Trojans Come Up Short Against Illini
David Olano’s 41-yard field goal as time expired lifted No. 23 Illinois to a 34-32 victory over No. 21 USC before 60,670 fans in Champaign.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
David Olano’s 41-yard field goal as time expired lifted No. 23 Illinois to a 34-32 victory over No. 21 USC before 60,670 fans in Champaign.
“It was a dream come true, but just another kick—something we work on all the time,” said Olano. “I know I kicked the winning field goal, but it’s the guys in the locker room who really won the game.”
USC’s Late Rally Falls Short
Before Olano’s game-winner, USC appeared to be in control. Quarterback Jayden Maiava capped a 9-play, 80-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown strike to Makai Lemon with 1:55 remaining, giving the Trojans a 32-31 lead. The two also connected earlier in the fourth quarter on a 19-yard score that helped erase a 14-point deficit.
“We showed a lot of fight coming back to take the lead, but the reality is we squandered too many opportunities on both sides of the ball,” head coach Lincoln Riley said.
Maiava completed 30 of 43 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns but also threw his first interception of the season. Jordan Waymond paced the ground game with 94 yards and two scores on 20 carries, while Lemon had a career-best 11 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Illinois’ Historic Performance
On the final drive, Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer scrambled for 13 yards to push his team into USC territory and set up Olano’s decisive kick. Altmyer was nearly flawless, finishing 20-of-26 for 328 yards while accounting for four touchdowns—passing, rushing, and even catching one. He became the first Big Ten player in at least 30 years to record 300-plus passing yards along with a touchdown through the air, on the ground, and as a receiver. His performance earned him Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Olano, a junior from Naperville, Illinois, was perfect on the day, converting all six kicks, including field goals from 45 and 41 yards. He was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
Trojan Defense Tested
On defense, Desmon Stephens II led USC with nine tackles, including five solo stops. Eric Gentry added eight tackles, three solo. Still, Illinois’ balanced attack proved too much, handing the Trojans their first loss of the season.
Series Notes and What’s Next
The game marked the 14th all-time meeting between the two programs and their first clash since the 2008 Rose Bowl. Despite the setback, USC still leads the series 11-3.
The Trojans (4-1) now enter a bye week before hosting the Michigan Wolverines in Los Angeles.
