USC's Ja'Kobi Lane Grabs Contender for Best Catch of 2024 College Football Season

How did he catch this?

Lane hauled in a 15-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter of USC's matchup against Maryland on Saturday. / FS1

USC Trojans sophomore receiver Ja'Kobi Lane made a catch Saturday afternoon that will be played on his career highlight reel for the rest of time.

Midway through the second quarter of USC's Big Ten battle against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium, Trojans quarterback Miller Moss lobbed up a pass for Lane in the end zone on a second-and-3 from the 15-yard line.

Lane, battling through tight coverage from Maryland defensive back Perry Fisher, spotted the ball and simultaneously caught it with the fingertips on his left hand as he spun through the air. Somehow, someway, he completed the catch for the touchdown.

HOW DID HE CATCH THIS?! 🔥 @millermoss7 throws it up there and @jakobilane makes the CRAZY catch for 6 more for @uscfb! pic.twitter.com/RfDbA27PLq

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 19, 2024

This was just UNREAL by @jakobilane! 😤 @uscfb pic.twitter.com/98nzalpr6w

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 19, 2024

Unbelievable.

Lane, one of Moss's favorite targets in the Trojans' passing game, entered Saturday with a team-high 23 catches for 252 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He notched three catches for 38 yards and a score in the first half against Maryland, as USC entered the break with a 21–7 lead.

The college football world crowned Lane's stellar 15-yard touchdown grab as one of the best—if not the best—this season:

No one is watching or really should be watching USC vs. Maryland but Ja'Kobi Lane just made the catch of the year in college football quite possibly

— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) October 19, 2024

JA’KOBI LANE CATCH OF THE YEAR. NOT NORMAL. pic.twitter.com/lwZ3cN5rA7

— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) October 19, 2024

pic.twitter.com/UeiVAbW6NU

USC wide receivers may legit have three or four candidates for Catch of the Year.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) October 19, 2024

CATCH OF THE YEAR⁉️

Take a bow Ja'Kobi Lane!

🎥 @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/4jouEOF5Z6

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 19, 2024

If USC can hold on and beat Maryland on the road, the Trojans will head back home to Southern California next week to host Rutgers in another Big Ten collision.

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