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USC Trojans Snap 3-Game Losing Streak: Defeat Rutgers Scarlet Knights 42-20

The USC Trojans (3-4, 1-4 Big Ten) host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-3, 0-3) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 25. It is the first ever meeting between these two programs that are both looking to snap a three-game losing streak.

Kendell Hollowell

Oct 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Miller Moss (7) throws the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Miller Moss (7) throws the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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The USC Trojans snapped a three-game losing skid and defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 42-20 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Trojans played complimentary football on both sides of the ball for all four quarters. Quarterback Miller Moss was sensational through the air completing 20 of 28 passes for 308 yards, with 134 of them going to Makai Lemon and two touchdowns. Woody Marks hat trick also helped engineer the Trojans offense.

Live score updates from the Trojans victory are posted below.

Miller Moss
Oct 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Miller Moss (7) throws the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Fourth quarter

2:00 - Two minute timeout. Quinten Joyner runs for 3-yards. USC is working on a 2-play drive.

2:30 - Jayden Maiava in at quarterback and runs for 13 yards.

2:57 - Turnover on downs. Following a Zion Branch sack, Athan Kaliakmanis pass on 4th-and-19 fell incomplete.

7:45 - USC was forced to punt after picking up 16 yards in four plays. Rutgers takes over at their own 25-yard line.

9:44 - Turnover of downs. Athan Kaliakmanis pass on 4th-and-1 is incomplete. USC will take over on their own 13-yard line.

10:47 - REVIEW. USC burns their first timeout of the second half after an unsuccessful challenge.

Third Quarter

0:00 - Antwan Raymond 2-yard run to close out the quarter. USC leads 42-20.

0:22 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Miller Moss finds a wide-open Makai Lemon who takes it in for a 40-yard touchdown. USC leads 42-20.

1:30 - USC forces Rutgers to go three and out. USC will take over at their own 46-yard line.

2:10 - Injury timeout. A Rutgers player was injured on the previous play.

3:14 - Rutgers forces USC to go three and out. The Scarlet Knights will take over at the USC 15-yard line.

3:26 - REVIEW. Kyron Hudson's 19-yard reception is under review. It was determined Hudson touched out bounds, making it an incomplete pass. USC faces a 3rd-and-11.

3:55 - Injury timeout. Rutgers defensive lineman Aaron Lewis injured on the play. USC is working on a 1-play drive.

4:07 - USC forces Rutgers to go three and out. The Trojans will take over on their own 35-yard line.

6:32 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Miller Moss on the QB keeper goes untouched for the 7-yard touchdown to cap off a 4-play, 75-yard touchdown. USC leads 35-20.

6:38 - Miller Moss' pass to Ja'Kobi Lane is incomplete but there is a penalty for pass interference. Gives USC a fresh set of downs at the 2-yard line.

7:50 - Miller Moss completes to Makai Lemon who reverses field and takes it for 70 yards to the Rutgers 5-yard line.

8:11 - TOUCHDOWN. Athan Kaliakmanis connects with Christian Dremel for a 25-yard touchdown. Rutgers would convert the 2-point conversion. USC leads 28-20

8:50 - Athan Kaliakmanis connects with Dymere Miller for a 45-yard completion

11:25 - Rutgers forces USC to go three and out. Rutgers will take over on their own 14-yard line.

13:18 - USC forces Rutgers to go three and out of their opening possession of the second half. USC will take over at their own 30-yard line.

Second Quarter

0:00 - Jai Patel's 20-yard field goal is good. USC leads 28-12 at halftime.

0:04 - Athan Kaliakmanis pass for KJ Duff in the end zone is broken up by DeCarlos Nicholson.

0:08 - TIMEOUT USC. The Trojans burn their final timeout of the half before Rutgers faces a 3rd-and-goal at the USC 2-yard line.

0:15 - Athan Kaliakmanis pass for KJ Duff in the end zone is incomplete, but DeCarlos Nicholson gets called for the pass interference.

0:20 - Athan Kaliakmanis pass for Dymere Miller in the end zone is incomplete by Akili Arnold gets called for a pass interference.

0:24 - TIMEOUT. Rutgers burns their final timeout of the half before facing a 3rd-and-4.

0:35 - TIMEOUT. Following an intentional grounding penalty, Rutgers burns their 2nd timeout of the half to avoid a 10-second runoff.

0:50 - TIMEOUT USC. USC burns their 2nd timeout before Rutgers faces a 4th-and-4 at the USC 34-yard line.

1:45 - USC burns first timeout of the half.

1:53 - Woody Marks goes untouched for a 22-yard touchdown to cap off a 6-play, 81-yard drive. His 3rd of the night. USC leads 28-9.

