What you need to know
USC’s many issues pile up in stunning loss to Maryland
Miller Moss plagued by inconsistency as USC’s issues pile up in loss to Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In all his years playing the sport, Miller Moss had never traveled so far for a football game. But the past month had seen USC and its quarterback crisscross the country, its College Football Playoff hopes unraveling over three Big Ten trips across multiple time zones. And here, at the tail end of that travel nightmare, was the farthest trip of all, with USC in its most vulnerable place of the season reeling after three losses in four weeks, in desperate need of a get-right game against Maryland.
That stretch had done a number on Moss and the Trojans, his strong start to the season descending into sudden inconsistency that the rest of the team seemed to mirror. The defense was suddenly more fallible than usual. The coaching, suddenly questionable.
USC drops the ball on fourth down, falls to Maryland
Maryland 29, USC 28, end of the game
USC started on its 25 after the touchback.
Miller Moss smiled as the Maryland crowd roared. Moss passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for 13 yards.
Moss passed to Kyron Hudson for eight yards. Moss then passed to Hudson for six yards.
Moss tossed two incomplete passes intended for Hudson. With 18 seconds left, Moss passed to Zachariah Branch for eight yards and USC called timeout.
On fourth-and-two with 14 seconds left, Moss passed to Woody Marks’ chest and he dropped it as he was hit by two Maryland players.
The Terrapins took over with 11 seconds left and ran out the clock.
Maryland takes lead after blocked field goal
Maryland 29, USC 28, 53 seconds left in the fourth quarter
Maryland took over at the USC 47.
Billy Edwards Jr. passed to Roman Hemby for four yards. Edwards’ next pass was incomplete but USC was called for pass interference.
Edwards passed to Octavian Smith Jr. for six yards. Edwards passed to Tai Felton for 14 yards. Edwards passed to Hemby for five yards. And Edwards ran for a three-yard touchdown. Maryland hit the extra point to take the lead.
Maryland blocks USC field goal and returns it
USC 28, Maryland 22, 1:34 left in the fourth quarter
USC took over at the Maryland 33.
Woody Marks ran for three yards. Marks ran for a loss of one. Miller Moss passed to Makai Lemon for seven yards. On fourth-and-one, Michael Lantz lined up to attempt 41-yard field goal and the kick was blocked.
Maryland’s Quashon Fuller caught the blocked punt and tossed behind him to Glendon Miller, who returned it. He fumbled and Maryland recovered at the USC 47.
A flag was thrown for an illegal forward pass and the Terrapins were hit with a five-yard penalty. The call was reviewed and reversed because it was a backward pass.
Maryland took over at the USC 47.
USC defense gets a big stop
USC 28, Maryland 22, 2:56 left in the fourth quarter
Maryland started on its 3 after the USC punt.
Nolan Ray ran for six yards. Billy Edwards Jr. passed to Ray for 10 yards.
Ray ran for a yard. Edwards then passed to Tai Felton for 10 yards.
Edwards evaded the USC pass rush and passed to Kaden Prather for 18 yards, moving the ball to the Maryland 48.
Edwards passed to Octavian Smith Jr. for two yards. Ray ran for one yard. On third-and-seven, Edwards tossed an incomplete passed as the pocket was collapsing.
On fourth-and-seven, Edwards was sacked for a loss of 18 yards.
USC punt pins Maryland at its 3-yard line
USC 28, Maryland 22, 6:47 left in the fourth quarter
USC started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Miller Moss passed to Zachariah Branch for seven yards. Woody Marks ran for three yards and a first down.
Miller Moss’ next two passes intended for Marks were incomplete. Moss passed to Duce Robinson for 11 yards and the first down.
Moss passed to Makai Lemon for four yards. Quinten Joyner rushed for one yard. On third-and-five at the Maryland 49, Moss was hit as he threw the ball and it fell incomplete.
USC punted and the Trojans downed it at the Maryland 3.
Maryland cuts into USC’s lead
USC 28, Maryland 22, 9:56 left in the fourth quarter
Maryland started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Billy Edwards Jr. passed to Octavian Smith Jr. for 27 yards.
