USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, Trojans’ defense rally for road win over Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. — During the two weeks since USC’s deflating defeat at Notre Dame, Lincoln Riley reiterated the same rallying cry with his team. Their destiny, he told them, was still in their hands. A special season was still within reach. A College Football Playoff run was still in play.

All it would take was his Trojans putting the past behind them and playing their best football.

No. 23 USC 21, Nebraska 17, end of game

USC started on the Nebraska 27.

Jayden Maiava was credited with a loss of nine yards as USC worked to run out the clock with 1:26 remaining.

Nebraska burned its final timeout.

Maiava took a knee and one-yard loss to keep the clock rolling.

And Maiava took one last knee for a loss of two yards to run out the clock on a USC win.

No. 23 USC 21, Nebraska 17, 1:30 left in the fourth quarter

USC stuffed the run when the Trojans needed it most.

Nebraska started on its 4 after the punt.

Emmett Johnson ran for four yards. TJ Lateef ran for 10 yards before Johnson ran for another five yards before the two-minute warning was triggered. Lateef passed for a one-yard loss. Lateef then ran for five yards.

On fourth-and-one at the Nebraska 27, Johnson ran up the middle for no gain and turned the ball over on downs with 1:30 remaining in the contest.

No. 23 USC 21, Nebraska 17, 3:27 left in the fourth quarter

USC started on its 25 after the punt

King Miller ran for 13 yards.

Jayden Maiava’s pass intended for Walker Lyons was incomplete, but Nebraska was called for an offside penalty and pass interference.

Miller ran for five yards. Miller was dropped for a loss of one yard. Maiava then ran for seven yards and a first down at the Nebraska 36.

Bryan Jackson ran for one yard. Maiava tried to roll away from pressure but was tackled for a loss of five yards. On third-and-16 at the Nebraska 40, Maiava rolled away from pressure again and tossed an incomplete pass.

USC took a delay of game penalty, moving back to the Nebraska 45 and giving the Trojans more room to punt.

USC punted and the ball was downed at the Nebraska four-yard line.

No. 23 USC 27, Nebraska 14, 8:01 left in the fourth quarter

Nebraska started on its 25 after the touchback.

Emmett Johnson ran for 13 yards.

TJ Lateef’s deep pass was broken up by USC’s Marcelles Williams and fell incomplete. Lateef passed for one yard and then tried to run out of trouble for a one-yard loss.

Nebraska punted to the USC 25.

No. 23 USC 21, Nebraska 17, 10:10 left in the fourth quarter

USC started on its 25.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Makai Lemon before connecting with Jaden Richardson with a 43-yard pass.

King Miller ran for three yards. Maiava passe to Lake McRee for si yards. On third-and-one at Nebraska 23, Maiava plunged forward for two yards.

On first down at the Nebraska 21, Maiava tossed an incomplete pass but Nebraska was called for pass interference.

Miller then ran for a six-yard touchdown and USC hit the extra point.

Nebraska 17, No. 23 USC 14, 12:56 left in the fourth quarter

Nebraska started on its 23 after the kickoff.

Emmett Johnson ran for six yards. TJ Lateef ran for five yards. Lateef then tossed what appeared to be a complete pass that was reviewed and upheld for a gain of 11 yards.

Lateef tossed a pass under pressure for a loss of five yards, but USC was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

On first down at the Nebraska 45, Johnson ran for one yard before time expired in the third quarter.

Johnson ran for 23 yards to the USC 21.

Lateef fumbled a snap and recovered it for a loss of seven yards. He tossed an incomplete pass and Johnson ran for eight yards to the USC 20.

Kyle Cunanan hit a 39-yard field goal to give Nebraska the lead.

Nebraska 14, No. 23 USC 14, 3:32 left in the third quarter

USC started on its 34.

Bryan Jackson ran for five yards. Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for 29 yards, then ran for 16 yards. Maiava capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run.

King Miller ran for the end zone to complete the two-point conversion.

Nebraska 14, No. 23 USC 6, 5:26 left in the third quarter

Nebraska started on its 46 after the USC failed fourth down attempt.

Emmett Johnson ran for five yards and then for another six yards. TJ Lateef, playing quarterback after Dylan Raiola was injured on the previous drive, ran for six yards and USC stripped the ball, but it bounced out of bounds and remained Nebraska’s possession.

Mekhi Nelson ran for two yards. On third-and-two at the USC 35, Lateef passed to Johnson for one yard.

Kyle Cunanan missed a 52-yard field goal.