2:00 - Woody Marks runs for 6 yards. USC is working on a 5-play drive before facing a 2nd-and-4 on the Rutgers 22-yard line.

2:50 - Miller Moss on a quick pass to Zachariah Branch picks up 22 yards. USC is working on a 4-play drive.

4:37 - TOUCHDOWN Rutgers. Antwan Raymond runs in for a 3-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed. USC leads 21-9.

5:42 - Injury timeout. A Rutgers player was injured on the previous play. The Scarlet Knights are working on an 8-play drive.

7:47 - TIMEOUT. Rutgers burns their first timeout of the half. They are working on a 4-play drive.

10:26 - Miller Moss connects with Kyle Ford who throws a stiff and dives into the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. USC leads 21-3

12:21 - Miller Moss pass connects with Kyle Ford for 18 yards on 3rd-and-5. USC is working on a 4-play drive.

13:36 - Turnover on downs. Athan Kaliakmanis overshoots Dymere Miller in the end zone. USC takes over on their own 31-yard line.

First Quarter

0:00 - Athan Kaliakmanis completes to Dymere Miller for 17 yards to close out the quarter. Rutgers is working on a 3-play drive. USC leads 14-3 at the end of the 1st quarter.

2:19 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Woody Marks punches it in for a 1-yard touchdown to cap off a 4-play, 20-yard drive. USC leads 14-3.

2:35 - REVIEW. Woody Marks 4-yard run is under review to see if he crossed the goal. The play was confirmed. USC has a 2nd-and-goal at the 1-yard line.

3:58 - Makai Lemon returns the kickoff 80 yards and sets the Trojans up at the Rutgers 20-yard line.

4:10 - USC holds on third down and forces Rutgers to settle for a field goal. Jai Patel's 26-yard field goal is good. USC leads 7-3.

5:57 - Kyle Monangai run for 27 yards and a facemask on Bryson Shaw takes it down to the USC 12-yard line.

6:17 - Official timeout for measurement. Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai picks up the first down on 4th-and-1.

6:52 - Injury timeout. Nate Clifton was injured on the play. Rutgers is working on a 5-play drive.

9:58 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Woody Marks punches it in for a 1-yard touchdown to cap off a 10-play, 77-yard drive. USC leads 7-0.

10:44 - REVIEW. Miller Moss connects with Zachariah Branch for a 6-yard touchdown. The play was reviewed and overturned. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave USC a fresh set of downs at the 3-yard line.

15:00 - USC wins the coin toss and has elected to receive.

Pregame 

The USC Trojans (3-4, 1-4 Big Ten) host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-3, 1-3) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 25 in one of many major events happening in town, including Game 1 of the World Series, Lakers at Crypto.com arena, East LA classic at SoFi Stadium, and concerts at the Intuit Dome and the Forum. 

USC looks to snap a three-game skid after falling to the Maryland Terrapins in their latest fourth quarter collapse last Saturday, a common theme for the Trojans this season. 

Following the two-minute timeout, the Trojans lined up for a field goal to make a nine-point game when the kick was blocked, Maryland recovered and returned it into USC territory. Five plays later Billy Armstrong Jr. scored the go-ahead touchdown with 53 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Terrapins a 29-28 victory. It was the was fifth time of the Lincoln Riley era the Trojans have blown a 14-point lead. Former USC legends, including Matt Leinart, LenDale White and Rey Maualuga voiced their frustrations about the program on social media following the loss.

USC has held a fourth quarter lead in all seven of their games this season but sit here before the end of October with four losses and watched their college playoff chances evaporate with half of the season remaining.

"We've been in a lot of really close games; we had some opportunities to separate in several of these games and we haven't, and we need to get better at that," said USC coach Lincoln Riley.

As the Trojans head into this matchup, there is a ton of pressure on the program to finish the season out strong, in particular with Riley and that starts tonight.

Rutgers is also looking to snap a three-game losing streak of their own as they make the 2,800-mile trip out west in the first ever meeting between the two programs. The Scarlet Knights jumped out to a 4-0 start this season, but have dropped their last three, including one last week to the Trojans crosstown rival, the UCLA Bruins.  

USC announced as its captains as tight end Lake McRee, cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson, center Jonah Monheim and safety Akili Arnold.

The Trojans are a 13.5-point favorites over Rutgers, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. USC is 4-3 against the spread this season.

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Kendell Hollowell
KENDELL HOLLOWELL

Kendell Hollowell, a Southern California native has been been covering collegiate athletics since 2020 via radio and digital journalism. His experience includes covering programs such as the USC Trojans, Vanderbilt Commodores and Alabama Crimson Tide. Kendell He also works in TV production for the NFL Network. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kendell was a collegiate athlete on the University of Wyoming and Adams State football team. He is committed to bringing in-depth insight and analysis for USC athletics.

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