5 key reasons USC was able to beat Nebraska

The USC Trojans (5-5) made it back to .500 on Saturday afternoon with a 28-20 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-5). The Trojans are 2-1 in their last three games. They handed the Cornhuskers their fourth loss in a row. Jayden Maiava won his first USC football start. The USC offense gained new dimensions with Maiava at the helm. That doesn’t mean the offense was flawless; far from it. USC and Maiava made multiple mistakes in this game. There were other occasions in which a pass pinballed off a Nebraska defender’s helmet and found the hands of a USC receiver.

One of those plays became a touchdown. One of those plays became a nine-yard gain which set up a 4th and 1 in the fourth quarter. Crucially, USC was able to convert that fourth down and then score a huge touchdown minutes later. USC got good bounces of the ball but was able to take advantage of them. It did not do so in a number of its other razor-close Big Ten games this year. The Trojans didn’t dominate this game, but they were better in the fourth quarter than in previous weeks. That certainly means something. The Trojans are now one win from clinching a bowl bid. They have two chances, and their best chance is next week against archrival UCLA.

There are many different aspects to the Trojans’ crucial win, but we will dive into the top five reasons the Trojans found the win column. The top reason may surprise you.

5 — Nebraska fell apart more quickly than USC

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Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola threw two crucial interceptions that stunted Husker drives, including on the final play of the game. The Huskers were unable to jump on the mistakes of USC quarterback Jayden Maiava and turn the momentum in their favor. In the first game for NU under new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, the Cornhuskers were able to score only 20 points. It is almost certain that head coach Matt Rhule will be in hot water after the loss.

4 — USC was able to bounce back in critical moments

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The Trojans committed two turnovers, including a pick six, and allowed a blocked field goal on Saturday that kept fans uneasy, even with the lead. While we have seen the Trojans fall apart in previous games after similar mishaps, they stayed focused against Nebraska. They were able to move the ball with ease throughout and picked up multiple do-or-die plays including the fourth down conversion in the fourth quarter, which we alluded to above.

3 — Jayden Maiava taking over for Miller Moss worked as well as Lincoln Riley could have hoped

Mandatory Credit: Tim Prangley | Trojans Wire

While there were certainly hiccups during Maiava’s first start as a Trojan, including a fumble that can be attributed to a different playing style compared to Moss, his presence provided a necessary edge for the offense. With his ability to make plays on his feet, the Trojans were able to mix up their offensive schemes. His quick release time along with his dual-threat ability allowed both the run and pass game to open up. Maiava carried the ball 5 times for 20 yards and a touchdown that forced Nebraska to need a touchdown on the final drive.

Maiava brought back the spark the the Trojans saw with Caleb Williams and lost during the Moss era.

2 — Woody Marks continues prove his worth week after week

Mandatory Credit: Tim Prangley | Trojans Wire

Woody Marks is one of the most critical pieces of the Trojans’ offense, if not the biggest one. On Saturday, he carried the ball 19 times for 146 yards while hauling in 6 receptions for 36 yards. Marks extended multiple drives with his explosiveness and consistently put the Trojans in the red zone. His play elevated Maiava while he fought through injuries. Marks is the backbone of this offense and drew praise from Lincoln Riley after the game.

Marks also increased his NCAA-leading consecutive reception streak to 55 games in a row.

1 — Punter Eddie Czaplicki gave USC its biggest edge in the win

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Czaplicki punted four times on Saturday, with all four being downed inside the 20. Entering Saturday, he ranked 4th in the NCAA for distance per punt with 48.5 yards. In the win, his four punts went for 207 yards with a long of 60 and an average of 51.8 yards. The ability of Czaplicki to turn the field and pin the Cornhuskers deep in their territory gave the advantage to the Trojans’ defense while giving the offense a chance to breathe. After the game, Riley called Czaplicki the best punter in the country.