Jayden Maiava's Five Touchdowns Lead USC Trojans Past Michigan State 45-31

Jayden Maiava accounted for five touchdowns as he leads the USC Trojans past Michigan State 45-31 in their Big Ten home opener at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Trojans hand the Spartans their first loss of the season, as they move to 4-0 for the third time in the Lincoln Riley era.

Updates from Saturday's contest are below.

Fourth Quarter

USC Trojans Live Score Updates Big Ten College Football Michigan State Aidan Chiles Makai Lemon Waymond Jordan Lincoln Riley — Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

0:00 - USC wins 45-31

2:39 - TOUCHDOWN MIchigan State. Omari Kelly 75-yard touchdown. Michigan State trails 45-31.

2:57 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Jayden Maiava on the quarterback sneak takes it in for the 1-yard touchdown. USC leads 45-24.

6:35 - Turnover on downs. Aidan Chiles pass on 4th down is incomplete. USC will take over on the Michigan State 28-yard line.

8:20 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Makai Lemon on the fly sweep takes it in for a 4-yard touchdown to cap off a 13-play, 75-yard drive. USC leads 38-24.

Makai Lemon again! 😤 @uscfb adds another TD to the board pic.twitter.com/ADM7Dt4OZk
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 21, 2025

8:25 - Michigan State gets flagged for a facemask on 3rd down, giving USC an automatic first down. The Trojans will have a 1st and goal on the 4-yard line.

11:00 - Jayden Maiava hits Makai Lemon for 10 yards on 4th down and picks up the 1st down.

15:00 - Jayden Maiava scrambles for 13 yards on 3rd down. Moves the ball into USC territory.

Third Quarter

0:40 - TOUCHDOWN Michigan State. Aidan Chiles to Jack Velling for a 1-yard touchdown to cap off an 8-play, 32-yard drive. Trail USC 31-24.

5:50 - FUMBLE. DJ Jordan fumbles. Recovered by Michigan State in USC territory.

5:58 - TOUCHDOWN Michigan State. Aidan Chiles takes it himself for a 4-yard touchdown to cap off an 11-play, 87-yard drive.

9:30 - DeCarlos Nicholson gets flagged for pass interference. The ball moves into USC territory.

11:22 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Jayden Maiava hits Walker Lyons for a 10-yard touchdown. USC leads 31-10

Maiava 👉 Lyons for another Trojan TD ‼️@uscfb up, 31-10.

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/Pr15whQXNZ
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 21, 2025

12:30 - Waymond Jordan runs right and picks 40 yards.

13:11 - Michigan State punt after going 3-and-out. Makai Lemon returns it 23 yards into Michigan State territory.

Second Quarter

0:00 - FIELD GOAL. Martin Connington's 56-yard field goal is NO GOOD. USC leads 24-10

0:37 - TOUCHDOWN USC. 1st career touchdown for freshman Tanook Hines to cap off an 11-play 88-yard drive. USC leads 24-10.

1st career touchdown for #USC freshman WR Tanook Hines pic.twitter.com/KwHRBiDORU
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) September 21, 2025

0:42 - Injury timeout. Michigan State player down on the field. USC will have a 2nd and goal on the 7.

1:00 - Injury timeout. Michigan State player down on the field. USC will have a 1st and goal on the 9.

1:20 - Waymond Jordan runs left and picks up 20 yards.

1:35 - Waymond Jordan 9-yard run moves the ball into Michigan State territory.

2:00 - Two-minute timeout. USC will face a 3rd and 2 on their own 30-yard line.

4:26 - FIELD GOAL. Martin Connington's 29-yard field goal is GOOD. Michigan State trails 17-10.

8:05 - USC turnover on downs. Jayden Maiava complete to Makai Lemon for 3 yards and comes up short on 4th down.

9:00 - Waymond Jordan burst up the middle for a 35-yard run.

9:22 - Michigan State punts after going 3-and-out. A tackle for loss by freshman Jahkeem Stewart on second down pushed the Spartans back. USC will take over on their own 11-yard line.

11:36 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Jayden Maiava connects with Makai Lemon for a 40-yard touchdown to cap off a 5-play, 73-yard drive. USC leads 17-7.

Jayden Maiava to Makai Lemon for the score.

