There were two stories in Ann Arbor, but it was the local team that officially welcomed USC into the Big Ten.
The University of Michigan Wolverines, ranked 18th in the country and the reigning champions, found the end zone with under a minute to play to secure a 27-24 win over the 11th-ranked Trojans.
Michigan had more than 200 yards of total offense in the first half, but failed to pick up a first down on its first five attempts of the second half. But on third down and one yard down with just over two minutes left, Karel Mullings ran 63 yards to the USC 17 to put the Wolverines within striking distance.
Seven plays later, Mullings found the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line to put Michigan up 27-24 with 37 seconds left in the game. A stoppage would have all but guaranteed the Trojans the win.
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Michigan State running back Karel Mullings (20) runs during the first half of a game against USC, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. (Junfu Han/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
USC had no timeouts when they got the ball back and the Trojans were unable to cross the first-down marker on fourth down and nine yards from their own end of the field, giving Michigan the win.
Michigan led 14–3 at halftime, but USC came out of the locker room with a 12-point touchdown drive. Michigan got an interception six on USC's next drive, but the next turnover prevented them from suffering a similar fate.
A Troy fumble was recovered by Michigan inside the 10-yard line, but Wolverines defensive lineman Kenneth Grant dropped his own fumble on the return, giving USC another set of downs, and Troy scored a touchdown two plays later to make the score 20-17.
After Donovan Edwards lost a fumble in Michigan's own half, USC scored three plays later to take a 24-20 lead, but the Trojan defense couldn't get a stop when it needed it most.
University of Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards (7) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a game against the USC Trojans at Michigan Stadium. (Rick Osentoski/Imagn Images)
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Michigan failed to get a first down on its first five attempts of the first half, but got the ball back with four minutes left.
The Wolverines showed USC what Big Ten and Michigan football is all about, rushing for 290 yards and passing for just 32. Mullings led the team with 17 runs for 159 yards and two touchdowns, while Edwards ran 14 times for 74 yards and reached the end zone.
Miller Moss completed 28 of 51 passes for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for USC.
University of Michigan Wolverines' Karel Mullings (20) evades a defender and scores a touchdown during the first half of a game against the USC Trojans at Michigan Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
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For Michigan (3-1), it was a much-needed win after a tough loss to currently No. 1 ranked Texas at the Big House two weeks ago. A loss would have ended their postseason hopes, even in a 12-team playoff. It will be interesting to see where USC ends up in the polls as a four-point favorite.
Michigan returns home next week for a Big Ten Conference game against Minnesota, while USC (2-1) hosts Wisconsin in its first home Big Ten Conference matchup.
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