USC Hands Northwestern First Big Ten Loss
Arrington Maiden threw three touchdown passes as the Trojans upset the favored Wildcats, ending Northwestern's unbeaten home record.
EVANSTON, IL — Northwestern suffered its first Big Ten defeat of the season Thursday, falling 27-21 to USC as the Trojans overcame their underdog status to hand the Wildcats their first home loss.
Northwestern entered the contest favored to win, but USC quarterback Arrington Maiden delivered a strong performance, throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 11.3 yards per pass attempt. Deshonne Redeaux added 147 total yards to help the Trojans secure their third consecutive victory.
"Being the better team on paper means exactly nothing. Today proved it," Northwestern head coach Rob Yeager said following the loss.
Despite the setback, Northwestern quarterback Luke Kromenhoek turned in an efficient performance, completing 80% of his passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Wildcats were unable to generate enough offense to overcome USC.
Northwestern's defense continued to pressure opposing quarterbacks, recording four sacks. Cam Buffington, CD McFee and Matthew Smith each contributed one sack, but the defensive effort was not enough to contain the Trojans' passing attack.
The loss dropped Northwestern to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play, while USC improved to 5-1 with its third straight victory.
Northwestern looks to rebound Thursday when it faces Purdue in another conference matchup at 7 p.m. The Boilermakers previously upset USC, providing another potential challenge for the Wildcats despite their higher ranking.
Meanwhile, USC looks to extend its winning streak when it faces Nebraska in a Big Ten matchup on October 21 at 9 p.m.
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