Maiava has been surgical running Lincoln Riley’s offense this season #USC pic.twitter.com/n7MAUGSucq
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) September 21, 2025

12:05 - Michigan State linebacker Jordan Hall gets flagged for targeting. Ejected.

13:25 - Jayden Maiava hits Makai Lemon for a 27-yard completion.

13:36 - Michigan State is forced to punt after getting sacked by Devan Thompkins and Braylan Shelby on 3rd down. USC will take over on their own 7-yard line.

First Quarter

2:38 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Jayden Maiava keeps it himself and takes it in for a 15-yard touchdown to cap off a 6 -play, 72-yard drive. USC leads 10-7

our first tuddy of the day belongs to @jayden_maiava 💥

📺 FOX

pic.twitter.com/epox8EG9gb
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) September 21, 2025

4:32 - Eli Sanders runs left and picks up 16 yards. Moves the ball into Michigan State territory.

5:27 - Aidan Chiles finds a wide-open Chrishon McCray for a 42-yard touchdown to cap off a 6-play, 75-yard drive. Michigan State leads 7-3.

6:00 - Aidan Chiles hits Nick Marsh for a 19-yard completion. Moves into USC territory.

9:03 - FIELD GOAL. Ryan Sayeri's 25-yard field goal is GOOD. USC leads 3-0.

11:16 - Jayden Maiava throws a screen to Waymond Jordan for 20 yards. Michigan State gets flagged for block below the waist. USC moves inside the 10-yard line.

12:00 - Eli Sanders runs left and picks up 18 yards. Moves the ball into Michigan State territory.

15:00 - USC wins the toss. Elects to receive.

Preview

LIVE Score Updates: USC Trojans Host Michigan State in Big Ten Home Opener Jayden Maiava Touchdown Waymond Jordan Makai Lemon — Sep 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) warms up prior to the game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

USC is off to a 3-0 start in Lincoln Riley's fourth season at the helm. The Trojans are coming off a 33-17 win over Purdue on the road a week ago. It was the program's first road victory outside of California in the Big Ten and the first time they won in the Eastern Time Zone since 2012.

Redshirt junior quarterback Jayden Maiava has been phenomenal through three games. Maiava has accounted for eight touchdowns, but most importantly, he has not committed a single turnover and has only been sacked once.

Their two headed monster at running back in Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders have been equally impressive. Both tailbacks are averaging over seven yards a carry and have accounted for six touchdowns. Riley has more a balanced approach on offense than a year ago.

USC Trojans Jayden Maiaiva Big Ten Michigan State live score updates Ja'Kobi Lane Aidan Chiles Lincoln Riley Touchdown — Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) hands off the ball to Southern California Trojans running back Waymond Jordan (2) during the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Star receivers Ja'Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon lead the pass-catching group and tight ends Lake McRee and Walker Lyons have become heavily involved in the offense.

Defensively, D'Anton Lynn's squad can get after the passer, leading the country in sacks. Safety Bishop Fitzgerald has been an excellent addition, recording three interceptions in three games.

However, there are areas they need to clean up in this matchup. Penalties on that side of the ball have been an issue, and they struggled in man coverage a week ago against Purdue.

Michigan State

The Spartans head out west with a perfect 3-0 record, with wins over Western Michigan, Boston College (double overtime) and Youngstown State.

Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles has taken a massive stride in his second season as the Spartans coach. He's accounted for seven touchdowns versus one interception. But Chiles has been sacked eight times this season and faces a Trojans defense that can get after the quarterback with just a four-man rush.

His leading receiver Nick Marsh was questionable this week but is a full-go in this contest.

Message to the Fans

With a late kickoff slated for Saturday's contest, Riley and general manager Chad Bowden sent out a letter to the USC students and fans at the beginning of the week.

"You make a difference. Our team is strong, and Saturday night presents a tremendous opportunity. It will be late. It will be dark. It will be a battle. But if we work together. It will be unforgettable. See you Saturday at the Coli.

Maiava and defensive lineman Jamaal Jarrett also sent messages to the fans when they met with the media during the week.

"Trojan students, we need you guys out there. Pack the Coli and I can't wait to see you guys there," Maiava said.

"The student section, we need everybody. All the Trojan family to come out and support. It will be a big impact for us. We feel like if we have our family out there, we're definitely going to ball out," Jarrett said.