Edwards passed to Smith for another five yards. Edwards’ next pass was incomplete. Edwards passed to Kaden Prather for four yards. Nolan Ray ran for 10 yards and a first down.
Edwards tossed an incomplete pass. Edwards passed to Dylan Wade for five yards Edwards tossed another incomplete pass. On fourth-and-five, Edwards passed to Roman Hemby for 14 yards and the first down.
Hemby rushed for a 10-yard touchdown. Edwards passed to Prather for a two-point conversion.
USC extends its lead
USC 28, Maryland 14, 13:51 left in the fourth quarter
USC’s offense took over on its 20 after the defense intercepted the ball in the end zone.
Miller Moss passed to Woody Marks for four yards. Marks then ran for nine yards.
Moss tossed an incomplete pass intended for Kyron Hudson. On seconad-and-10 at the USC 33, Quinten Joyner ran for four yards. On third-and-six, Moss passed to Lake McRee for 12 yards and a first down.
Moss passed to Makai Lemon for eight yards. Moss’ next pass was incomplete and time ran out in the third quarter.
Marks rushed for 16 yards to the Maryland 27. Marks ran for one yard. Moss then connected with Duce Robinson for a 26-yard touchdown.
Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
USC defense intercepts the ball in the end zone
USC 21, Maryland 14, 3:04 left in the third quarter
Maryland started on its 34 after the USC punt.
Billy Edwards Jr. passed to Kaden Prather for nine yards. Edwards then passed to Tai Felton for four yards.
Edwards ran for nine yards. Nolan Ray broke free for 33 yards, moving the USC 11.
Maryland was called for a false start. Edwards ran for no gain. Edwards then passed to Dylan Wade for four yards. On third-and-11, Edwards pased to Felton for eight yards. On fourth-and-three at the USC 4, Edwards lofted to the ball into the end zone and it was intercepted by USC’s Jaylin Smith.
USC can’t answer Maryland’s scoring drive, punts
USC 21, Maryland 14, 7:03 left in the third quarter
USC started on its 13 after a kickoff return.
USC was called for false start. Woody Marks ran for four yards and then another nine yards. On third-and-10, Miller Moss’ pass intended for Ja’Kobi Lane was incomplete.
USC punted to the Maryland 34
Maryland scores immediately after Miller Moss interception
USC 21, Maryland 14, 8:32 left in the third quarter
Maryland took over at the USC 18 after Miller Moss’ interception.
Bill Edwards Jr. passed to Tai Felton for an 18-yard touchdown and the Terrapins hit the extra point.
Miller Moss tosses his first interception of the game
USC 21, Maryland 7, 8:39 left in the third quarter
USC took over at its 35.
Miller Moss passed to Lake McRee for six yards. Woody Marks rushed for two yards. Moss passed Kyron Hudson for five yards and a first down.
Marks ran fo ra loss of four yards. Moss passed to Duce Robinson for 15 yards.
Moss’ next pass intended for Marks was intercepted by Lavain Scruggs at the Maryland 41 and returned to the USC 18.
USC stops Maryland on fourth down
USC 21, Maryland 7, 11:47 left in the third quarter
Billy Edwards Jr. passed to Roman Hemby for 19 yards.
Hemby ran for a loss of three. Edwards tossed an incomplete pass, but USC was called for pass interference.
Edwards passed to Dylan Wade for one yard and to Tai Felton for three. Roman rushed for four yards to the USC 36. On fourth-and-two, Hemby rushed for one yard and turned the ball over.
USC forces big turnover, protects two-touchdown lead
USC 21, Maryland 7, end of the second quarter
After the kickoff, USC was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and the balled moved to the Maryland 40.
Billy Edwards Jr. passed to Dylan Wade for 16 yards.
Edwards spiked the ball. Edwards passed to Kaden Prather for 17 yards to the USC 27.
With time running down, Edwards fumbled the snap and lost 13 yards as USC took over the ball at the Trojans’ 40.
