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.
Michigan (3-1, 1-0) overcame losing a 14-0 lead in the first half and coughing up two fumbles in the second half to extend its Big Ten winning streak to a school-record 26 games.
The Wolverines won with a 10-play, 89-yard TD drive as Mullings did most of the work.
The former linebacker converted a third down from the Michigan 20 with a 63-yard run and capped the possession with his second touchdown behind a fullback in a jumbo package that left little doubt where the ball was going.
“It’s not five guys, it’s seven with the tight ends out there,” Mullings said.
Michigan and USC had played 10 times previously, eight in the Rose Bowl and not in the regular season since 1958.
The Trojans (2-1, 0-1) went ahead 24-20 midway through the fourth when Miller Moss threw his third touchdown pass, a 24-yarder to Ja’Kobi Lane.
USC’s last chance ended with a fourth-down throw that came up of the stick near midfield.
“I think it was just a classic, back-and-forth fight,” Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said.
Mullings had a career-high 159 yards rushing, including a 53-yard scoring run to put the Wolverines ahead early, and Donovan Edwards had a 41-yard run to give them a two-touchdown lead.
Moss was 28 of 51 for 283 yards with a season-high three touchdowns and an interception that was returned for Michigan’s only other second-half score.
“I feel like I cost our team in a big way,” he said.
USC’s Woody Marks ran for 100 yards on 13 carries, and ripped the football out of Kenneth Grant’s hand after the big defensive tackle had recovered a fumble for Michigan.
Moss bounced back from throwing a pick-6 to Will Johnson that gave the defending national champions a double-digit lead in third quarter with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jay Fair later in the period. His third touchdown pass to Lane with 7:01 left in the fourth came after Marks’ steal deep in Michigan territory.
Michigan needed a touchdown, trailing by four, in the final minute because USC defensive tackle Gavin Meyer blocked the extra point after Johnson’s interception return for a touchdown.
It also needed the clutch score because Edwards fumbled to set up a Trojans touchdown — and Michigan didn’t have a passing threat.
“Teams are going to stack the box and stop the run, and we still have to run the ball,” Mullings said.
Alex Orji made his first start at quarterback and was 7 of 12 for 32 yards and ran 13 times for 43 yards.
“If we threw for a million yards today and we lost, I’d be sitting here crying,” Orji said.
The takeaway
USC’s revamped defense under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn was in control on most plays, but gave up three long runs and failed to make a stop on the goal-line stand.
“We came up one play short,” Riley said.
Moore earned his first signature win as Jim Harbaugh’s successor, making enough moves that panned out in what was potentially a pivotal game in his first season.
“Our players never flinched and that’s what you’re really proud of,” he said.
Banged up
USC receiver Makai Lemon left in the first quarter after taking a hit while covering a punt. Trojans tight end Lake Mcree was hit hard on his left knee, taking another target from Moss. Riley did not have an update on either player’s condition after the game.
Johnson left the field in the second half with an apparent injury.
“He could’ve came back in,” Moore said.
Michigan preseason All-America tight end Colston Loveland was held out of the game after being injured last week.
