King Miller’s breakout game powers USC to win over No. 15 Michigan

The passer-by took his place next to USCdefender, the last man standing in the destroyed backfield. In the midst of a heated Big Ten battle with Michigan, where power and ball control were at a premium, both of the Trojans' top running backs had already been carted into the Coliseum tunnel. Meanwhile, two leading linemen started Saturday in street clothes. Circumstances were far from ideal for a team whose season was hanging in the balance.

King Miller, however, he was already familiar with overcoming long odds. Not too long ago, the redshirt freshman was buried on the depth chart as a preferred passer out of Calabasas High with no obvious path to playing time at USC.

But that was until Saturday, before Miller saw a hole in Michigan's defense, before he launched the game-changing breakaway that opened the game and ultimately lifted USC to a statement level. victory with a score of 31-13 over No. 15 Michigan.

It was a resounding win for the Trojans, considering how poorly they played in a loss to Illinois two weeks earlier, and for Lincoln Riley, who was just 3-11 against ranked teams before Saturday.

The fact that the victory came behind the back of a man who pays his way at USC made it even more impressive.

Miller had just two carries for 10 yards when Waymond JordanThe Trojans' leading rusher walked off the field in the second quarter, unable to put weight on his leg. However, his next 16 punts went for 148 yards.

His explosion began on a breakaway early in the third quarter, when Miller slipped through a hole and stumbled away, past one Michigan defender and into the open field. Miller was eventually tackled but scored a touchdown two plays later.

The score gave USC a 21–7 lead that they would never relinquish. But Miller wasn't done with his outstanding performance just yet. On the very next drive, he ran and made the same 47-yard run.

The most encouraging developments came on defense, where USC bounced back from a disastrous loss at Illinois to dominate Michigan and its standout freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. After weeks of dismantling the secondary, the Trojans held Underwood to just 207 yards on 15 of 24 passing. He was also stifling against the run, holding Michigan's rushing offense to just 3.5 yards per carry.

There were other positive signs on Saturday. First, USC committed just three penalties, a season low.

His offense, with the exception of Miller, has seen better days. Defender Jayden Maiava botched an interception in the red zone when USC could have put the game away in the third quarter. However, he finished with 265 yards and two touchdowns.

But it was a star-studded evening, begging the question: How long will it take USC to offer him a scholarship?

Before Miller arrived on the scene, it was unclear what USC would look like after the Illinois loss. But USC wasted no time in making itself known.

The Trojans moved down the field with ease, opening up possession. Jordan touched the ball six times and Maiava completed all five of his passes, capping the 11-play streak by hitting a wide-open Ja'Coby Lane in the end zone for a two-yard gain.

USC went on its next drive until disaster struck and the momentum suddenly shifted. Just as the Trojans crossed the red zone, threatening to put the game away, tight end Lake Macri caught a pass over the middle and was tackled by Michigan defensive end Jaire Hill, who knocked the ball away. The Wolverines recovered.

USC was able to counter Michigan's initial response, stopping an 11-play drive with a timely defensive blitz on third down that pushed the Wolverines out of play range. But the 14-play stretch proved too much for the Trojans' defense, which was unable to stop Michigan's ground game and gave up the tying touchdown to receiver Donaven McCulley.

With three minutes left in the half—and Michigan set to take a hit in the third quarter—USC was finally at full strength. He was only one-third down, marching the entire length of the field. But as precious seconds passed, Maiava looked toward the end zone, where he found Lemon, who leapt high to catch a pass between two defenders and then held on, landing on his back for the go-ahead goal.

However, USC paid the price for that final goal before the half. Jordan, the Trojans' leadoff hitter, jumped off the field after the single hit, unable to put weight on his leg. He was eventually carted off the field and joined Eli Sanders, another Trojans defensive back, in leaving the game in the first quarter.

But Miller smoothly filled that void in the second half. He made one great run, then another, working his way to Trojan infamy in the midst of a resounding victory.