Michigan vs. USC score: Live game updates, college football scores, NCAA top 25 highlights

Live updates, highlights and analysis as the Wolverines and Trojans meet in a Big Ten showdown on CBS

By David Cobb

7m ago • 1 min read

No. 18 Michigan inflicted a pair of significant blows in the first half against No. 11 USC on Saturday, taking a 14-3 lead into the break behind stingy defense and explosiveness in its run game. Kalel Mullings busted a 53-yard touchdown run on the Wolverines' third possession to open the scoring after the teams traded early punts. Then, it was Donovan Edwards' turn. Michigan's senior star rattled off a 41-yard touchdown run to put the Wolverines ahead two scores in the middle of the second quarter. With Alex Orji making his first career start at quarterback, the Wolverines have thrived living on the run game and defense in the opening two quarters. USC mustered just six first downs in the half while proving unable to effectively run the football.

Watch Michigan vs. USC live at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming live on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports App and Paramount+ with Showtime. Keep it locked here for live updates, analysis and highlights from the game.

No ad available

Live updates

Wolverines make a stand

USC just went three-and-out as the Michigan defense made a big stand without much time coming off the clock. The Wolverines still have two timeouts and are getting the football back with 4:02 remaining. Alex Orji is going to have to make some throws to lead a game-winning touchdown drive. But he's just 6 of 10 for 22 yards in this game.

Michigan offense reeling

On five possessions in the second half, Michigan has gone three-and-out four times. Its other possession resulted in a fumble that led to USC's go-ahead touchdown. The Wolverines have been entirely inept offensively since the break, and USC now has the football and the lead with under five minutes to play. There seems to be a sense of shock inside Michigan Stadium.

USC cashes in

Mid 4Q: USC 24, Michigan 20

USC just cashed in on the Donovan Edwards fumble as Miller Moss hit Ja'Kobi Lane for a 24-yard touchdown to surge ahead 24-20 with 7:01 remaining. That was a third-and-16 play, but Moss fit it between the corner and the safety. Michigan is certainly not helped by the absence of Will Johnson in that situation. The Trojans have their first lead of the day. The missed PAT by Michigan following the Johnson pick-six now looms large as well.

Donovan Edwards fumbles

USC's Eric Gentry recovered a fumble forced by Anthony Lucas at the Michigan 18-yard line. There is no doubt that the football was out, and USC will get the football inside the red zone needing only a field goal to tie the game. Massive play by the Trojans' defense, which has stepped up in a major way to answer the bell in the second half.

Riley plays it safe

Facing a fourth-and-7 at his own 39-yard line, USC coach Lincoln Riley opted to play it safe and punt. Eddie Czaplicki dropped a 50-yarder inside of Michigan's 15-yard line. USC has two timeouts, and its defense has been stellar. But you could argue the Trojans should have considered going for it there. Michigan's offense has been lifeless in the second half. But if the Wolverines are able to get it going on the ground, they could use this long field to drain a lot of clock.

USC gets another shot

Tommy Doman has been a busy man for Michigan today. His latest punt traveled 51 yards. Joe Taylor walloped Zachariah Branch after a 6-yard return. The Trojans will get the football at their own 21-yard line needing just a field goal to tie.

Will Johnson to locker room

Michigan star cornerback Will Johnson was spotted running into the Michigan locker room just a few moments ago. There was nothing clearly hobbling him as he left the field, but that's a big situation to monitor for the Wolverines' best player. Johnson is also the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 CBS Sports NFL Draft Prospect Rankings.

Michigan's chance to put it away

The Michigan defense just forced USC to go three-and-out for the first time since the first quarter. That returns the football to Michigan at its own 33-yard line with the Wolverines nursing a three-point lead. Can Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards rattle off another explosive run to put USC on the ropes? The Wolverines have punted on their last three possessions and have gone three-and-out on their only possessions of the second half.

To the fourth

Start 4Q: Michigan 20, USC 17

USC is set to get the football back to begin the fourth quarter after a big stand from the Trojans. If the third quarter was any indication, we're in for a wild finish. Miller Moss and the USC passing game is hitting its stride, and the Trojans are playing with confidence defensively against the one-dimensional Wolverines. Will Johnson has left his mark on the game for Michigan, but the Wolverines are going to need something from their offense in the fourth quarter if they're going to finish this off.

