The USC Trojans fell to the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a score of 24-17 on Saturday, Oct. 5. Minnesota outscored USC 14-0 in the fourth quarter, and the go-ahead touchdown with 56 seconds remaining proved to be the difference.   

The No. 11 Trojans fall to 3-2 on the season, and Trojans quarterback Miller Moss had a performance to forget. He went 23 for 38 with 200 yards passing, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Moss Instant Reaction

Trojans quarterback Miller Moss was asked after the game what Minnesota did to stifle the USC pass game.  

“They did a really good job offensively limiting our possessions. I thought we gashed them in the run game. . . . I felt we were moving the ball up and down the field but didn’t put the points up to reflect that.”

USC had 373 yards of offense and 173 of them on the ground.

It was frustrating for the Trojans only scoring 17 points. Lincoln Riley seemed extra ticked off in his postgame presser after there was a question towards defensive end Jamil Muhammad regarding the Minnesota go-ahead touchdown and if he got in or not.

Riley said, “Don’t ask him that. Next question. . . . Let’s ask a more professional question.”

Trojans Offense Struggles in Loss

The USC offense could never seem to get in a consistent rhythm against the Minnesota defense, despite the Trojans’ solid start to the game. Moss started off completing his first six passes, but a third down pass was dropped by Zachariah Branch to end that streak and force a field goal attempt. That kick would be no good, and the game remained 0-0. 

Most of Moss’s attempts were short-yardage passes near the line of scrimmage. Not a lot of shots were taken by Moss down the field.

The Trojans scoring came in the second quarter with a Duce Robinson three-yard touchdown catch and a Woody Marks touchdown run early in the third quarter. 

The wheels came off for the Trojans in the fourth quarter while protecting a 17-10 lead. A Miller Moss strip interception led to a game-tying Minnesota touchdown. After getting the ball back, USC went three and out and punted it right back to Minnesota. 

The Gophers marched down the field and scored a touchdown on fourth and goal with 56 seconds remaining to take a 24-17 lead.

The Trojans’ attempt to tie the game fell short as a Miller Moss pass was picked off in the end zone. Moss’s second interception sealed the Minnesota win to improve the Gophers’ mark on the year to 3-3.

MORE: Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver Drake London Injury Update After Overtime Win

MORE: LIVE Score Updates USC Trojans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers: First Big Ten Road Game

MORE: USC Trojans, Minnesota Gophers Injury Update: Eric Gentry, Akili Arnold, Makai Lemon

MORE: Minnesota Vikings’ Sam Darnold Facing Distractions vs. New York Jets: Preview

MORE: Why Elite Recruit Floyd Boucard Committed To USC Trojans Over Oklahoma Sooners

MORE: USC Trojans’ Bear Alexander Reveals Potential Transfer Back to SEC Team

The No. 11 USC Trojans lost to Minnesota 24-17 on Saturday, Oct. 5. It’s hard to win games on the road in conference play.

The Golden Gophers scored in the final minute on a fourth down quarterback sneak with Max Brosmer. The officials initially ruled Brosmer short of the end zone, giving the Trojans the ball in a tie game. However, the play was reviewed and changed to a touchdown.

After the game, a reporter asked Trojans defensive end Jamil Muhammad if he thought Minnesota reached the goal line on the Gopher’s last touchdown.

“Don’t ask him that. Next question,” said USC coach Lincoln Riley before Muhammad could respond. “Who cares what he says on that? Like what, a player’s opinion? Let’s ask a more professional question.”

The Trojans once again found themselves in a dogfight on the road in the first half. The total yardage, first downs gained, and turnover battle were virtually deadlocked at the half. The score was10-10 thanks to a career-long 54-yard field goal from kicker Michael Lantz just before intermission. 

The Trojans came into the game with a plus-32 second-half scoring margin and experience in close-ball games. They leaned heavily on that muscle memory to grind out a few hard-fought drives to take control of the game with a great scoring drive and two early defensive stops that had Minnesota on the ropes.

An early fourth-quarter near sack strip flew into the air and turned into a Miller Moss interception. That was a massive turning point because the Trojans had a 17-10 lead and were driving in Golden Gopher territory with a chance to essentially put the ball game away. It may sound like a broken record at this point, but it’s the truth, the same issues that have been on tape for the Trojans cost them a ball game. 

The Golden Gophers reeled off 14 consecutive points, concluding with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that left the Trojans less than a minute to go in the game. At 24-17, USC’s only option was a touchdown. While quarterback Miller Moss got the Trojans in striking distance, it wasn’t quite enough as Moss was intercepted while taking a shot to the end zone.

Minnesota beat the USC Trojans for the first time since 1955.

The biggest issue with the offense, and honestly the team, is the trouble the Trojans have protecting quarterback Miller Moss. He came into the game as the most-hit and pressured quarterback in the Big Ten and the most-hit quarterback in the country. The Trojans didn’t fair much better today in that aspect. 

