feelings on Saturday extended into the game. Nebraska linebacker Stefon Thompson hit Woody Marks out of bounds in the USC bench area. Thompson was flagged. USC players rushed to Marks’ defense.
Meanwhile, the Trojans were flagged five times for 70 yards in the first half.
A lack of discipline and unopportunistic play often marks bowl games with little at stake. And this might have been as close to bowl season as Nebraska will get in 2024. The Huskers lost a fourth consecutive game despite receiving opportunities from USC and its new starting quarterback, Maiava, to assert control.
After USC transfer defensive back Ceyair Wright housed an interception for Nebraska in the first quarter, balls passed through the hands of defensive backs Tommi Hill and Malcolm Hartzog that led to Maiava TD throws.
Nebraska in the third quarter failed to turn chances from the 11- and 9-yard lines into touchdowns.
Let’s hope the Huskers enjoyed the weather and neutral-site atmosphere. They might not experience it again this year. — Sherman
(Photo of Jayden Maiava: Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Images)
