Kalel Mullings surged 2 yards for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal with 37 seconds left, lifting the 18th-ranked Wolverines to a 27-24 win over the 11th-ranked Trojans in their conference debut.

Could Michigan keep up with USC if it couldn’t pass? As the climax of Michigan football’s victory Saturday neared, a nervous crowd found the answer.

Here are our five takeaways from Michigan’s big 27-24 win.

Johnson, a consensus first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft and one of the top defensive backs in college football, has been a consistent shutdown force on the outside of Michigan's defense. The junior set a school record with his third career interception return for a touchdown Saturday, and now has nine career interceptions.

As USC quarterback Miller Moss found his rhythm in the second half, the Trojans proceeded to outscore Michigan 21-6 until the game’s final minutes. The Wolverines failed to get a first down until the game-winning 10-play, 89-yard drive that took Kalel Mullings into the endzone.

Tyler Warren, Nick Singleton, Liam Clifford, Omari Evans and Khalil Dinkins caught touchdown passes as the Nittany Lions (3-0) outgained Kent State 718-67 in total offense, held the Golden Flashes to six first downs and forced 10 punts.

Here's a look at social media reactions to Michigan defeating USC football, despite having just 32 passing yards from quarterback Alex Orji:

Physicality had been an emphasis in practice over the last week. And so was situational football. After Michigan’s offense struggled to move the chains and generate much offense during the second half of its 27-24 win over No.