Mi State vs USC: Trojans’ Firepower Too Much — Jayden Maiava, Makai Lemon Lead USC to 45–31 Win Over Spartans

USC beats Michigan State 45–31 — Jayden Maiava throws 3 TDs and rushes for 2; Makai Lemon scores twice. Full recap, injuries, where to watch, grades & what’s next.

Quick snapshot — Mi State vs USC

No. 25 USC used a multi-dimensional offensive night from Jayden Maiava (three passing TDs, two rushing TDs) and explosive plays from Makai Lemon to down Michigan State 45–31 in Los Angeles — the Trojans piled up 517 total yards and survived a late Spartan surge.

Why USC vs Michigan State mattered

This interconference showdown mattered for several reasons:

Top-25 momentum: USC — ranked No. 25 at kickoff — used this victory to reinforce its early-season momentum and Lincoln Riley’s offensive blueprint. Big non-conference wins matter on the CFP margin of error.
Measuring sticks: Michigan State, rebuilding under Jonathan Smith, viewed USC as a high-level barometer. A competitive showing — even in a loss — shows progress for MSU; the Spartans will use the film to refine personnel and in-game adjustments.
Injuries & depth tests: The game featured late-night adversity — MSU suffered at least one worrying injury during the contest (which cast a pall over the night) and both teams had health issues to monitor going into conference and bye-week planning. Injuries change plans fast in September.

If you care about rankings, quarterback races, transfer-era offense, or Big Ten vs Pac-12 bragging rights, this was one to watch — and to bookmark when assessing how both programs respond in midseason.

The essentials — final score, leaders and the statline

Final: USC 45, Michigan State 31.
USC leaders: Jayden Maiava — multi-touchdown night (three pass TDs, two rushing TDs); Makai Lemon — 40-yard receiving TD + rushing TD on a jet sweep; Trojans totaled 517 yards.
Michigan State leaders: Aidan (Aiden) Chiles (MSU QB) — threw for multiple TDs and led a late scoring surge (including a 75-yard TD to Omari Kelly); Spartans finished with meaningful drives but couldn’t sustain stops.
Big picture numbers: USC crossed the 500-yard mark — a sign of the dynamism Lincoln Riley’s offense has rediscovered — while Michigan State found big plays but suffered from defensive lapses and timely turnovers.

How the game unfolded — a drive-by-drive narrative

1) First quarter — Trojan pace, Spartan fight

USC jumped into an early rhythm, using tempo, jet sweeps and play-action to get Makai Lemon in space. Michigan State answered in spurts — the Spartans scored on their opening drive and mixed Aidan Chiles’ mobility with timely throws to keep the scoreboard respectable. But the Trojans’ explosive plays kept them a step ahead.

2) Second quarter — Trojans extend, MSU scrambles

USC opened daylight with a series of efficient drives; Maiava found receivers downfield and used his legs in short-yardage red-zone bursts. Michigan State had flashes (a turnover forced by Grady Kelly that led to Spartan points was one), but penalties and situational mistakes — plus a targeting call that swung a late first-half series — helped USC enter halftime with momentum.

3) Third quarter — Spartans rally, game tightens

MSU came out of the half sharper. Aidan Chiles engineered drives — including a short TD catch by Jack Velling that briefly cut the deficit — and the Spartans capitalized on a Trojans’ turnover to close the gap. For a stretch it felt like Michigan State might seize control if they kept converting third downs. (KNBR)

4) Fourth quarter — Trojan response seals the deal

USC answered with a long, patient drive that regained a two-score cushion. Makai Lemon’s jet sweep TD with roughly 8:20 left halted the Spartans’ momentum; Maiava’s second rushing TD put the game out of reach. Michigan State’s late 75-yard Omari Kelly touchdown made the final look closer, but USC’s defense made the crucial stops to close.

Player deep dives — who won the night (and who didn’t)

Jayden Maiava — a dual threat in prime time

Stat line: multiple passing TDs + two rushing TDs; Maiava routinely converted third downs and fought through contact. He looked comfortable in Lincoln Riley’s system and helped turn USC’s balanced attack into a formula MSU struggled to match. Expect scouts and opponents to note his capacity to produce on the move and in structured passing sequences.

