No. 17 USC pulls away for a win over rival UCLA, keeps Victory Bell

In the final days of his fourth season at USC, with only pride left to play for and a bitter rival left to beat, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley talked to his team about “paving the road.” One day when USC was on top of the college football world again, Riley assured them they’d look back on this season and understand the part they played.

Where that road leads under Riley, no one is quite sure. Nor can anyone say for certain, after a 9-3 finish, how much closer, if at all, he is to making USC the “mecca” he imagined more than four years ago.

No. 17 USC 29, UCLA 10, end of game

UCLA started on its 47 after a 33-yard kickoff return.

Nico Iamaleava passed to Mikey Matthews for a three-yard loss. Iamaleava’s pass was tipped by Matthews and pulled in by Kwazi Gilmer for 22 yards. A USC illegal substitution penalty on the play was declined and the two-minute warning was triggered.

On first down at the USC 34, Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass before running for 10 yards. Iamaleava passed to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 13 yards. Iamaleava passed to Gilmer for five yards. Iamaleava then tossed an incomplete pass intended for the end zone that sailed out of the end zone. Iamaleava’s next pass intended for Gilmer was incomplete. On fourth-and-five, Iamaleava was sacked for a loss of five yards with 46 seconds left.

USC called timeout before running out the clock.

No. 17 USC 29, UCLA 10, 2:29 left in fourth quarter

USC started on its 35.

King Miller ran for seven yards, 14 yards and three yards before UCLA called timeout with 2:36 left on the clock.

Miller bounced to the left side of the field and rumbled for a 41-yard touchdown. USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play and the Trojans will lose 15 yards after the kickoff return.

USC lined up in an odd formation and backup quarterback Gage Roy passed to Walker Lyons for the two-point conversion.

No. 17 USC 21, UCLA 10, 4:17 left in fourth quarter

Nico Iamaleava passed to Kwazi Gilmer for 11 yards, eight yards and three yards.

UCLA was called for a false start and then Iamaleava was sacked for a loss of three yards. UCLA was then called for delay of game. On second-and-23, Iamaleava passed to Anthony Woods for two yards. On third-and-21, Iamaleava passed to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for 24 yards.

Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Mikey Matthews. On second-and-10, Iamaleava was sacked for a loss of two yards. On third-and-12, UCLA was called for delay of game. On third-and-17, UCLA was called for false start. On third-and-22, Iamaleava passed to Woods for seven yards. On fourth-and-15, Iamaleava passed to Kwazi Gilmer for 10 yards and the Bruins turned the ball over on downs at the USC 35.

No. 17 USC 21, UCLA 10, 11:27 left in fourth quarter

USC started on its 43 after the punt return.

Jayden Maiava’s pass was intercepted by Key Lawrence, but Cole Martin was called for pass interference and Anthony Jones wa called for roughing the passer. USC accepted the roughing the passer penalty, gaining 15 yards and erasing the pick.

King Miller ran for five yards. Maiava passed to Ja’Kobi Lane 27 yards to the UCLA 10. Maiava then passed to Miller for eight yards. Maiava passed to Lake McRee for a two-yard touchdown.

Ryon Sayeri hit the extra point.

No. 17 USC 14, UCLA 10, 14:08 left in fourth quarter

UCLA starts on its 15 after a 14-yard kickoff return by Cole Martin

Jalen Berger ran for eight yards as time expired in the third quarter.

Berger ran for four yards. Nico Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass to Kwazi Gilmer. Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala that was broken up by USC.

Will Karoll punted to the USC 8 and Makai Lemon returned it 35 yards to the USC 43 before he was tackled by Karoll.

No. 17 USC 14, UCLA 10, 30 seconds left in third quarter

USC started on its 9 after a UCLA punt.

Jayden Maiava passed to Walker Lyons for eight yards. King Miller ran for eight yards. Maiava’s pass intended for Ja’Kobi Lane was incomplete and officials chose not to throw a flag after heavy contact by Lane and Andre Jordan Jr. Miller ran for six yards. On third-and-four at the USC 31, Maiava passed to Lane for 12 yards. Lane took a hard hit at the end of the play.

