In a thrilling finish, the USC Trojans secured their victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a nail-biting score of 28-20. The game became a tense affair in the closing moments, as Nebraska took possession with just over two minutes left on the clock, attempting to mount a final scoring drive.
Starting on their own 25-yard line, Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson made a six-yard run, followed by a short pass from Heinrich Haarberg to Thomas Fidone II that resulted in no gain. A two-minute timeout was called with 2:11 remaining, as the Cornhuskers strategized. Dylan Raiola then connected with Johnson for a one-yard gain, leading to a crucial fourth-and-three situation with 1:30 left. In a pivotal play, Raiola managed to find Fidone for a nine-yard gain, moving the chains.
Progressing down the field, Raiola passed to Jahmal Banks for an eight-yard gain but faced an incomplete pass shortly after, broken up by DeCarlos Nicholson. On third-and-two at the Nebraska 49, Johnson managed to push through for a three-yard gain. With time winding down, Raiola again connected with Johnson, who ran out of bounds with 31 seconds left.
As the Cornhuskers continued to fight for a touchdown, they reached the USC 38, where Raiola threw a risky pass towards the end zone that was nearly intercepted. Under pressure, he tossed another incomplete pass before hitting Jaylen Lloyd for 24 yards along the sideline on third-and-10. Nebraska opted for a timeout with a mere five seconds remaining.
On the subsequent first down at the USC 14, a false start penalty pushed the Huskers back five yards. With the clock running down, Raiola made one last attempt to score, but Greedy Vance Jr. of USC intercepted the pass in the end zone, sealing the win for the Trojans. Despite a significant amount of contact during the play, no penalty was called, and the game concluded dramatically.
This hard-fought victory highlights USC’s resilience and defensive capabilities, showcasing their ability to maintain composure in high-pressure situations. As the season progresses, both teams will surely look to build on this experience, and fans can expect more intense matchups in the weeks to come.