Wild sequence swings momentum back to USC

Miller Moss hit Jay Fair for a 16-yard touchdown to draw the Trojans within 20-17 and cap a wild sequence. Woody Marks ticked off a 65-yard run to the Michigan 2-yard line and was just barely caught by Jyaire Hill. Then, on third-and-goal, USC quarterback Miller Moss fumbled while attempting to throw the football into the end zone. Michigan began returning the fumble, but Marks wrestled it back at the 27-yard line. So, what would likely have been a USC field goal attempt turned into a double-fumble. Then, two plays later, Moss hit Fair to make it a three-point game.

Will Johnson flips the game

Will Johnson just made his imprint on this game and on this Michigan football season with a gamebreaking interception that he returned for a touchdown to put the Wolverines ahead 20-10. The Trojans were facing a third-and-3 and building momentum, and now all of the sudden they are down by 10 again (blocked PAT). Johnson read it all the as Moss looked for Zachariah Branch. Johnson jumped it and returned it 42 yards for a score. That's Johnson's second pick six of the season.

Down goes Orji

Eric Gentry got home on Alex Orji with Michigan facing a third-and-5. Orji was looking to throw and hopped forward to evade the pass rush. To no avail, Gentry slung him to the ground, forcing a three-and-out for the Wolverines. USC has the football and the momentum with a chance to take the lead after falling behind 14-0 early.

Game on at the Big House

USC embarked on its best drive of the game to open the third quarter, relying mostly on the pass, as it marched 75 yards on 12 plays to score a touchdown and draw within 14-10. Miller Moss found Duce Robinson wide open in the back of the end zone for a 9-yard score to cap the drive. Moss seems to be finding a rhythm in his first ever road start, and the Trojans have shifted the pressure back to the Wolverines.

Lake McRee out with knee injury

USC tight end Lake McRee took a shot while corralling a swing pass behind the line of scrimmage near midfield. He needed help from the Trojans' medical staff, leading to a stoppage in play as USC attempts to mount a drive early in the third quarter. McRee entered with nine receptions. After going to the injury tent, he was ruled out for the rest of the game. That's a tough loss for the Trojans, especially as they rely on their passing attack to make a comeback.

Abandon the run?

USC gets the football to begin the third quarter. Though the Trojans are down just 14-3, it's worth wondering if they should abandon the run. They've been unable to generate anything on the ground, and possessions will be at a premium in the second half as the Wolverines try and pound the rock. Protecting Miller Moss has been an issue for the Trojans, but if the Trojans are going to win this game, it's going to be with Moss making plays in the passing game.

Michigan's defense winning the day

Half: Michigan 14, USC 3

Kenneth Grant wrestled Miller Moss to the ground for a 12-yard loss on the final play of the first half after the Trojans had worked their way into Wolverines territory. Michigan sacked Moss twice in the first half and knocked him down several more times as the Trojans' offensive line struggled. Woody Marks mustered just 5 yards rushing on six carries as USC became completely one-dimensional.

Critical possession for USC

Can USC put together a scoring drive in the two-minute drill before halftime? Another good punt has the Trojans stuck inside their own 10-yard line with 1:40 remaining in the half. A score of any kind here would make it a one-possession game and get the Trojans into halftime feeling better about themselves.

USC gets on the board

Miller Moss hit Zachariah Branch for a 42-yard gain down the left sideline on third-and-11 to get the Trojans into the red zone for the first time. But Michigan's defense stood up from there. Faced with a fourth-and-goal from the 11, Lincoln Riley had little choice but to kick the field goal. Michael Lantz was good from 29 yards out to make it 14-3 with 4:15 remaining in the first half.

Thunder and lightning

First it was Kalel Mullings from 53 yards out. Now, it is Donovan Edwards from 41 yards out. The senior star just gashed USC's defense again to put the Wolverines ahead 14-0. USC's defense has been pretty good on a down-to-down basis. But it's made a couple of critical blunders to allow those home run plays in the run game. A USC offense that has been woefully ineffective is now down two scores in the Big House.