The quick passing game and Moss’ decisiveness provided relief on some passing attempts, but when USC had to truly go five-step dropback it wasn’t pretty.

Moss notably added muscle mass and weight going into this season and he’s needed it. The Trojans must find a way to keep Moss upright. Their season ultimately depends on it.

As for the biggest red flag on the defense? Their inability to hold the line in the biggest moments of the game. The defense, much like the Michigan game, was superb up until the last stand. Minnesota ran for 193 yards, most of which came on the final two possessions. The Big Ten trenches discourse has surrounded the Trojans, but they’ve mostly held up.

The time of possession was virtually even so being worn down isn’t an excuse. The Trojans held the Gophers to 2/8 on 3rd downs, but the Gophers converted twice on 4th down, one being the go-ahead touchdown. Sometimes, the scheme isn’t the issue. The Trojans don’t have an issue there defensively. In this case, USC needs their playmakers to step up in the biggest moments. They’ve done it before, they must do it more.

Lincoln Riley-led teams have been in this situation multiple times. A lead, an offense that’s humming, and a decision to make: run the ball and control the clock or pass. On the drive that ultimately flipped momentum with the interception, the Trojans dropped back on third and four from the Minnesota 35. 

Sounds fairly normal to throw there, right? Not so fast. The Trojans averaged 6.2 yards per carry and held a seven-point lead. At that point, the worst-case scenario if they failed to convert was a short fourth down attempt or a field goal attempt to potentially go up 10 points with 10 minutes remaining.

You could say that’s hypercritical, but the very next possession, tied at 17-17, there wasn’t a single rushing attempt. Minnesota got the ball back after a three-and-out and the rest is history. When will Riley trust his run game to close out these close contests? 

USC has shown how resilient they are, maybe too much for everyone’s liking this early into the year. They’ll have to prove it every week from here on out to reach their goals. There’s no more wiggle room. There’s no more grace period. The Trojans have to win out. 

Across the college football landscape, many ranked teams were tested against unranked foes. Georgia passed the Auburn test, and Ohio State passed the Iowa test. Alabama fell to Vanderbilt in one of the biggest upsets in college football history. Michigan faltered on the road to Washington. Tennessee was upset by Arkansas.

MORE: Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver Drake London Injury Update After Overtime Win

MORE: Why Elite Recruit Floyd Boucard Committed To USC Trojans Over Oklahoma Sooners

MORE: USC Trojans’ Lincoln Riley Addresses Schedule Updates: Notre Dame, Missouri State

MORE: USC Trojans’ Bear Alexander Reveals Potential Transfer Back to SEC Team

MORE: How To Watch USC Trojans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers: Preview, Injury Update, Channel

MORE: USC Trojans Predicted To Land Elite Running Back Recruit Over UCLA, Texas, Oregon

MORE: Chicago Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams: Fantasy Football Sleeper Pick?

The 11th-ranked USC Trojans seek their second straight Big Ten victory on Saturday with an evening matchup against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT) with TV coverage on BTN and streaming on-demand.

• How to watch: Live streams of the USC vs. Minnesota game are available with offers from FuboTV (free trial), SlingTV (low intro rate) and DirecTV Stream (free trial).
• For a limited time, FuboTV is offering $30 off the first month after the free trial period. With $30 offer, plans start at $49.99.

#11 USC Trojans (3-1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3)

NCAA football matchup at a glance

When: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT)

Where: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.

TV channel: BTN

Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | SlingTV (low intro rate) | DirecTV Stream (free trial)

USC remains in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot and could still jump back into the mix for a Big Ten title, but a sound effort will be required for Saturday’s trip to Minneapolis. The Trojans toppled Wisconsin (38-21) last time out to rebound from their first loss to Michigan (27-24), driven by four total touchdowns (one rush) from quarterback Miller Miss.

A challenging stretch continues for the Golden Gophers who look to avoid an 0-3 start in Big Ten play after falling to Iowa (31-14) and No. 12 Michigan (27-24) in their two most recent games. Minnesota is an 8-point underdog against USC in a line that shifted from 9.5 points and an over/under of 51.5 to 8 points and 46.5 through early action banking on a lower-scoring affair.

USC Trojans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers: Know your live streaming options

• FuboTV (free trial) – excellent viewer experience with huge library of live sports content; free trial lengths vary; monthly rate after free trial starts at $49.99 for duration of $30 first month discount.
• SlingTV (low intro rate) – discounted first month is best if you’ve run out of free trials or you’re in the market for 1+ month of TV
• DirecTV Stream (free trial) – not the same level of viewer experience as FuboTV, but the standard 7-day free trial is still the longest in streaming.

The Trojans and Golden Gophers are set for a 7:30 p.m. ET start on BTN. Live streams are available from FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and SlingTV (low intro rate).