If you’ve read Trojans Wire staff writer Tim Prangley’s Keys to Beating Michigan, you know the main key for USC was to stop the run. Most of the time, most of the snaps, most of the drives, USC did just that. Michigan was stopped in the first 10 minutes. Michigan was stopped in the first 26 minutes of the second half. But Michigan had three run plays that totaled more than 150 yards and averaged more than 50 yards on three runs. Those three plays scored Michigan three offensive touchdowns, two more than many expected Michigan to score against the USC defense. USC’s Miller Moss threw six interceptions for the Wolverines, which led to Michigan scoring four touchdowns and 27 points (missed PAT). For Michigan, it was enough to hand USC a brutal 27-24 loss on a day when tight end Colston Loveland couldn’t play and Michigan’s passing game was completely ineffective. Michigan relied on its running game and was able to overwhelm USC and put up meaningful reps. As a percentage of plays, Michigan didn’t do well. As for big plays (three and a final fourth-down touchdown run), Michigan did extremely well. USC walked away rambling to themselves after losing a game they frankly should have won. Below are Twitter reactions to this very excruciating loss. Trojans Wire will have more on this in the next 48 hours.
loose
USC got off to a terrible start on offense, with a false start putting them back at their own 3-yard line on 2nd-and-13.
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) September 21, 2024
Difficult first quarter
Four punts, 21 total yards, one first down. That’s B1G football.
— Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) September 21, 2024
3 yards!
End of 1st quarter: Michigan 7, USC 0. Troy’s offense is awful right now, they can’t get anything done on the ground and Michigan’s DL is pressuring Miller Moss.
USC had three total yards at the end of the first quarter.
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) September 21, 2024
First Half of Q2 Analysis
Michigan has the game completely going its way, and the Wolverines will look to win with under 100 passing yards.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) September 21, 2024
It continues
USC’s WR/TE continue to not make contested catches and have defenders weeping the ball away.
— USC TrojansWire (@TrojansWire) September 21, 2024
Unacceptable
Michigan’s pass rushers continue to get free.
This offensive line needs a paint-peeling dressing down at halftime, only to be punked.
— USC TrojansWire (@TrojansWire) September 21, 2024
USC loses three points
Josh Henson needs to do better.
Hensen is in a bind…a very bind. Jonah needs to move to LT in the second half and LR needs to hire the offensive line coach from NIU.
— Real Talk with Brian (@RealTalk_Brian) September 21, 2024
Ugly first half
It was a tough first half for the USC offensive line. Right guard Alani Noah went to the bench and Michigan had steady pressure with two sacks. USC was -16 yards rushing. How the offensive line would fare on the road has been a question going into the year. It looked bad throughout the first half.
— Connor Morrissette (@C_Morrissette) September 21, 2024
McCree’s injury
CBS showed Lake McCrea on the sideline, the USC tight end looking emotional. It must be something serious.
— Ahmad Akkaoui (@AhmadMAkkaoui) September 21, 2024
New OL line-up starts well in the second half
Mason Murphy moves to LT and Tobias Raymond will be at RT.
— RJ Abeytia (@RJ_Abeytia) September 21, 2024
Halftime adjustment
The USC coaching staff made adjustments at halftime.
We’ve had very little of that in 15 years (2016, 2017, 2022 being exceptions).
— USC TrojansWire (@TrojansWire) September 21, 2024
crusher
Miller-Moss has hinted at that possibility in the past two games.
killer.
— USC TrojansWire (@TrojansWire) September 21, 2024
Crazy Play
Woody Marks redeemed himself for a pass-blocking fumble by running 50 yards to get the ball away from a sluggish defensive tackle — like, draw the ball.
— Rich SC (@OriginalRichSC) September 21, 2024
Woody Marks on the Spot
Woody Marks is truly a genius.
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) September 21, 2024
Memorable Plays – Keep fighting!
Fumble!
Something the defense hadn’t done before, and now it’s finally happening.
Now is the time to do it!
— USC TrojansWire (@TrojansWire) September 21, 2024
clutch!
Miller stood tall in the second half at the Big House on third down and threw darts.#B1G-time! #USC
— USC TrojansWire (@TrojansWire) September 21, 2024
break
#USC He picked the worst time in the game to make the worst tackle.
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) September 21, 2024