SAEDNEWS: Michigan State suffered a crushing 45-31 loss to USC in their Big Ten opener, hampered by injuries, penalties, and a defense unable to contain the Trojans’ explosive offense.
Michigan State football took a long trip west, but the journey proved brutal. Against a potent USC team, the Spartans battled through injuries, defensive breakdowns, and costly penalties, yet ultimately fell 45-31 in their Big Ten opener on Saturday, September 20.
The Spartans showed resilience, cutting a 21-point USC lead to just seven late in the third quarter. But a costly facemask penalty on nickelback Ade Willie set up a Makai Lemon 4-yard touchdown, cementing the Trojans’ victory and leaving Michigan State (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) to lick its wounds during the upcoming bye week.
Quarterback Aidan Chiles led Michigan State’s offense with 12 completions on 21 attempts for 212 yards and three touchdowns, yet the team lost four players to injury, including linebacker Wayne Matthews III, who required a backboard and neck brace before being transported to a local hospital. Thankfully, Matthews’ motor skills were intact, but the incident underscored the Spartans’ ongoing struggles with player health.
Aidan Chiles
wayne matthews iii
The offensive line was also hit hard. Left tackle Stanton Ramil exited late in the first quarter, replaced by redshirt freshman Rustin Young. Earlier injuries included guard Luka Vincic, sidelined for the season, and linebacker Jordan Hall, ejected for targeting. Michigan State’s depleted roster tested the team’s depth in ways that proved overwhelming against USC’s relentless offense.
Stanton Ramil
Quarterback Jayden Maiava accounted for three passing touchdowns and added two more on the ground, finishing 20-for-26 for 234 yards while rushing for 31 yards. Makai Lemon contributed with 127 receiving yards and a touchdown, plus another rushing score, while running back Waymond Jordan amassed 157 yards on 18 carries. USC’s combination of speed and power left Michigan State’s defensive corps unable to contain the Trojans’ high-octane attack.
Jayden Maiava
Makai Lemon
USC, entering the game with the nation’s top offense averaging 604 yards per game, ended with 517 total yards, including 283 on the ground. The Spartans struggled to pressure Maiava, recording only one quarterback hurry and no sacks, even as USC rotated starters late in the game.
Michigan State briefly rallied in the third quarter. After USC surged to a 31-10 lead, Chiles led a 4-yard touchdown run and connected with tight end Jack Velling for another score, cutting the deficit to 31-24. The Spartans’ defense made a crucial fourth-down stop, giving hope for a dramatic comeback.
However, USC responded immediately. Lemon’s 4-yard touchdown on a jet sweep extended the lead, followed by another scoring run from Maiava, putting the game out of reach. Chiles capped the Spartans’ scoring with a 75-yard touchdown to Omari Kelly, but USC recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Michigan State’s defensive coordinator Joe Rossi faced another difficult night. USC broke multiple long plays — five passing plays over 17 yards and ten rushing plays of 10+ yards — exploiting the Spartans’ depleted linebacker and secondary corps. Injuries and fatigue left the defense vulnerable, showing a stark contrast to last year’s performance.
After the brutal road trip and late-night game, Michigan State heads into its bye week before traveling to Nebraska on October 4. It will be the first visit to Nebraska since a narrow 9-6 loss in 2018, and the Spartans will need to regroup and recover key players to remain competitive in the Big Ten.