Nebraska 14, No. 23 USC 6, 8:42 left in the third quarter

USC started on its 33 after the fumble recovery.

King Miller ran for three yards, nine yards, seven yards and two yards.

On third-and-one, USC was called for a false start. On third-and-six, Bryan Jackson ran for three yards. On fourth-and-two, Jackson ran for one yard to the Nebraska 46 and USC turned the ball over on downs.

Nebraska 14, No. 23 USC 6, 12:14 left in the third quarter

USC started on its 26.

Jayden Maiava tossed an interception hauled in by Nebraska’s Andrew Marshall at the USC 34-yard line.

Emmett Johnson ran for seven yards. Dylan Raiola tossed an incomplete pass. On third-and-three, Johnson ran for four yards.

With the pocket collapsing, Raiola was sacked for a loss of 10 yards and Anthony Lucas forced a fumble recovered by Kameryn Crawford.

Nebraska 14, No. 23 USC 6, 13:40 left in the third quarter

Nebraska starts on its 18 after the USC kickoff.

Dylan Raiola tossed an incomplete pass. Emmett Johnson ran for eight yards. Johnson ran for a loss of one yard to the Nebraska 42.

Archie Wilson punted 32 yards to the USC 26.

Nebraska 14, No. 23 USC 6, start of third quarter

USC kicks off to start the third quarter.

Nebraska 14, No. 23 USC 6, end of second quarter

USC started on its 19.

Jayden Maiava tosse an incomplete pass intended for Lake McRee. Maiava was under pressur and tossed another incomplete pass intended for McRee. Maiva passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for 13 yards.

Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for McRee, then rushed for 17 yards. Maiava finally connected with McRee for five yards before he was sacked for a loss of six yards and Maiava was called for intentional grounding.

On third-and-11 at the USC 48, Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Tanook Hines.

USC punted to and Nebraska returned it four yards to its 14 with 36 seconds left.

Emmett Johnson ran for nine yards and the Huskers ran out the clock in the first half.

Nebraska will receive the kickoff to open the third quarter.

Nebraska 14, No. 23 USC 6, 1:40 left in the second quarter

Nebraska started on its 25 after a 25-yard return.

Dylan Raiola passed for 14 yards. Emmett Johnson then ran for four yards. Raiola passed for no gain. Raiola then passed to Dane Key for nine yards. Raiola passed for 23 yards to the USC 25.

Johnson carried the ball, but Nebraska was called for holding and the two-minute warning was triggered.

On first-and-20 on the USC 35, Johnson ran for four yards. Raiola passed for six yards. On third-and-10 at the USC 25, Raiola’s pass to the end zone was incomplete but USC’s Marcelles Williams was called for pass interference, moving the ball the Trojans’ 10-yard line.

Johnson then ran for a 10-yard touchdown and hit the extra point.

Nebraska 7, No. 23 USC 6, 6:11 left in the second quarter

USC started on its 15 after the punt.

King Miller ran for 15 yards and another four yards. Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Jaden Richardson before connecting with Tanook Hines for a 12-yard gain.

Miller ran for nine yards and Maiava ran for another nine yards to the Nebraska 36.

Harry Dalton II ran for three yards to the Nebraska 33. Maiava was sacked for a loss of 10 yards and USC was called for intentional grounding on the play.

Nebraska called timeout.

Maiava ran or 11 yards to the Nebraska 32.

Ryon Sayeri hit a 49-yard field goal to further trim the Huskers’ lead.

Nebraska 7, No. 23 USC 3, 10:35 left in the second quarter

Nebraska started on its 25 after the touchback.

Dylan Raiola passed for no gain. Emmett Johnson then ran for 14 yards.

Raiola tossed an incomplete pass. Johnson ran for gain. Johnson then ran for five yards.

Nebraska then punted to the USC 15.

Nebraska 7, No. 23 USC 3, 13:23 left in the second quarter

USC started on its 19 after Nebraska was called for illegal formation penalty on the Huskers’ punt.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Ja’Kobi Lane before going back to Lane for a nine-yard pass. KingMiller than rushed for five yards.

Maiava passed to Makai Lemon for 16 yards. Miller ran for 15 yards and then another 13 yards to the Nebraska 23 before time expired in the first quarter.

Miller rushed for 16 yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass to Lane and to Jaden Richardson before running for five yards to the Nebraska 2.

On fourth-and-goal on the Huskers’ 2, USC was called for a false start penalty.