Why it mattered: When your QB can finish with both passing and rushing scores, the playbook multiplies — and defenses must respect multiple threats from the same personnel sets. Maiava’s versatility made USC difficult to scheme against.

Makai Lemon — the explosive playmaker

Lemon’s 40-yard receiving TD and a rushing TD on a jet sweep were the highlight plays that swung win probability. He’s a matchup problem in space; Michigan State occasionally lost contain and paid for it. Lemon’s speed and route timing created game-changing moments.

Aidan (Aiden) Chiles — Spartan urgency and late heroics

Chiles threw for multiple touchdowns and engineered several scoring drives; his leadership on the comeback push late — including setting up Omari Kelly’s 75-yard TD — showed MSU’s offensive upside. That said, Chiles’ Spartans still need better complementary defense and fewer self-inflicted errors to convert these bold rallies into wins.

Defensive notes — where things broke for MSU

Michigan State bent multiple times against USC’s tempo and mis-matched personnel in space. The Spartans were gashed on the jet sweep and long pass plays; those breakdowns, coupled with a serious injury to one Spartan player that affected the team’s focus, were decisive. The injury (reported as sobering and affecting team energy) is an immediate storyline to track. (The Only Colors)

Injuries & health watch — what to track after the game

The ESPN/AP recaps and local outlets flagged at least one worrying injury for Michigan State during the game; head coach and players described the moment as “sobering” and it temporarily shifted focus away from Xs and Os. While specific details were limited at broadcast time, the Spartans will use their upcoming bye to evaluate and heal — expect an official injury report in the days to come. On the USC side, the Trojans missed starting receiver Ja’Kobi Lane (out for the game) and left tackle Elijah Paige exited in the second half; USC’s injury picture will also be monitored ahead of a road trip to Illinois.

Why it matters: Injuries change rotations, play-call confidence and sometimes the outcome of the next game. Both programs have bye weeks and travel coming up; the medical teams and coaches will be decisive in whether starters return next week.

Coaching & game plan analysis — Riley vs Smith

Lincoln Riley (USC) — offense remains elite

Riley’s offense is humming: tempo, creative screens, jet sweeps and a QB who can run or throw. The Trojans’ ability to mix explosive plays with methodical, time-consuming drives is textbook Riley: put points on the board early, force opponents to play fast, then exploit the mismatches. USC’s 517 yards are not a fluke — Riley’s system is executing at a high level in 2025.

Jonathan Smith (Michigan State) — progress under construction

Smith’s Spartans showed fight: third-quarter adjustments and late scoring drives were encouraging. But the defense needs schematic fixes against pace and jet motion; the secondary depth will be tested deeper into conference play. Smith has leaned into developing Aidan Chiles’ pocket and mobility — that effort produced phases of success — but the team’s consistency across four quarters remains a work in progress.

Key turning points & game-defining plays

USC’s big-play TDs (including Lemon’s 40-yard score): Long plays flipped field position and forced MSU to play catch-up.
USC penalties and a targeting call that extended late first-half drives: Those officiating moments changed momentum and the scoreboard heading into halftime.
Grady Kelly’s fumble recovery for MSU: Gave Michigan State a spark and led to a short TD that narrowed the margin. Those opportunistic plays kept MSU alive in the third quarter.
Lemon’s jet sweep TD (8:20 left): A long, sustained 13-play drive that reasserted Trojan control and changed win probability decisively.

Prediction vs reality — what the preseason lines underestimated

Many predictive models and oddsmakers saw USC as the favorite due to home-field and roster firepower; the final 45–31 result validated the pregame lean but also showed Michigan State’s ability to score in chunks (they nearly made a furious comeback). For bettors and bracket watchers, this game confirmed that Lincoln Riley’s offense is a legit threat and that MSU’s offense under Chiles can keep them in shootouts — but the Spartans must tighten defensive execution to flip future neutral/upset expectations.

