NCAAF

USC Trojans at Maryland Terrapins

· NCAA - Football
3-4, 0-3 Away
Final
28 - 29
4-3, 3-2 Home

USC blows a 14-point lead to lose its third game in a row, falling 29-28 at Maryland

The Trojans (3-4, 1-4 Big Ten) have lost their four games by a combined 14 points — all after being ahead in the second half. This time, they were up 28-14 before collapsing in excruciating fashion.

“That’s the tale of the last several weeks for us is doing some good things, get a lead and we obviously just have not been able to finish these games,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “It eats at you.”

Michael Lantz's field goal attempt with two minutes left that would have sealed the game was blocked by Maryland's Donnell Brown, and a costly pass interference penalty on John Humphrey on the ensuing drive paved the way for Billy Edwards Jr.'s go-ahead 3-yard touchdown run with 53 seconds left. Moss' incomplete pass on fourth down with 11 seconds remaining ended it, and fans stormed the field to celebrate after the first meeting between the schools.

Riley called it a “tough one to swallow” after a “heartbreaking way to end it."

“We’re confident in all these games,” USC safety Bryson Shaw said. “They come down to the wire, and you’re like, ‘How did that just happen?’ But full confidence. This hurts — don’t get me wrong. This hurts like crazy, but I know going forward that we’re going to keep fighting and that’s the only option we have.”

The Terrapins (4-3, 1-3) overcame some miscues that could have added up to another deflating defeat. Instead, Roman Hemby’s TD run and the ensuing 2-point conversion set the stage for a double-digit comeback, which happened with many of the 43,013 in attendance long gone.

Coach Mike Locksley joked he would have left, too, but said those who remained learned something about his team.

“Let’s buy in that we can win around here and we can win big, and I think today was a step in the right direction,” Locksley said.

Edwards was 39 of 50 for a career-high 373 yards and TD passes to Octavian Smith Jr. and Tai Felton. Kaden Prather had a career-best nine catches and 111 yards receiving, and Lavain Scruggs made the momentum-shifting play of the game by picking off Moss and returning it 51 yards to set up a touchdown.

“Billy continues to show tremendous leadership” Locksley said. “Billy is a guy that’s a winner and this team will fight. He’s taken on the personality that we need him to have as a leader.”

USC kept making self-inflicted errors, capped off by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Mason Cobb on the extra point that put Maryland ahead. The Trojans allowed Maryland to rack up 429 yards of offense, and they can't seem to get out of this tailspin.

“It’s not about any kind of end result or whatever that may be,” said Moss, who was 34 of 50 for 336 yards with TD passes to Ja’Kobi Lane, Kyron Hudson and Duce Robinson. “We said at the beginning of the year we were committed to each other no matter what, no matter what the result, and I think that holds true.”

The takeaway USC: Still without a Big Ten road victory, Riley's group has some soul-searching to do in the post-Caleb Williams era. The Trojans have not been blown out, but losing like this doesn't speak well to how players handle late-game situations.

“I own it,” Riley said. “It’s my responsibility. I’ve got to get this team to play better at the end of games, and I’ve obviously not done a good enough job of that.”

Maryland: Becoming bowl-eligible, something that seemed unlikely after losing 37-10 at home to Northwestern last week, is now realistic after pulling off this upset. The schedule down the stretch is brutal, but the Terps have a possible path.

Up next USC hosts Rutgers on Friday night.

Maryland visits Minnesota next Saturday.

How To Watch

How can I watch USC Trojans vs. Maryland Terrapins?
  • TV Channel: Trojans at Terrapins 2021 College Football, week 8, is broadcasted on FS1.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Terrapins: 33.6%
Trojans: 66.4%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

USC TD 1st Period 0:00 Kyron Hudson 22 Yd pass from Miller Moss (Michael Lantz Kick)
MD TD 2nd Period 11:07 Octavian Smith Jr. 16 Yd pass from Billy Edwards Jr. (Jack Howes Kick)
USC TD 2nd Period 8:08 Ja'Kobi Lane 15 Yd pass from Miller Moss (Michael Lantz Kick)
USC TD 2nd Period 0:21 Woody Marks 5 Yd Run (Michael Lantz Kick)
MD TD 3rd Period 8:32 Tai Felton 18 Yd pass from Billy Edwards Jr. (Jack Howes Kick)
USC TD 4th Period 13:31 Duce Robinson 26 Yd pass from Miller Moss (Michael Lantz Kick)
MD TD 4th Period 9:56 Roman Hemby 10 Yd Run (Billy Edwards Jr. Pass to Kaden Prather for Two-Point Conversion)
MD TD 4th Period 0:53 Billy Edwards Jr. 3 Yd Run (Jack Howes Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/30.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originUSC https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/120.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originMD
25 1st Downs 25
6-14 3rd down efficiency 2-13
1-2 4th down efficiency 3-6
417 Total Yards 429
336 Passing 373
34/50 Comp/Att 39/51
6.7 Yards per pass 7.3
81 Rushing 56
24 Rushing Attempts 24
3.4 Yards per rush 2.3
7-75 Penalties 7-60
1 Turnovers 2
0 Fumbles lost 1
1 Interceptions thrown 1
29:51 Possession 30:09

Game Information

SECU Stadium

Location: College Park, MD
Attendance: 43,013 · Capacity:
Full Standings

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