Ryon Sayeri hit a 24-yard field goal.

Nebraska 7, No. 23 USC, 3:04 left in the first quarter

Emmett Johnson ran for two yards, then ran for no gain. On third-and-eight, Dylan Raiola ran for five yards.

Nebraska punted to the USC 14, but the Huskers were called for illegal formation, moving the ball five yards forward for USC.

Nebraska 7, No. 23 USC, 5:10 left in the first quarter

USC started on its 25.

King Miller carried the ball for no gain. Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. USC was called for a false start penalty. On third-and-15, Bryan Jackson ran for 10 yards to the USC 30.

Sam Johnson punted to the Nebraska 39.

Nebraska 7, No. 23 USC, 6:32 left in the first quarter

USC spent the bye week focused on how to stop the run after getting gashed by Notre Dame. The Trojans aren’t off to a good start so far today.

Nebraska started on its 25.

Dylan Raiola passed for seven yards and Emmett Johnson ran for six yards a quick first down.

Raiola tossed an incomplete pass before Johnson broke tackles to gain seven yards up the middle. Johnson then fought through a tackle and gained four yards for a first down at the Huskers’ 49.

Raiola completed a six-yard pass. Isaiah Mozee pushed for a four-yard gain up the middle and another first down.

Raiola passed for 12 yards before Johnson ran for another two yards. Raiola ran for four yards. On third-and-four, Johnson ran for eight yards and first down.

Raiola’s fade pass to the end zone was incomplete. Johnson gained one yard. On third-and-nine, Raiola passed Dane Key for a 14-yard touchdown.

Nebraska hit the extra point.

No. 23 USC, Nebraska 0, 13:38 left in the first quarter

USC started on is 25.

King Miller ran for five yards, Jayden Maiava’s pass intended for Makai Lemon bounced on the turf and Maiva’s trick toss to Lemon only gained two yards.

USC punted and Nebraska returned it four yards to its 25-yard line.

No. 23 USC 0, Nebraska 0, start of first quarter

USC won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff in front a rowdy, sold out Nebraska crowd decked in black for blackout night.

The call that King and Kaylon Miller waited their whole lives to receive came on their drive back from practice, late in their senior year at Calabasas High.

But Kaylon didn’t pick up. His phone marked the call as spam.

Fortunately for the twin brothers, their dream came with a follow-up text. When they called back, former USC offensive line coach Josh Henson delivered the good news. USC wanted both Kaylon, an offensive lineman, and King, a running back, to join the team as preferred walk-ons.

“We had to stop the car on the side of the road,” King said. “We were going crazy.”

USC had lost four of five, its season already all but lost, when Lincoln Riley made a bold move early last November that would have lasting ripple effects. He benched starting quarterback Miller Moss, in favor of backup Jayden Maiava, whose big arm and mobility gave the Trojans’ offense a different, more dynamic look.

The sudden switch made for a tense two weeks leading up to last season’s meeting with Nebraska. Not everyone in the locker room, you see, was thrilled with Moss’ removal.

But the move paid dividends in the end. Maiava injected life into the offense, USC returned from its bye and won three of its last four to finish the season. More critically, Riley found his quarterback of the future.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — It was an ominous bit of imagery, at the bitter end of a century-long series. Dark clouds descending over Touchdown Jesus, and a heavy downpour soaking every soul in Notre Dame Stadium, as if Mother Nature was lashing out at the prospect of one of college football’s defining rivalries dying in vain.

Both USC and Notre Dame have suggested they hope the rivalry can continue beyond this season, if they can come to an agreement in the coming months. But if this was indeed the end, 99 years since USC and Notre Dame first met on a football field, it would be a particularly crushing final scene for the 20th-ranked Trojans, who now find their hopes of a College Football Playoff bid hanging by a thread after a 34-24 loss.

“We just flat-out did not play good enough tonight against a good team on the road,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “[We] had some missed opportunities that make you sick right now.”

With the second bye behind them and USC’s season at a crossroads, Lincoln Riley has spent the better part of two weeks focusing his team on what’s in front of them — a stretch of three winnable games — and not behind them — a demoralizing defeat at Notre Dame.

In doing so, the Trojans coach borrowed a well-worn rallying cry, one that traces back 2,000 years. Riley told his team, they had to “burn the boats.”

“We’ve put ourselves in great position, and we’ve got to be a really forward-focused team right now,” Riley said. “Things can get pretty fun from here if you really get on a run. This team is capable of that. They know it. We know it.”