Woody Marks ran for four yards and Lincoln Riley called timeout with one second left.
With the ball on the USC 43, Miller Moss took a knee. It was an odd sequence when the Trojans could have run out the clock naturally without the timeout.
USC defense forces a punt and Woody Marks pushes for a quick score
USC 21, Maryland 7, 1:24 left in second quarter
Maryland started on its 17 after the punt.
Billy Edwards Jr. tossed a incomplete pass, ran for a loss of two yards and tossed another incomplete pass.
Maryland punted.
Zachariah Branch returned the punt 19 to the USC 44-yard line. Maryland was called for a personal foul and it moved the ball to the Terrapins’ 40 with 1:09 left.
Moss passed to Marks for three yards. Moss then passed to Ma’Kai Lemon for 24 yards, moving the ball to the Maryland 15.
Marks ran for 10 yards to the Maryland 5 and the clock stopped with 32 seconds left.
Marks carried drove the pile into the end zone for a five-yard touchdown. Michael Lantz hit the extra point with 26 second left.
USC can’t capitalize on Maryland penalty, punts
USC 14, Maryland 7, 1:47 left in second quarter
USC started on its 34 after the missed field goal.
Miller Moss looked deep for Charles Ross and Maryland was called for pass interference.
Moss ran up the middle for no gain after the play collapsed. Moss passed laterally to Woody Marks for a loss of six yards. The two-minute timeout was triggered. On third-and-16, Moss tossed an incomplete pass and USC punted to the Maryland 17.
Maryland drive ends with missed field goal
USC 14, Maryland 7, 3:03 left in second quarter
Maryland started on its 25 after the touchback.
Billy Edwards Jr. passed for four yards. Colby McDonald ran for three yards. On third-and-three, Edwards passed to Preston Howard, who gained two yards and fumbled the ball out of bounds. On fourth-and-one, Maryland took a timeout to sort out how to go for it. The Terrapins went with the quarterback keeper shove and he gained one yard for the first down.
On first down at the Maryland 35, Edwards passed to Kaden Prather for seven yards. Octavian Smith took a reverse and then doubled back before finally gaining two yards. On third-and-one, USC stuffed Edwards’ quick run. On fourth-and-one, Maryland lined up for another shove and USC was called for being offsides. It gave Maryland five yards and a first down.
On first down at the Maryand 39, Edwards passed to Smith for 18 yards.
Edwards passed deep to the left side and was clobbered by Kamari Ramsey breaking up the play. McDonald ran for a loss of one. On third-and-11 at the USC 34, Edwards was dropped but managed an incomplete pass. On fourth-and-11, Jack Howes missed a 52-yard field goal wide right.
Ja’Kobi Lane delivers highlight touchdown catch
USC 14, Maryland 7, 8:08 left in second quarter
USC started on its 25 after the touchback.
Miller Moss passed to Zachariah Branch for 23 yards.
Woody Marks ran for 11 yards.
Moss’ deep pass to Ja’Kobi Lane was incomplete. Moss passed to Kyle Ford for five yards. On third-and-five, Moss passed into traffic and hit Jay Fair for a 14-yard gain.
Marks ran for seven yards. Moss passed to Lane, who hauled in a one-handed, 15-yard catch. Michael Lantz hit the extra point to reclaim the lead.
Maryland responds to USC’s scoring drive with a touchdown
USC 7, Maryland 7, 11:19 left in second quarter
Maryland started on its 25.
Billy Edwards Jr. passed to Roman Hemby for two yards. Nolan Ray ran for three yards. Edwards then passed to Kaden Prather for 33 yards.
Edwards couldn’t find an open receiver and scrmabled for 12 yards.
Edwards’ pass was incomplete and Maryland was called for holding. On first-and-20, Edwards passed to Tai Felton for nine yards. On second-and-11, Edwards passed to Octavian Smith Jr. for six yards. On third-and-five, Edwards passed to Prather for 13 yards and moved the ball to the USC 11.
