Ann Arbor – Many thought this would be a “backs against the wall” game for Michigan, as they are underdogs at home for the second time in three weeks and need a positive start to Big Ten play.
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore made a change at quarterback earlier this week, giving the job to Alex Orji, who is better known for his runner skills, and hoping for an offensive spark. The 18thThe 11th-ranked 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 with 159 yards on 17 carries 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 and paid the price for a fumble deep in its own territory. With just over eight minutes left, running back Donovan Edwards fumbled and gave USC the ball at the Michigan 18-yard line. Three plays later, the Trojans were 3-1.rd-and-16, took a 24-20 lead with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Miller Moss to Ja’Kobi Lane with 6:56 left.
But the Wolverines, who had no 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. Leading rusher Kalel Mullings then ran 63 yards to the USC 17-yard line with 2:12 minutes left.and-and-3, Michigan made the odd decision to pass and Orji threw incomplete. Mullings then ran two yards and made the 4th and 1. Michigan took the lead again, 27-24, when Mullings scored the game-winning point with a one-yard run.
Michigan, without injured tight end Colston Loveland, the team’s best receiver, rushed for 323 yards but only managed 32 passing yards. Orji completed 7 of 12 passes for 32 yards. He rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries.
USC trailed 14-3 at the start of 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 none.
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 score 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 Will 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 Michigan’s 6-yard line on the next drive, but on 3rd and 6, Moss was sacked for the second time by Josaiah Stewart and lost the ball. Kenneth Grant recovered the ball, running 18 yards, but then USC running back Woody Marks forced a fumble and recovered it. The Trojans scored two plays later, cutting the deficit 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 positions 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 this final drive of the half, the Trojans drove 41 yards in nine plays to the Michigan 39-yard line, but at 3rd-and-8, Moss was sacked for the second time, this time by tackle Kenneth Grant.
Michigan outgained USC by 220 yards, but was 118 yards behind, the Wolverines managed just 21 yards passing, and the Trojans were minus 16 rushing yards — they lost 21 yards to 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-and-outs and just three yards. After two possessions, they were minus-six offensive yards, and Josaiah Stewart had a sack for a loss of nine yards.
The Wolverines took a 7-0 lead on their third possession and maintained that lead on their second fourth-down conversion when Mullings gained a yard. On the next play, Mullings ran 53 yards for a touchdown after a well-blocked play.
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