LOS ANGELES — Woody Marks scored three touchdowns, and Miller Moss contributed two touchdown passes along with a rushing touchdown as Southern California ended a three-game losing streak by defeating Rutgers 42-20 on Friday night.
The Trojans (4-4, 2-4 Big Ten) dominated the first half, scoring on all four offensive possessions. Despite being without four starters in the secondary due to injuries, their defense managed crucial stops throughout the game.
“It’s not just relief; it’s affirmation of who we are and what we believe in,” said Moss, who completed 20 of 28 passes for 308 yards. “I’m proud of everyone in the locker room, the staff, and the entire program for how we came together and faced adversity. It’s great to clinch a win, and we hope to build on this as the season progresses.”
Marks tallied 142 yards from scrimmage, while Makai Lemon recorded 134 receiving yards on four catches and a touchdown, and also had an 80-yard kickoff return in the first quarter that set up Marks’ second touchdown run.
Rutgers (4-4, 1-4) suffered its fourth consecutive loss, with Athan Kaliakmanis throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Christian Dremel and Antwan Raymond rushing for another touchdown.
USC displayed a consistent offensive performance reminiscent of previous seasons with Caleb Williams as the quarterback, gaining 244 total yards in the first half, with 172 coming from the passing game. Moss completed 14 of his 16 pass attempts, including an 11-yard touchdown to Kyle Ford.
The Scarlet Knights managed to cut the lead to 28-20 early in the third quarter with a series of successful plays, but USC quickly responded with a 70-yard catch-and-run by Lemon, followed by Moss’s 7-yard touchdown run, reestablishing a two-possession lead.
“We didn’t repeat some of the mistakes we’ve made in previous games,” Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley stated. “It sounds simple, but we just played better.”
Kaliakmanis finished with 313 yards passing, and Kyle Monangai rushed for 86 yards on 18 carries.
In a notable shift, the Trojans’ defense, under defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, recorded a season-high four sacks against Kaliakmanis, a significant improvement from earlier performances this season.
“I thought today demonstrated the true identity of our defense, playing physical for four quarters,” said linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold.
The takeaway from this game is clear: Rutgers’ defense has struggled recently, conceding 119 points over their last three games, while USC’s offense seems to have found a game-changer in Lemon, whose crucial big play late in the game was a welcome change for the Trojans following their recent slump.
Looking ahead, Rutgers will host Minnesota on November 9, while USC will travel to play Washington on November 2.