LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jayden Maiava passed for 259 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score in his first start for Southern California , leading the Trojans to a 28-20 victory over slumping Nebraska on Saturday. Woody Marks rushed for 146 yards for USC (5-5, 3-5 Big Ten), and Maiava capped his eventful debut start by making a 2-yard TD run with 2:45 to play. The UNLV transfer replaced Miller Moss this week as the Trojans fight for bowl eligibility in another disappointing season under coach Lincoln Riley.
“It was a lot of fun, for sure," said Maiava, who went 25 of 35 and overcame two turnovers. "It’s definitely a big difference from sitting on the sideline to playing between the white lines.” Zachariah Branch, Kyron Hudson and Duce Robinson caught TD passes from Maiava in just the Trojans' second win in six games.
USC has never lost to Nebraska in these historic programs' infrequent meetings, going 5-0-1. Nebraska drove to the USC 14 with 5 seconds to play, but after a false start, Greedy Vance easily intercepted Raiola’s final pass into double coverage in the end zone. “We made some mistakes where we had some opportunities to separate, but I was just super-proud right at the very end,” Riley said.
“The last drive offensively, and then closing the door defensively there at the end was just tremendous.” Dylan Raiola passed for 191 yards and hit Emmett Johnson for a 29-yard TD in the first half, but Nebraska (5-5, 2-5) lost its fourth straight. The H.