Where to watch (if you missed it) & broadcast notes

Live TV / streaming: USC home games are typically broadcast on national networks (ABC/ESPN family) and locally on the USC Trojans GameDay app / USCTrojans.com watch page, which often streams for fans. The ESPN game recap is the postgame hub for condensed highlights and stats.
Replays & highlights: ESPN’s game page and the official USC Trojans site provide condensed replays and highlight packages; AP and local TV channels (KTLA/KNBC/NBC LA) also post extended highlights.

If you want to rewatch the big plays: search “USC vs Michigan State highlights” on ESPN or YouTube — Makai Lemon’s catches and Maiava’s scrambles are all in the top-5 clips.

What this means for both seasons

USC (short & medium term)

Resume boost: The Trojans stay unbeaten in early September and add a marquee win to their non-conference ledger — that helps in midseason polls and committee perception if they keep winning.
Next up: USC travels to Illinois next — the Illini are no pushover, so injury monitoring (Elijah Paige, Ja’Kobi Lane) is crucial. Expect Lincoln Riley to keep dialing up his balanced offense.

Michigan State (short & medium term)

Learning experience: The Spartans showed flashes but left Los Angeles with a loss and an injury scare. Their bye week arrives at a convenient time to heal and correct mistakes before a tough trip to Nebraska. (KNBR)
Developmental view: A gritty, late scoring burst indicates offensive growth; defensive continuity and depth remain the primary improvement areas.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

Tactical takeaways — what to fix (coaches’ film room checklist)

For Michigan State

Contain motion and jet sweep: USC’s jet sweep and misdirection gave MSU fits; emphasize edge discipline in practice.
Third-down defense: Convert more third-down stops to limit explosive drives. (SI)
Depth & injury mitigation: Use the bye week to rest starters and evaluate the injured players.

For USC

Penalty management: Four penalties extended opponent drives at times — cleaning those limits free points for opponents.
Protect left tackle health: If Elijah Paige’s injury lingers, the line depth needs evaluation before a road trip. (247Sports)

Fan & social reaction — the mood on X/Twitter and message boards

The Trojans’ faithful celebrated Maiava and Lemon highlights and praised Lincoln Riley’s aggressive play-calling; Michigan State fans were proud of the late push but frustrated by defensive lapses and the midgame injury that changed energy. Clips of Lemon’s 40-yard TD and Omari Kelly’s 75-yard late score trended for hours and created lively debate about both programs’ ceiling. (Los Angeles Times)

TROJANS > SPARTANS#FightOn | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/JZRn91y2Zb

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) September 21, 2025

Final thoughts — how this game shapes the season narrative

USC looks like a program on the rise under Lincoln Riley: explosive offense, playmakers who create chunk plays, and a quarterback who can both pass and finish with his legs. Michigan State continues to make progress under Jonathan Smith, and the Spartans’ late fight shows they’re not far away — but defensive depth and injury management will decide if they turn competitive losses into wins.

This Mi State vs USC game will be remembered for Jayden Maiava’s multi-phase performance, Makai Lemon’s big-play flair, and for the sobering injury that reminds us how fragile a Saturday night can be. Both teams go back to work: USC to the road and the Illini, MSU to a bye and a chance to regroup before Nebraska. For college-football fans, this was another reminder that September non-conference slates reveal as much about depth and discipline as they do about raw talent.

FAQs fans search for

Q: What was the final score of Michigan State vs USC?
A: USC 45, Michigan State 31. (ESPN.com)

Q: Who led USC in the win?
A: Jayden Maiava (multiple TDs passing + rushing) and Makai Lemon (big receiving TD + rushing TD) were the key playmakers. (USC Athletics)

Q: Was anyone injured?
A: The Spartans suffered a sobering injury (reported during the game) that affected team momentum; USC also lost Ja’Kobi Lane (out) and saw left tackle Elijah Paige exit in the second half. Expect official injury reports in the next 24–72 hours. (The Only Colors)

Q: Where can I rewatch highlights?
A: ESPN’s game page, USC Trojans official site (USCTrojans.com/Watch), and YouTube highlight packages. (ESPN.com)