CHAMPAIGN — No. 21 USC ran head-first into a No. 23 Illinois team that was more than eager to bounce back from a 50-point loss.
Illinois’ David Olano kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired to secure the 34-32 Big Ten victory over the Trojans on Saturday
It appeared bleak as USC was behind 31-25 with 6:21 remaining when linebacker Eric Gentry forced an Illinois fumble in the red zone – the Fighting Illini’s second of the game – with the ball bouncing into the end zone and recovered by the Trojans.
They chugged down the field and capitalized on the strong bond between quarterback Jayden Maiava and wide receiver Makai Lemon. The duo hooked up for a 16-yard strike in the back left corner of the end zone to tie the game and Ryon Sayeri converted the extra point for the Trojans’ first and only lead with 1:55 to play.
Illinois took advantage of the time left, going 51 yards and taking advantage of a pass interference call against the Trojans and a 13-yard run by quarterback Luke Altmyer to set up Olano’s heroics.
Maiava completed 30 of 43 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns. He threw his first interception of the season when linebacker Dylan Rosiek jumped in front of Lemon for the pickoff. USC’s defense held off the Illini – who were leading 17-10 – to keep the Trojans within one possession.
Kaden Feagin extended Illinois’ lead to 24-10 later in the third quarter when the 6-foot-3, 255-pound running back grabbed a short pass and ran down the the Illini sideline to complete a 64-yard touchdown.
Waymond Jordan, who received the majority of the carries for USC and tallied 94 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, cut the deficit to 24-17 when he scored from two yards out with 1:46 left in the third quarter.
Altmyer responded with a deep 25-yard strike to Justin Bowick for a touchdown and the 31-17 lead with 14:34 left.
USC battled back with 9:54 to play when Lemon beat a defender to get open in the deep left corner of the end zone and snag a 19-yard pass from Maiava. The two connected again on the two-point conversion as USC trailed 31-25.
Lemon, in a breakout performance in front of the national audience, finished with 11 catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
USC went to the locker room at halftime trailing 14-10 after a shaky start that wasn’t helped by injuries. Receiver Ja’Kobi Lane was limited due to an undisclosed injury, defensive back Kamari Ramsey (illness) and offensive lineman Elijah Paige (undisclosed) didn’t play and center Kilian O’Connor suffered an apparent knee injury in the first half.
Illinois took advantage of a fumble by Jordan on the game’s opening drive to get on the scoreboard first. The ball burst out of Jordan’s hands on contact with linebacker Leon Lowery. Jaheim Clarke scooped up the ball in stride to get the Illini possession.
Altmyer faked a handoff and ran to his right and into the end zone at 5:49 of the first quarter.
Jordan still received most of the carries in the first quarter and reached pay dirt on USC’s next possession to even the game at 7, putting his head down and barreling into the end zone from the 1-yard line.
Illinois tacked on another touchdown on a trick play, with receiver Hank Beatty taking the reverse and lobbing a 3-yard pass to Altmyer in the end zone for the 14-7 lead.
After getting a key fourth-down stop of the Trojans near midfield, the Illini were steamrolling their way toward the end zone and looking to take a 14-point lead into the half. Freshman defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart recovered a fumble forced by Gentry at the goal line. USC drove downfield and made it a four-point game on a 21-yard field goal by Sayeri with two seconds before the half.