Maryland was called for a false start. On first-and-16 at the USC 16, Edwards passed to Smith for a touchdown in the back left corner of the end zone. The play was reviewed and there no evidence to overturn it, so the score stands and Maryland hit the extra point.
Maryland penalty helps USC score its first touchdown
USC 7, Maryland 0, end of the first quarter
USC started on its 21.
Miller Moss passed to Zion Branch for six yards. Moss then passed to Makai Lemon for 18 yards.
Moss passed to Branch for 17 yards.
Quinten Joyner ran for one yard and Moss ran for two more. On third-and-seven at the Maryland 35, Moss looked deep at Duce Robinson but it was a little behind Robinson and was broken up.
Michael Lantz’s 52-yard field goal attempt was long enough but sailed wide left. During the play, Maryland was called for a substitution penalty. It cost Maryland five yards.
Moss returned to the field for fourth-and-two. He faked a handoff and passed to Lake McRee for eight yards.
Moss tossed the ball to Kyron Hudson on the left side of the end zone and he stretched to pull in the 22-yard touchdown strike.
Lantz hit the extra point as time expired in the first quarter.
USC forced another Maryland punt
USC 0, Maryland 0, 3:37 left in the first quarter
Maryland started on its 17 after the punt.
Billy Edwards Jr. passed to Tai Felton for 11 yards.
Edwards tossed an incomplete pass before finding Octavian Smith Jr. for four yards. On third-and-six, Edwards passed to Kaden Prather for one yard. On fourth down, Maryland was called for false start before punting. USC took a fair catch at its 21.
Offensive line penalty thwarts USC drive
USC 0, Maryland 0, 6:25 left in the first quarter
USC started on its 11 after the punt.
Miller Moss tried to evade pressure and was sacked for eight yards. Moss threw out of his end zone to Kyle Ford for nine yards. On third-and-nine, Moss passed to Makai Lemon for 17 yards and the first down.
On first down at the USC 29, Woody Marks ran for five yards. USC was called for false start and lost five yards. On second-and-10, Moss passed to Leon for four yards. On third-and-six, Moss passed to Duce Robinson who gripped the ball and dropped it.
UCLA punted and it was downed at the Maryland 17.
USC defense forces a Maryland punt
USC 0, Maryland 0, 9:49 left in the first quarter
Maryland started on its 8.
Billy Edwards Jr. passed to Tai Felton for seven yards. Edwards passed to Kaden Prather for nine yards.
Edwards was sacked by Easton Mascarenas-Arnold for a loss of five yards. Edwards’ next pass was broken up. On third-and-15, Edwards tossed a screen pass to Roman Hemby for 12 yards.
Maryland punted and USC took a fair catch at its 11.
USC’s opening drive ends with a punt
USC 0, Maryland 0, 12:16 left in the first quarter
USC started on its 25 after the touchback.
Miller Moss passed to Lake McRee for nine yards. Woody Marks then ran for six yards.
Moss passed to Makai Lemon for seven yards and Zachariah Branch for five yards.
Moss passed to Marks for three yards, but he tossed two incomplete passes and USC punted to the Maryland 8.
And we’re off ...
USC 0, Maryland 0, start of first quarter
USC won the coin toss and chose to receive the opening kickoff.
After ‘a series of concussions,’ USC linebacker Eric Gentry to miss rest of season
Finally matched with a scheme that fit him and a staff that understood his unusual skillset, Eric Gentry seemed primed for a breakout season on USC’s new-look defense.
But after disclosing “a series of concussions in a short period of time,” Gentry said he will sit out the rest of this season with the intention of redshirting to retain one last year of eligibility at USC in 2025.
The decision to sit out, Gentry said on social media, “breaks my heart.”
“This decision has not been easy,” Gentry wrote, “but after thoughtful consideration and discussions with my family and the coaching staff, I know it’s the right choice for my well-being and long-term health.”
USC defensive end Anthony Lucas is out for the season
Anthony Lucas always looked the part. His physical tools, at 6 feet 6 and 275 pounds, once made him one of the most-coveted prospects in America, with the sort of towering potential that could transform a defense.
