The USC Trojans faced the Michigan State Spartans in Week 4 of the 2025 college football season. There was injury news to pass along on both sides before this game began. First, USC receiver Ja’Kobi Lane will not play. This report came down under one hour before kickoff, confirmed by multiple outlets.
As for Michigan State, Spartans Wire had more details via ESPN:
“ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reported on Friday afternoon that Michigan State star wide receiver Nick Marsh and leading running Makhi Frazier are both ‘expected to play’ against USC on Saturday. Both Marsh and Frazier suffered lower body injuries last week against Youngstown State and were considered questionable to play against the Trojans this week. Per Thamel, both have been cleared and are “in line to play” on Saturday against the Trojans. We should get official word of their availability a few hours ahead of kickoff on Saturday when the official injury report is released.”
When the game began, more injuries occurred. USC’s Elijah Paige left the game in the first half, creating an offensive line reshuffle. Michigan State lost one linebacker to a targeting call and another to injury. Several Spartans were injured during this game.
Here’s our account of how Saturday’s contest unfolded:
Final — USC 45, Michigan State 31
USC has to weed out the penalties and careless plays. Better teams will punish these bad habits. Illinois is next on September 27.
USC 38, Michigan State 24
Aidan Chiles misses a wide-open receiver on fourth down. USC takes over deep in Michigan State territory with 6:30 left. A field goal (or TD) will seal a win.
USC 38, Michigan State 24
USC needed a fourth-down conversion and a Michigan State penalty on 3rd and 6 to score a touchdown. What happens when an opponent isn’t shorthanded and doesn’t make mistakes?
End 3rd quarter — USC 31, Michigan State 24
USC has fooled around. Once up 21, this team is now in a dogfight. Sound familiar? It has characterized the entire Lincoln Riley era. USC ran just seven plays in the third quarter. Turnovers and penalties dominated the 15-minute span after USC built a 31-10 lead.
Fumble
USC fumbles — against light contact, a simple poke — and Michigan State has the ball inside the Trojans’ 30.
USC 31, Michigan State 17
That was embarrassing. USC with four penalties on one possession, helping Michigan State all the way down the field. This is not going to cut it against quality opposition.
USC 31, Michigan State 10
USC has 12 men on the field on a Michigan State 4th and 2. Then a pass interference penalty hurts the Trojans. These penalties must stop.
USC 31, Michigan State 10
Jayden Maiava’s athleticism and versatility create the Lincoln Riley offense we know and love. Pitch plays, inside handoffs, and play action fakes work together to completely confuse a defense and throw it off balance.
USC 24, Michigan State 10
The Trojan pass rush comes out roaring to start the third quarter. Michigan State and Aidan Chiles had no chance. USC gets great field position and can bust this one open.
Halftime — USC 24, Michigan State 10
After the long injury break, USC scores. Michigan State is undermanned, and the Trojans are largely doing what they are supposed to on offense. Lincoln Riley is forcing MSU to defend the full width of the field and then account for the power running game up the middle. The Spartans are off balance. USC is on pace to score over 40 points.
Injury interruption of more than 10 real-time minutes
USC 17, Michigan State 10
Makai Lemon failed to dive ahead for a first down on 4th and 4. USC turns the ball over. Michigan State drives downfield for a field goal. Jahkeem Stewart blows up another running play to help the Trojans stand tall in the red zone. It’s another ragged, imprecise performance for USC. The Trojans have so much room for improvement.
USC 17, Michigan State 7
The USC defensive line steps up. Jahkeem Stewart blows up a running play to create 3rd and 11. The pass rush forces MSU quarterback Aidan Chiles to run short of the first down. The Trojans get a three and out. That’s more like it.
USC 17, Michigan State 7
Right after the Jordan Hall ejection, Jayden Maiava hits Makai Lemon for an easy, long touchdown. Michigan State’s defense isn’t good, and with the Hall ejection, it is now even more shorthanded.
Ejection
The targeting rule is not a good rule, but by rule, Michigan State’s Jordan Hall got tossed for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Lake McRee. It was a 15-yard penalty, but it also takes away an important defensive player for the Spartans.
USC 10, Michigan State 7
USC’s defense gets off the field, but Makai Lemon fair-catches a punt at his own 6. That’s not smart.
End 1st quarter — 10-7 USC
The offense was good, the defense was not, and penalties remain a problem for USC.
Saturday night house call
USC 10, Michigan State 7
Michigan State has a weak defense. USC is tearing through it. What really matters in this game — as in the previous three — is how the defense performs. USC should score a ton tonight. Can the defense do its job?
Michigan State 7, USC 3
A total coverage bust leads to an easy long-ball touchdown for the Spartans. USC’s defensive put up very little resistance on that drive. This defense has started games slowly, with the coaching staff evidently not being able to fix flaws and correct bad habits. That is ominous, heading into the tougher portion of the schedule.
USC 3, Michigan State 0
A good drive blending runs and screen passes bogs down inside the 10 due to penalties. The big priority for the USC offense tonight was to finish drives and not settle for field goals. That’s a failed first drive.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC vs Michigan State — rapid recap, highlights, news for Week 4
Reporting by Matt Zemek / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