Makai Lemon taken in ambulance

USC receiver Makai Lemon is being taken to a hospital in an ambulance, according to the CBS Sports broadcast. Lemon went down on a special teams play, when he was recipient of a block in the first quarter and was in obvious pain. The sophomore receiver made four receptions over the season's first two games.

Baby steps for USC?

USC finally picked up a first down, but that was all the Trojans could muster as their fourth possession ends in their fourth punt. Miller Moss was nearly intercepted by Zeke Berry over the middle as he targeted Zachariah Branch on a third down pass. These quarterbacks are a combined 6 of 12 for 37 yards passing in what's been a defensive slugfest so far.

Michigan flips the field

Michigan wound up punting. But in a game like this, flipping the field constitutes a good possession. That's what the Wolverines did, courtesy of a couple first downs picked up by Alex Orji on the ground. USC will take over at its own 13 still in search of a first down. The Wolverines have been vicious defensively, particularly against the run.

Mason Graham stands his ground

Michigan's mean defensive tackle Mason Graham just made his presence felt by stuffy Woody Marks for no gain on a third-and-1 play to force the Trojans into a third straight three-and-out to start the game. The physicality questions surrounding USC centered on its defense entering this game. But the Trojans' offensive line has been particularly shaky early. USC is stuck on 3 total yards entering the second quarter.

Kalel Mulligs breaks off the big one

Late 1Q: Michigan 7, USC 0

Kalel Mullings just ripped off a 53-yard touchdown run on first down to put Michigan up 7-0 early. The Wolverines BARELY converted a fourth-and-1 on the previous play to keep the drive alive. USC's defense had been stout. But Mullings busted through virtually untouched to give Michigan a critical early advantage. The Wolverines are not built to play from behind.

Josaiah Stewart's big sack

Stewart hammered Miller Moss for a loss of nine yards on second down to stymie USC's second possession before it could ever begin. The Wolverines are getting excellent push on USC's offensive line early in this game, which has been a battle of the punters. USC has netted -6 yards on its first two possessions, and the teams have combined for only one first down.

USC's defense looking good

Michigan just went three-and-out on its second series after Mason Cobb and Eric Gentry stuffed Kalel Mullins at the line of scrimmage on first down. From there, Orji picked up four on the ground. Facing a third down, he passed to Fredrick Moore short of the sticks. This time, Tommy Doman's punt sailed into the end zone. The Trojans are looking sound defensively early, and the Michigan offense has been just as predictable as expected through two possessions.

Crowd noise affects USC

Backed up inside of its own 10-yard line following a great punt from Tommy Doman, USC quickly went three-and-out as a false start and a dropped pass from Kyron Hudson left the Trojans in a third-and-13. It appeared as though Miller moss was having trouble hearing the play calls inside of a raucous Michigan Stadium as he made his first true road start. That will be something to monitor as this game goes on. The Trojans could wind up needing to gold-school with their signals.

Michigan punts to open game

Faced with a fourth-and-inches at the 24-yard line, Sherrone Moore rolled the dice and opted to go for it. The play clock was at zero, but the Wolverines snapped the ball and Alex Orji snuck forward to move the chains. But that was all the Wolverines could muster on their opening series as Easton Mascarenas-Arnold came up with a shoestring tackle on Alex Orji on a third-an-8 scramble to force a Michigan punt. Michigan threw one pass on its opening drive with Alex Orji at quarterback. It was a 5-yard completion to Semaj Morgan.

Michigan vs. USC kicking off

The Trojans and Wolverines are about to get underway from Michigan Stadium on CBS as Michigan will receive the opening kickoff. USC won the toss but deferred in an early sign of confidence in its defense as Alex Orji makes his first career start at quarterback for the Wolverines.

Deep dive on Lincoln Riley and USC

If you're looking to kill the last few minutes before kickoff, this is a great offseason read on Lincoln Riley, who can make a national statement early in Year 3 on the job today by leading his Trojans into Michigan Stadium and knocking off the reigning national champions.

Lincoln Riley finding his voice at USC, but meeting $100 million expectations is not coming as easily

Dennis Dodd

1 of 2