The opening quarter set the tone for a heavyweight battle. Luke Altmyer led the Illini down the field, capping a gritty drive with a determined 12-yard touchdown run. The Trojans answered immediately, as breakout running back Waymond Jordan hammered in a one-yard score, knotting the contest at 7-7 and signaling that neither side would back down easily. By the end of the first quarter, Illinois was already threatening deep in Trojan territory, hinting at the relentless pace to come.
The second quarter unfurled with even more drama. Trickery took center stage as Illinois executed a daring double-pass: wide receiver Hank Beatty lofted a precise ball to quarterback Altmyer for a three-yard touchdown, electrifying Memorial Stadium. Yet, the Trojans refused to be rattled. Quarterback Jayden Maiava, who entered the game averaging an NCAA-best 12.7 yards per attempt, calmly orchestrated a drive in the final seconds before halftime. He connected with Lake McRee and Makai Lemon to set up a short field goal, trimming the deficit to 14-10 and keeping USC within striking distance.
The tension crescendoed in the third quarter. Illinois, undeterred, opened with a clinical march culminating in a 45-yard field goal from David Olano, extending their lead to 17-10. USC’s defense, battered yet unbowed, produced a pivotal goal-line stand, forcing and recovering a fumble to keep the Trojans’ hopes alive. But every yard was a battle; every play, a test of resilience and resolve.
Statistically, the game was a near dead heat: USC tallied 259 total yards to Illinois’ 234, each team converting crucial third downs and trading momentum with every possession. Jordan, with 54 tough rushing yards and a touchdown, embodied the Trojans’ fighting spirit, while Altmyer’s poise under pressure kept Illinois ahead. Defensive backs Bishop Fitzgerald (USC) and Miles Scott (Illinois) led their squads with six and eight solo tackles, respectively, as the battle in the trenches raged on.
The stakes of this Big Ten collision were immense. For USC, this was more than a game; it was a statement of intent as they hunt for a College Football Playoff berth, their high-octane offense tested by a formidable and physical Illinois defense. For Illinois, defending their home turf—where they had gone 8-1 since the start of last season—was a matter of pride and a chance to bounce back from adversity.
As the final whistle approached, the echoes of the 2008 Rose Bowl—the last meeting between these storied programs—hung in the air. But this was a new era, a new rivalry forged in the crucible of Big Ten competition. With every snap, both teams reminded the nation why college football, in its purest form, is a spectacle of drama, heart, and unyielding will.
For more on this electrifying matchup and ongoing coverage of the Big Ten, check out the live updates at USC vs. Illinois prediction, pick, odds, spread and the play-by-play breakdown at USC vs. Illinois (Sep 27, 2025) Live Score. As the Big Ten gauntlet continues, the Trojans and Illini have set the stage for a season brimming with possibility and drama.