On first down at the USC 43, Maiava ran for six yards. Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for one yard. Maiava passed to Walker Lyons for four yards. Maiava passed to Lake McRee for 14 yards. Maiava passed to Makai Lemon for a 32-yard touchdown. UCLA was called for pass interference on the play and it was declined.

Ryon Sayeri hit the extra point.

UCLA 10, No. 17 USC 7, 5:23 left in third quarter

UCLA started on its 25 after the punt.

Anthony Woods ran for eight yards. Nico Iamaleava fell on a fumble and the Bruins recovered for no gain. Iamaleava passed to Mikey Matthews for three yards. Iamaleava passed to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for four yards. Iamaleava faked a handoff and passed over the middle to Mike Matthews for seven yards.

Iamaleava tossed a screen pass to Kwazi Gilmer for six yards. Iamaleava passed across the middle to Hudson Habermehl for eight yards to the USC 39.

Woods ran for two yards. Iamaleava ducked away from a sack and ran for three yards. On third-and-five, Iamaleava was sacked for a loss of eight yards.

Will Karoll punted to the USC 9.

UCLA 10, No. 17 USC 7, 12:29 left in third quarter

USC started on its 36 after the punt.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Ja’Kobi Lane. King Miller ran for no gain. Maiava tossed a deep pass intended for Tanook Hines and it sailed off target.

Sam Johnson punted 39 yards to the UCLA 25.

UCLA 10, No. 17 USC 7, 13:20 left in third quarter

UCLA started on its 14 after the Bruins were called for a personal foul penalty on the opening kickoff.

Jalen Berger ran for two yards. Nico Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Titus Mokiao-Atimalala. On third-and-eight, Iamaleava passed to Hudson Habermehl for four yards.

Will Karoll punted to the USC 36.

UCLA 10, No. 17 USC 7, halftime

USC started on its 25 after the touchback.

Jayden Maiava passed to King Miller for 11 yards and he ran out of bounds. Maiava was sacked for a 13-yard loss and time expired in the second quarter.

The teams then got chippy, shouting at each other and were kept apart by staff before sharing the same tunnel to exit the field. USC departed first and UCLA followed.

UCLA 10, No. 17 USC 7, 18 seconds left in second quarter

UCLA started on its 20 after the missed field goal.

Anthony Woods ran for 12 yards. Nico Iamaleava passed to Woods for three yards. Iamaleava ran up field, slipped and gained two yards. Iamaleava passed to Kwazi Gilmer for 11 yards.

Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass. Anthony Frias II ran for no gain. On third-and-10 at the UCLA 48, the two-minute timeout was triggered. Iamaleava then passed to Gilmer for 11 yards. Woods ran for one yards. USC then called timeout with 1:24 remaining.

Iamaleava ducked out of a collapsing pocket and then ran for 11 yards to the USC 29. Iamaleava passed to Woods for three yards and USC called timeout with 1:17 remaining. Iamaleava’s short pass intended for Gilmer was broken up and fell incomplete. On third-and-seven at the USC 26, Iamaleava ducked out of pressure and ran for what refs on the field initially said was a seven-yard gain, getting hit as he slid. The scamper was reviewed and Iamaleava was credited with six yards, triggering fourth-and-one at the USC with 47 seconds remaining in the second quarter. UCLA tried to get USC to jump offside before calling timeout with 22 seconds left.

Mateen Bhaghani lined up for a 38-yard field goal attempt and hit it with 18 seconds left in the second quarter.

No. 17 USC 7, UCLA 7, 5:46 left in second quarter

USC starts on its 25 after the touchback.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Ja’Kobi Lane. Makai Lemon and Lane joined the USC lineup after being benched for the first quarter.

Maiava passed to King Miller for 20 yards and another four yards. Maiava was nearly sacked, but he passed across the middle and was nearly intercepted before Lemon managed to help knock it down. Maiava passed to Walker Lyons for 10 yards, moving the ball to UCLA 41.

Maiava passed to Riley Wormley for 17 yards. Wormley then ran for one yard to the UCLA 23. Maiava had a lot of time to scan the field before finding Lane for 12 yards.

