The Trojans took the road as they would face off against a closely ranked opponent. USC was ranked No. 21 in the AP Poll, while Illinois was ranked No. 23. So this game was set to be a close one from the beginning.
The dynamic duo of Jayden Maiava and Makai Lemon would help USC’s offense pull through. Jayden Maiava would throw for 264 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Makai Lemons caught 11 passes for 151 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. Lets not forget about Waymond Jordan, who would have two rushing touchdowns.
Despite being a core part in the offense for USC, if pressure is put on Lemon or Jordan, their depth tends to struggle. A more varied distribution or backups stepping up could have helped the Trojans a lot. Illinois also controlled the clock more, which tired out the defenses and allowed them to dictate the tempo. USC needed to be sharper when Illonise had the ball.
These small details are crucial if USC wishes to compete in the Big Ten. The following week, USC will be on a bye week. After their break, they will be facing off against Michigan back home at the Colosseum.
