Stripes of yellow painted the Big House on Saturday, and it was clear from kickoff that maize was the dominant color in the crowd. After a bleak first half and energizing third and fourth quarters, a battle between two historic teams ended with maize on top and gold defeated, 27-24.
USC entered the Big Ten with hopes of an immediate impact but faced a stern test against the defending champions. The Trojans' first drive of the game was a microcosm of their offensive struggles throughout the first half. They were backed up to their own six-yard line after a Michigan punt and managed just three plays before being forced to punt from their own one-yard line.
The Wolverines, however, found their rhythm early. They converted a fourth down on their first possession, with quarterback Alex Orji rushing for three yards. Shortly after, Kalel Mullings burst through the middle of the USC defense for a 53-yard touchdown, giving Michigan a 7-0 lead.
USC's offense struggled to gain any traction, with their first quarter characterized by several three-and-outs. They went into halftime trailing 14-3. The Wolverines' early success was largely built on their rushing attack, which tallied 199 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
The Trojans found a spark in the third quarter, however, with running back Woody Marks leading the charge. Marks broke free for a 65-yard run, setting up a touchdown pass from Miller Moss to Jay Fair, which cut the deficit to three points.
USC's defense also tightened its grip in the second half, holding Michigan scoreless in the third quarter. The Trojans even took their first lead of the game when Eric Gentry forced a fumble by Donovan Edwards, allowing USC to capitalize on the turnover with a touchdown pass from Moss to Ja’Kobi Lane.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Michigan responded with a late scoring drive capped by Mullings' 63-yard run that put the Wolverines back ahead by three points. The Trojans were unable to mount a comeback in the final minutes, ultimately falling to the Wolverines in their Big Ten debut.
The game was a physical contest, marked by several hard hits and a couple of players leaving the game due to injuries. The Trojans will look to bounce back in their next game against a tough opponent in Ohio State, while The Wolverines prepare for their next Big Ten matchup against a formidable opponent in Penn State.
