Los Angeles, CA- Jayden Maiava continues his impressive 2025 campaign as he scored five total touchdowns to lead the USC Trojans to a 45-31 win over Michigan State on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Wide receiver Makai Lemon finished with 127 receiving yards and Waymond Jordan rushed for 157 yards to help the Trojans improve to 4-0 on the season.
“That was a game that had some unique twists and turns,” Riley said. “I thought we were controlling the game, (and then) obviously we had a couple of errors there in the third quarter with the penalties … and the turnover that allowed them to come back and capture some momentum. But I thought our team responded and separated back in a really good way.”
USC took the lead on a 25-yard field goal in the first quarter. Michigan State answered with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Aiden Chiles to Chrishon McCray for a 7-3 lead. .
Maiava gave USC a 10-7 lead with a 15-yard touchdown run towards the end of the first quarter. USC took a 17-7 lead in the second quarter when Maiava hit Makai Lemon with a 40-yard touchdown pass.
MIchigan State cut the lead to 17-10 with a 29-yard field goal from Martin Conninghton. USC extended the lead to 24-10 when Maiava connected with Tanook Hines for a 7-yard touchdown with 37 seconds left in the first half.
In the third quarter, Maiava threw his third touchdown of the game, this time to Walker Lyons and USC took a 31-10 lead.
The Spartans came right back with an 11-play, 87-yard drive that was capped with a 12-yard touchdown run from Chiles.
On the ensuing drive, DJ Jordan made a 7-yard reception but fumbled and the Spartans recovered. Michigan State took advantage of the turnover and scored on a 1-yard pass from Chiles to Jack Velling. USC held a 31-24 lead at the end of the third quarter.
USC increased the lead in the fourth quarter to 38-24 on a 4-yard run from Lemon. Maiava scored his fifth touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run and the Spartans added a late touchdown.
Up next for the Trojans is a road matchup against Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 27.