No. 23 Southern California will carry its high-powered offense into Saturday night’s game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb.
The contrast of styles will shape a crucial matchup for two teams looking to stay in the upper half of the Big Ten race.
Nebraska (6-2, 3-2) avoided falling on the wrong side of .500 in league play when it beat Northwestern 28-21 last week. The victory marked the Cornhuskers’ lowest defensive yield since the team opened the season giving up 24 combined points in the first three games.
“Great secondary, great guys up front,” Southern California quarterback Jayden Maiava said of Nebraska. “I see it as another great opportunity for us and the boys to showcase what we’ve been practicing.”
The Cornhuskers head into this week giving up 19.6 points per game, the 30th-lowest average nationally, but now must contend with the country’s team leader in passing yards (326.1) and total yards (530) per contest.
Souithern California (5-2, 3-1) is averaging 42.4 points per game behind Maiava, whose 311.4 passing yards per game rank third-most in FBS. Wide receiver Makai Lemon is second in the nation with 108.3 receiving yards per game.
Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule credited the Trojans’ explosive passing game in part to their ability to play physical, run-based offense and throw defenses off-balance.
“You play USC, and they’re going to run power football over here, but if you’re not careful, they’re going to throw over here and make one block, then it’s a 60-yard touchdown,” Rhule said.
To that end, USC has a trio of running backs who have rushed for at least 264 yards — though two are sidelined. Waymond Jordan, the team’s leading rusher at 576 yards and five touchdowns, underwent ankle surgery following a 31-13 win over then-No. 15 Michigan on Oct. 11.
Eli Sanders, who rushed for 264 yards in five games, is out for the season with a knee injury.
Bryan Jackson stepped into Sanders’ change-of-pace role and delivered 35 yards on just five carries with a touchdown in the Trojans’ rout of Michigan. Jackson finished with 22 yards on six carries the following week in a 34-24 loss at Notre Dame on Oct. 18, USC’s lowest-scoring game of the season by seven points.
The Trojans ran for a season-low 68 yards vs. the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame stifling the run contributed to Maiava having his lowest completion percentage of the season at 52.4. It also marked his third straight contest with at least one pick after going the first four without throwing one.
Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola avoided an interception in the Cornhuskers’ first three games. He threw three — including a pick-six — in an Oct. 11 win over Maryland. Raiola has been picked off six times over Nebraska’s last five games.
“You want to possess the football as much as you can,” Huskers offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said. “(USC is) obviously really good offensively, and they’re going to have their moments. … But we want to control the ball.”