Bryan Jackson was pushed back for a three-yard loss. A Lemon sweep play ended with a two-yard gain. Maiava then tossed an incomplete pass.

Ryon Sayeri missed a 30-yard field goal wide right.

No. 17 USC 7, UCLA 7, 11:25 left in second quarter

UCLA started on its 21 after the blocked field goal.

Nico Iamaleava passed to Hudson Habermehl for five yards. Anthony Woods ran for five yards. Jalen Berger then ran for three yards. Iamaleava passed to Woods for 12 yards. Berger ran for four yards. Iamaleava passed Titus Mokiao-Atimalala for six yards. Iamaleava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Gilmer, but USC was called offsides and UCLA gained a first down. Anthony Frias II ran for six yards to the USC 33 as time expired in the first quarter.

Berger lined up in the wildcat formation, faked a handoff to Frias and ran to the right for 17 yards. Berger then ran for another four yards to the USC 12. Iamaleava passed to Mikey Matthews for seven yards. On first-and-goal at the USC 5, Iamaleava ran for one yard. Frias then ran for two yards. On third-and-goal at the USC 2, UCLA called timeout before the play clock expired.

Iamaleava then tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to Kwazi Gilmer.

Mateen Bhaghani hit the extra point.

No. 17 USC 7, UCLA 0, 4:13 left in first quarter

UCLA started on its 32 after the punt return.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass. Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for four yards, but USC was called for holding on the play. On second-and-16, Maiava passed to Jaden Richardson for 11 yards. On third-and-five, passed to Richardson for 10 yards and USC was called offsides but the penalty was declined.

Maiava passed to James Johnson for 10 yards. Maiava then faked the handoff and ran for 21 yards. Miller was stuffed for no gain on the next play. On second-and-10 at the UCLA 22, Miller ran for two yards. Maiava’s pass intended for Jay Fair sailed long and out of bounds.

Ryon Sayeri’s 38-yard field goal attempt was blocked by UCLA’s Scott Taylor and fell off target.

No. 17 USC 7, UCLA 0, 8:20 left in first quarter

UCLA started on its 25 after the touchback.

Nico Iamaleava passed to Kwazi Gilmer for six yards. Iamaleava’s next pass intended for Gilmer was incomplete. On third-and-four, Iamaleava’s pass bounced off Mikey Matthews’ hands and was broken up by USC’s Christian Pierce.

Will Karoll punted 50 yards and Josiah Zamora returned it 13 yards to the USC 32.

No. 17 USC 7, UCLA 0, 9:15 left in first quarter

USC started on its 25 after the touchback. The Trojans were hit with their first sideline warning during the kickoff.

King Miller ran for five yards. Jayden Maiava was sacked for a four-yard loss. Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for 26 yards.

Miller ran for five yards and for another 13 yards.

Miller then gained two yards. Maiava then pitched the ball to Miller, who dropped it and recovered it for a gain of five yards.

USC kept pounding the ball on the ground, with Miller running for five yards and another four yards.

Maiava passed to Lake McRee for 14 yards before Miller closed the run-heavy drive with a five-yard touchdown scamper.

Ryon Sayeri hit the extra point.

Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane were benched for the opening drive. NBC’s broadcast team reported that the Trojans’ top receivers were not benched for health reasons and it’s unclear how long this benching would last during the game.

No. 17 USC 0, UCLA 0, start of first quarter

UCLA won the coin toss and deferred. USC is set to receive the opening kickoff.

Red Sanders, the legendary UCLA football coach, once said the rivalry with USC wasn’t life or death, it was more important than that.

Now, some 70 years later, almost half the Bruins’ roster needed a primer on what it means to play the Trojans.

During each of his last two Decembers at USC, Lincoln Riley faced a critical decision at quarterback: pursue a new passer in the portal or trust the one who’s next in line?

In each case Riley opted to keep the known quantity. But as his fourth regular season at USC comes to a close Saturday against UCLA, the coach could face a more complicated conundrum at the position this offseason.

Another big game, another big stink.

Another loaded season, another lost season.