Kalel Mullings bailed out Michigan.
Mullings scored on a fourth-and-goal with 37 seconds to go to give the No. 18 Wolverines a 27-24 win over No. 11 USC.
Mullings’ TD came after he broke a 63-yard run to spark a Michigan offense that had been absolutely lifeless in the second half. The Wolverines had been unable to move the ball at all after the first quarter, but they did just enough after Mullings’ big run.
USC used its final two timeouts as Michigan approached the end zone, so the Trojans were forced to work the sidelines after getting the ball back. But Miller Moss’ fourth-down pass with eight seconds left was completed short of the line to gain.
USC’s big second half
The Trojans trailed 14-3 at halftime before scoring 21 points in the second half to take the lead for the first time. The Trojans went up 24-20 with 7:01 to go when Moss found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 24-yard TD in between Michigan defenders.
The pass was Moss’ third TD throw of the game. His second came late in the third quarter to a wide-open Jay Fair two plays after Moss fumbled on third down. Moss’ fumble was picked up by Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, but Grant was stripped by USC RB Woody Marks as he ran down the field.
The successive fumbles ended up costing Michigan at least four points. Had Moss’ arm been going forward, USC would have kicked a field goal. Instead, the TD cut Michigan’s lead to 20-17.
Moss didn’t find much success against Michigan’s pass defense, however. He threw a pick-6 to Will Johnson and was just 28-of-51 passing for 283 yards.
Michigan still doesn’t have a passing game
The Wolverines made a QB change before Saturday’s game as Alex Orji replaced Davis Warren. Orji threw just six passes over Michigan’s first three games and hadn’t shown himself to be an effective passer.
That trend continued against USC. Orji was 7-of-12 passing for 32 yards.
As soon as Orji was named the starter, it was clear that Michigan’s offensive game plan would be to run, run and run again against the Trojans. Michigan rushed 46 times for 290 yards and three scores. But the offense desperately needs the threat of a passing game.
In between a 96-yard first quarter and the game-winning drive that Mullings sparked, Michigan’s offense was stuck in neutral. USC knew the downfield pass option was nearly non-existent and played accordingly.
Thanks to his 63-yard run, Mullings finished the game with 17 carries for 159 yards and two TDs, while Donovan Edwards had 14 carries for 74 yards and a score. Edwards, however, had a key fumble that set up USC’s go-ahead score.
With a Minnesota team that also loves to run the ball coming up in Week 5, it seems likely that Michigan would stick with Orji at QB. But it’s easy to wonder just how successful Michigan can be over the entirety of the season with such a one-dimensional offense.
USC, meanwhile, missed a golden opportunity to get a statement win in its first-ever Big Ten game. The Trojans were pushed around up front by the Wolverines in the first half before finding their footing.
