Michigan football runs through Trojans in upset victory to open Big Ten play

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 18 ranked Michigan Wolverines ran through the No. 11 Ranked USC Trojans 27-24 to seal an upset victory to open Big Ten play.

With the clock winding down and all of the momentum leaving the stadium, trailing 24-20, running back Kalel Mullings broke a 63-yard run to put the Wolverines in scoring position to retake the lead.

Michigan did what they continued to do all day long and was run through the Trojans as Mullings pounded the rock up the gut on fourth down and one to seal the victory.

It has been 66 years since the Trojans stepped foot in Ann Arbor to face the Wolverines, and as they did in 1958, when the men in maize won 20-19 behind fullback and captain John Herrnstein, who rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.

Like Kerrnstein, Michigan behind Mullings nearly doubled that by ending the game with 291 yards on 45 carries between four players.

Mullings finished the day with 159 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.

The rushing trio of Mullings, Alex Orji and Donovan Edwards revived the Wolverines’ season on Saturday (Sept. 21).

Edwards tallied 74 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries, and Orji, making his season debut as the leading man, accumulated 43 yards on 13 carries.

Orji’s presence under center officially opened up the Wolverines’ run game as they combined for 199 yards in the first half.

He completed 4-7 passes for 21 yards, but it was his feet that did the most damage.

The 199 yards gained were the most USC has given up in the Lincoln Riley era.

The defense by the men in maize held the high-powered Trojans to -16 yards rushing in the first half.

Miller Moss and the passing attack did what they did as they ate up grass, with their receiving core acquiring 132 yards between six pass catchers, with their longest play coming in the second quarter by Zachariah Branch with 42 yards on a pivotal third down in the game.

But the Trojans showed why they were ranked in the top 11 as they opened the third quarter on a 12-play 75-yard scoring drive in 5:50 to get within four after Moss hit Duece Robinson on a nine-yard touchdown in the back of the endzone.

With the game sitting at 14-10, the Trojans’ defense forced a quick three-and-out to give the awoken offense the ball again.

They slowed down that aggressive defense but future first-round cornerback Will Johnson jumped the route for his third career pick-six which is a Michigan football record.

With all of the momentum gone, Moss took his team down the field once again, placing them in scoring range when he fumbled on third down.

The fumble was scooped up by Kenneth Grant, who returned the ball but had it stripped away in what was a pivotal play as USC scored a touchdown with a new set of down in just two plays to bring the game to 20-17.

After forcing another three-and-out, the Wolverines got their fourth sack of the day as Mason Graham made his presence felt, giving Michigan the ball back.

Then, with the ball leading 20-17, Edwards fumbled on the drive’s opening play in the Wolverines’ own red zone to all but sealed their fate as Miller Moss hit receiver Ja’Kobi Lane on a 24-yard touchdown to take their first lead of the game.

Trailing 24-20 with the stagnant offense broke numerous tackles for the 63-yard run to put the Wolverines in scoring range at the two-minute warning before ultimately rushing the men in maize to glory for at least this week.

With the upset victory, the Wolverines snapped a three-game losing streak against USC who they last played in the 2007 Rose Bowl where they lost 32-18.

The Trojans and the Wolverines have battled 11 times, including Saturday. After the loss, USC leads 6-5. They’ve also met eight times in the Rose Bowl, the most of all time.

Both collegiate programs are staples in the sports community. They’re blue bloods who have combined for more than 1,800 victories, 11 Heisman trophies, and 23 national championships, which the Wolverines are in defense of during the 2024 season.

The Wolverines, though, are on a two-game regular season winning streak against USC dating back to 1957 when they took down the Trojans 16-6 in Southern California and the aforementioned 1958 battle in Ann Arbor.

The Trojans are the 15th different current or former opponent that the men in maize have faced in the Big Ten opener, which is one that the Michigan faithful will remember for the rest of their lives.

The Wolverines will host the Minnesota Golden Gophers next Saturday, and they will look to keep their winning ways afloat.