The USC Trojans improved to 5-1 for the season after beating No. 15 Michigan Wolverines 31-13 on the Coliseum. The win got here after the Trojans had been led by ladies’s basketball star JuJu Watkins out of the tunnel in entrance of a sold-out area, per USA TODAY.
The Trojans had earlier confirmed that Watkins shall be main Jayden Maiava and firm by way of an Instagram submit. The 20-year-old was additionally offered along with her 2025 Naismith Trophy as she grew to become the third USC participant in program historical past to win the award.
“That is actually particular. I really feel so blessed to be chosen amongst a number of the finest within the recreation,” she had stated by way of an official assertion.
The Trojans’ freshman King Miller rushed 18 occasions for 158 yards and a landing, together with a 49-yard burst on third-and-26. Jayden Maiava went 20-of-30 for 265 yards and likewise had two landing passes.
USC performed with out two beginning offensive linemen however nonetheless managed to run for 224 yards in opposition to a protection that had been permitting 77 speeding yards per recreation. Additional, the Trojans didn’t enable a single sack in opposition to a group that was beforehand averaging three sacks per recreation. The win was the Trojans over Michigan because the January 2007 Rose Bowl.
Watkins had her 2024-25 marketing campaign reduce brief after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her proper knee again in March.
“These previous couple of months have been full of loads of therapeutic, relaxation and reflection. Recovering from this harm hasn’t been straightforward, and I need to say thanks — your love, help and sort phrases have actually lifted me up throughout one of the vital difficult occasions in my life,” she lately stated by way of an Instagram story, confirming that she is going to miss the whole thing of the 2025-26 faculty ladies’s basketball season.
“That is actually particular. I really feel so blessed to be chosen amongst a number of the finest within the recreation.”
Hear from our 2025 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Girls’s School Participant of the 12 months, JuJu Watkins, as she displays on successful the celebrated honor 🏆@jerseymikes |… pic.twitter.com/BAbbgDhkgG
— Naismith Awards (@NaismithTrophy) April 2, 2025
Regardless, her successful contact definitely rubbed off on the Trojans, who will now tackle the No. 16 Notre Dame Preventing Irish on October 19.