Yet aside from some flashes of brilliance, first at Texas A&M and then at USC, that potential largely had gone unfulfilled for two seasons. It took a new scheme, new staff and newfound focus from Lucas to finally unlock it at USC, where the first six weeks of this season offered more than a few glimpses of the junior defensive end as a force along the Trojans’ front.
That hope faded in a hurry Tuesday with word that Lucas suffered a season-ending injury in Saturday’s loss to Penn State. The injury leaves USC’s already-thin defensive line without its most-productive edge rusher the rest of the way.
With Eric Gentry and Anthony Lucas out, USC’s defense must rely on its freshmen
Desman Stephens had played only a handful of snaps to this point, mostly in mop-up duty, but as the freshman linebacker peered over the line of scrimmage at Penn State’s offense Saturday, he could see the third-down play unfolding in his head. The Trojans had three over the ball. Two receivers were stacked to his left, and the nickel corner was blitzing. So Stephens knew, as soon as it was snapped, he needed to backpedal in a hurry to cover the middle of the field.
That part was no problem for Stephens, whose experience as a do-everything defensive back at Clarkston High in Michigan would serve him well in this situation. He was still learning the finer points of playing linebacker, though, still digesting USC’s defense under D’Anton Lynn. Every play still felt like it was flying by at warp speed.
But with linebackers dropping like flies off the depth chart, there was little choice but to trust that the true freshman could step in. And as depth all over USC’s defense continues to dwindle, it won’t be the last time that Lynn has to put his faith in a freshman.
Miller Moss remains USC’s QB. But USC is struggling to air it out more than usual
Miller Moss had delivered on more difficult throws than this one. But last Saturday, with USC just one completion away from completing a final, fourth-quarter drive, the Trojans quarterback dropped back into a clean pocket, spotted 6-foot-6 wideout Duce Robinson breaking inward … and sent the pass soaring over his head.
It was picked off, marking the second time in as many weeks Moss ended USC’s final, fourth-quarter drive with an interception. Penn State won in overtime, leaving the Trojans to ruminate on a third loss in four weeks.
“This one was especially excruciating,” Moss said, shell-shocked, from the postgame podium.
The sting of that final throw lingered days later with a frustrated faction of the fan base who already were calling to replace Moss after consecutive losses. But as USC prepares to take on Maryland, one of the Big Ten’s worst pass defenses, the chanceof Lincoln Riley replacing his quarterback apparently is nil.
Lincoln Riley takes the blame for USC’s ‘gut punch’ of a loss to No. 4 Penn State
The chances were there all afternoon, just as they had been all season, the universe practically begging for USC to pull past No. 4 Penn State. But one opportunity slipped out of reach, then another, then another, until Lincoln Riley’s Trojans were once again tiptoeing along the brink, driving late in search of one last chance after a painstaking succession of squandered ones.
So often have the Trojans found themselves in this position, within a few inches of redemption, within a few plays of a key win. Riley himself had been sure to remind of it regularly over the past tumultuous month, so much so that it seemed unfathomable the Trojans would find themselves backed into the same corner again Saturday.
But here they were, with precious seconds ticking away late in the fourth quarter with the score tied, and Miller Moss just one completion from a kick that could erase all that came before it.
That was how Riley had envisioned it, at least, as he let the clock drain, clutching his three unused timeouts tight. One pass downfield would do it. One kick would end it from there. That’s what USC’s coaches had decided. But Moss’ pass sailed and was picked off. A go-ahead kick, in overtime, went wide left. And with them, any hope of USC slipping into the playoff slipped away for good in a 33-30 overtime defeat to Penn State.
USC vs. Maryland: How to watch the game, plus betting odds
USC (3-3) hits the road to take on Maryland (3-3) at SECU Stadium in College Park, Md. The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. PDT and will be shown on FS1. The radio broadcast will be available on 710 AM in the Los Angeles area.
Here’s a look at the betting odds for the game:
