LOS ANGELES — In a remarkable debut, Jayden Maiava threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns while also adding a rushing touchdown, guiding Southern California to a 28-20 win over a struggling Nebraska team on Saturday.
Woody Marks added 146 rushing yards for USC (5-5, 3-5 Big Ten), and Maiava sealed his first game start with a crucial 2-yard touchdown run with just under three minutes left on the clock. As a recent UNLV transfer, Maiava stepped in for Miller Moss this week, as the Trojans aim for bowl eligibility in what has been another challenging season under coach Lincoln Riley.
The Trojans showcased an effective offense, with touchdown receptions from Zachariah Branch, Kyron Hudson, and Duce Robinson, marking only their second victory in their past six outings. Historically, USC has maintained a strong record against Nebraska, remaining undefeated with a record of 5-0-1 in their sporadic matchups.
For Nebraska (5-5, 2-5), Dylan Raiola threw for 191 yards, connecting with Emmett Johnson for a 29-yard touchdown in the first half. However, the team suffered its fourth consecutive loss, and under the guidance of second-year coach Matt Rhule, they have struggled to secure a bowl-eligible spot, facing eight one-score defeats in their last stretch.
In a critical moment, Nebraska advanced to the USC 14-yard line with just five seconds to spare, but a false start penalty ultimately hindered their chances. Greedy Vance Jr. intercepted Raiola’s last pass, sealing the game with authority.
Highlighting Nebraska’s defensive effort, Ceyair Wright returned an early interception for a 45-yard touchdown against USC, where he previously played, and later blocked a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, the Nebraska offense could find the end zone only once under new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, generating a total of 254 yards before their final drive. Raiola has now thrown seven interceptions over the last four games, with two interceptions thrown against USC alone.
Maiava had a rocky start, completing only 2 of 7 passes in USC’s opening drives. His struggles included tossing a pick-six to Wright, but soon after, he found rhythm, completing nine consecutive passes. He connected with Branch for a touchdown on the Trojans’ third drive and then added another with Hudson finding success on a 12-yard pass that was deflected.
A highlight moment came when Maiava hit Robinson for a 48-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. However, the quarterback also had a moment of mishap, fumbling at the USC 16 while evading pressure, granting Nebraska a second field goal.
Wright kept the pressure on by blocking a 27-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter, ensuring the game remained within reach for Nebraska. Nevertheless, Nebraska’s offense faltered, allowing Marks to gain pivotal yards on fourth down before Maiava concluded the drive with a rushing touchdown.
Holgorsen’s tenure began in this matchup, with Nebraska generating 310 yards of offense in his first game as play caller, stepping in during the bye week to rejuvenate a struggling offensive unit that ranked 97th in the FBS for total yards. Interestingly, Holgorsen and Riley have previously collaborated while part of Mike Leach’s Texas Tech coaching staff.
In summary, Nebraska’s offensive struggles persisted even with Holgorsen at the helm, failing to exceed 325 yards of offense for the fifth straight game. Although Raiola had a lackluster performance, Nebraska’s hopes for bowl eligibility still persist as they face off against Wisconsin or Iowa soon. For USC, Maiava’s emergence as a dual-threat option injected excitement back into the offense, reminiscent of Caleb Williams’ era. However, the team is still pressed to secure victories against either UCLA or Notre Dame to avoid finishing the season under .500.
Next week, Nebraska will host Wisconsin, while USC prepares for a road game against UCLA.