No. 23 USC Erases 17-Pt Deficit, Tops Nebraska 21-17

**No. 23 USC Completes Thrilling 17-Point Comeback Over Nebraska at Coliseum**

**LOS ANGELES, Calif.** — The No. 23 USC Trojans orchestrated a dramatic comeback Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, erasing a 17-point deficit to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 21-17 in front of 70,598 spirited fans. The Trojans, led by quarterback Caleb Williams and a resilient defense, scored 21 unanswered points to secure a crucial non-conference victory.

Nebraska, under head coach Matt Rhule, started strong, silencing the Coliseum crowd with an impressive first-half performance. Kicker Tristan Alvano put the Cornhuskers on the board first with a 30-yard field goal in the opening quarter, followed by a 42-yarder early in the second. The visiting team extended its lead to 17-0 when running back Anthony Grant punched in a 1-yard touchdown run, seemingly taking complete control of the game.

But the Trojans, coached by Lincoln Riley, began their methodical climb back before halftime. Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams connected with wide receiver Zachariah Branch on an 8-yard touchdown pass, narrowing Nebraska’s lead to 17-7 as the teams headed into the locker room.

The momentum continued to shift in USC’s favor in the third quarter. Williams again found the end zone, this time hitting Tahj Washington for a 24-yard touchdown pass that cut the deficit to a mere three points, 17-14, setting the stage for a tense fourth quarter.

The decisive score came with 8 minutes and 12 seconds left in the game. Running back MarShawn Lloyd, who was a workhorse for the Trojans all day with 114 rushing yards, plunged in from 3 yards out for the go-ahead touchdown. The successful extra point put USC ahead 21-17, a lead they would not relinquish.

Nebraska mounted a final effort with 2:32 remaining, starting from their own 13-yard line, but the USC defense held firm, preventing the Cornhuskers from reclaiming the lead. The loss extends Nebraska’s challenging streak against ranked opponents, with the program now holding a 1-24 record against Top 25 teams since the 2017 season.

The victory improves No. 23 USC’s record to 6-1 on the season, providing a significant boost as they navigate a challenging schedule. Meanwhile, Nebraska falls to 3-4, continuing to search for a signature win under their new coaching regime. Both teams will now turn their attention to their respective conference matchups in the weeks ahead.