Northwestern travelled to the City of Angels to take on USC for the first time since the two teams matched up in the 1996 Rose Bowl. The Trojans looked dominant from start to finish, especially with their
high-powered offense.
Like in the five prior times when these two teams faced each other, USC got the win. The ‘Cats were simply outmatched. After Northwestern’s second straight loss and another ranked matchup next week, what went well and what went wrong?
Stock Up
Offensive Line
Northwestern’s offensive line has continued to play at an extremely high level. Whether it’s run-blocking or pass-blocking, it doesn’t matter. While you can point to Caleb Tiernan as the best on the line, the collective play together has been incredibly impressive.
Northwestern allowed just two sacks, but one of them came in an obvious passing situation late when down by 21. The o-line has been consistently opening up large holes that have contributed to the success of Caleb Komolafe. Additionally, Preston Stone has had more time in the pocket as of late. This contest was no different.
Caleb Komolafe
Komolafe’s ceiling keeps rising. In the first half, he rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, including a 37-yard run. Additionally, he caught five passes for 40 yards.
While credit also goes to the offensive line, Komolafe’s bounce and ball-carrier vision has been up there with some of the best backs in the country. He finished the game with 17 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown, and his receiving line from the first half stayed the same but led the team nonetheless.
Preston Stone
In doing film reviews this season and seeing the good and bad sides of him, Stone more than passed the eye test today. Even though he threw for just 150 yards, it seemed like Zach Lujan put more trust in his quarterback, and it showed. Stone did throw an almost-interception, but it came when he was firing away to try and make a miraculous comeback with under four minutes to go while down three possessions.
In a tough environment with both Joseph Himon II and Dashun Reeder out, Stone held his own as the signal-caller even with the loss. He also spread the ball around well, as seven different players caught passes from No. 8. Simply put, Stone wasn’t the reason Northwestern lost this game.
Honorable Mentions: Mac Uihlein, Drew Wagner, Robby Preckel, Braydon Brus
Stock Down
Pass defense
Against USC and without Damon Walters, this was bound to happen. Jayden Maiava has been one of the best passers in the FBS, and he looked to be back at his normal form after a down week against Nebraska.
In the first half alone, he went 15 for 22 for 154 passing yards and a passing touchdown. Makai Lemon was and likely will end up being the best receiver Northwestern faces all season long. On USC’s opening drive of the second half, Lemon got his Trojans 64 yards on the first two plays.
Even if NU was able to take Lemon out of the game, Ja’Kobi Lane is also a star receiver, and he was functioning as the 1-B for USC in this one. Going against one of the best wide receiver duos in the country is hard enough to contain.
This is what it’s like going up against two human highlight reels at wide receiver. Lemon finished with 11 catches for 161 yards and two total touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing), while Lane hauled in seven passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Maiava finished the day 24 for 33 for 299 yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).
Run defense
Even with two of its three “main” running backs out from the start of the season, USC controlled the game on the ground. In the first half, King Miller had nine carries for 90 yards and a rushing score, including a 55-yard run. Maiava also did damage on the ground, rushing for 10 yards and a score on four carries in the first half.
In general, Northwestern’s defense struggled to even make first contact on runners. There was almost nothing NU could do in the red zone against the run, with Lemon scoring a touchdown on the ground as well.
Miller finished the night with 127 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries as Northwestern’s defense as a whole gave up the most yards it has all season (482 total, 309 passing, 173 rushing). Out of its 10 drives, USC scored on six of them (one of them was the last drive of the game).
Game management
The sequence to end the first drive of the second half for the ‘Cats shows a greater issue that has been plaguing Northwestern this season. While Wildcat Coach David Braun has been a great leader this season, he sometimes makes some questionable decisions when it comes to managing the game.
Early in the second half, the ’Cats had a fourth-and-3 in USC territory. Stone failed to get the snap off but called a timeout to prevent a penalty. Instead of sending the offense back out after using a timeout on fourth down, Braun sent out the punting unit, and USC scored on the ensuing drive to take a two-score lead.
On their second drive of the second half, the Wildcats subbed out an offensive player too late, allowing the Trojans to match the sub. That led to NU taking its second timeout of the second half with 2:52 to go in the third quarter.
It seems like Braun sometimes tries to play to not lose, rather than playing to win.
Honorable Mentions: Quarterback contain, luck, red zone defense
