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Michigan State Stuns No. 25 USC with a Late Touchdown

November 19th, 2025

Michigan State Stuns No. 25 USC with a Late Touchdown

In a stunning upset, the Michigan State Spartans defeated the No. 25 USC Trojans with a dramatic late-game touchdown. The game-winning play was a 42-yard bomb from quarterback Aidan Chiles to receiver Montorie Foster Jr., a perfectly thrown pass that silenced the crowd at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. That play capped off a remarkable comeback for the Spartans, who trailed for much of the game but never gave up. The victory was a signature win for head coach Jonathan Smith in his first year at the helm of the Michigan State program and a major setback for a USC team with championship aspirations.

The game was a hard-fought battle from the very beginning. USC, playing in front of their home crowd, came out strong and took an early lead. The Trojans' high-powered offense, led by quarterback Miller Moss, moved the ball effectively and put the Michigan State defense on its heels. The Trojans looked to be in control of the game, but the Spartans hung tough, weathering the early storm and keeping the game within reach. Michigan State's defense, which has been a strength of the team all season, made several key stops to prevent USC from pulling away.

In the second half, the momentum of the game began to shift. The Michigan State offense, which had been inconsistent in the first half, started to find its rhythm. Quarterback Aidan Chiles, a true freshman, played with the poise of a seasoned veteran, leading the Spartans on several scoring drives. The running game, led by Nate Carter, also began to wear down the USC defense. The Spartans' comeback was a testament to their resilience and their belief in their new head coach's system. The team played with a level of toughness and determination that has been missing from the program in recent years.

The game's defining moment came in the final minutes. With the Spartans trailing by four points, Chiles led the offense on a game-winning drive. The drive was a mix of clutch throws, hard-nosed running, and disciplined execution. The culmination of the drive was the 42-yard touchdown pass to Foster, a play that will be remembered in East Lansing for years to come. The Michigan State defense then sealed the victory with a final stop, sending the Spartans' sideline into a frenzy. The win was a massive statement for the Michigan State program and a sign that they are a team on the rise in the Big Ten.

For USC, the loss was a devastating blow. The Trojans had been ranked in the top 25 and had their sights set on a Pac-12 championship. The loss not only knocks them out of the rankings but also raises serious questions about their ability to compete with the top teams in the country. The Trojans will need to regroup quickly as they head into the heart of their conference schedule. For Michigan State, the win is a massive building block for the future. The Spartans have a young, talented team, and this victory will give them the confidence they need to compete with the best in the Big Ten. The upset was one of the biggest of the college football season so far and a reminder of the unpredictability that makes the sport so great.

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