No. 23 Southern California will continue its high-powered offense in Saturday night’s game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb.
The contrast in styles will shape a crucial matchup for two teams looking to stay in the top half of the Big Ten race.
Nebraska (6-2, 3-2) avoided falling to the wrong side of .500 in league play when it beat Northwestern 28-21 last week. The win marks the Cornhuskers’ lowest defensive output since the team opened the season, giving up a combined 24 points in the first three games.
“Great secondary, good guys up front,” Southern California quarterback Jayden Maiava said of Nebraska. “I see this as another great opportunity for us and the boys to show what we have been practicing.”
The Cornhuskers enter this week allowing 19.6 points per game, the 30th lowest average nationally, but now face the nation’s team leader in passing yards (326.1) and total yards (530) per game.
Southern California (5-2, 3-1) is averaging 42.4 points per game behind Maiava, whose 311.4 passing yards per game rank third in the FBS. Receiver Makai Lemon is second in the nation with 108.3 receiving yards per game.
Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule attributed the Trojans’ explosive passing game in part to their ability to play a physical, run-based offense and keep defenses off balance.
“You play USC, and they’re going to play power football here, but if you’re not careful, they’re going to throw here and make a block, then it’s a 60-yard touchdown,” Rhule said.
To that end, USC has a trio of running backs who have rushed for at least 264 yards — although two are sidelined. Waymond Jordan, the team’s leading rusher with 576 yards and five touchdowns, underwent ankle surgery after a 31-13 win over then-No. 15 Michigan on October 11.
Eli Sanders, who has 264 rushing yards in five games, is out for the season with a knee injury.
Bryan Jackson stepped into Sanders’ change-of-pace role and delivered 35 yards on just five carries with a touchdown in the Trojans’ rout of Michigan. Jackson finished with 22 yards on six carries the following week in a 34–24 loss at Notre Dame on October 18, USC’s lowest scoring game of the season with seven points.
The Trojans ran for a game-high 68 yards against the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame stifling the run contributed to Maiava having his lowest completion percentage of the season at 52.4. It was also his third straight game with at least one pick after going the first four without throwing one.
Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola avoided an interception in the Cornhuskers’ first three games. He threw three — including a pick-six — in an Oct. 11 win over Maryland. Raiola has been picked off six times in Nebraska’s last five games.
“You want to own the football as much as you can,” Huskers offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said. “(USC is) obviously very good offensively, and they’re going to have their moments. … But we want to control the ball.”
–Field level media
