Northwestern at USC Game Matchup
Northwestern logo Northwestern Wildcats at USC TrojansUSC logo
Saturday, November 8th 2025 (12:00 AM EST)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - Los Angeles, CA  (Big Ten)

 
Wildcats (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach David Braun (12 - 13)
Avg Score : 18 - 26 (18 - 29 on Road)
Record Prediction: 4.2 - 7.8 (#73)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: 3) (Good: 4) (Avg: 2) (Bad: 3)
NW coming off BYE
Our Line: USC -11.5    (SP+ -16)
PPG only: NW: 21 - USC: 28 (49)
NW Win prob: 49% | Cover: 49%
NW Travel: 1745 miles, 2 hrs ahead
Trojans (0 - 0) (0 - 0 - 0)
Coach Lincoln Riley (25 - 14)
Avg Score : 30 - 24 (37 - 24 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 7.2 - 4.8 (#36)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: 3) (Good: 3) (Avg: 2) (Bad: 4)
 
Northwestern's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResult
Sat 8/30 Northwestern at Tulane
Sat 9/6 Northwestern vs Western Illinois
Sat 9/13 Northwestern vs Oregon
BYE WEEK
Sat 9/27 Northwestern vs UCLA
Sat 10/4 Northwestern vs UL Monroe
Sat 10/11 Northwestern at Penn State
Sat 10/18 Northwestern vs Purdue
Sat 10/25 Northwestern at Nebraska
BYE WEEK
Sat 11/8 Northwestern at USC
Sat 11/15 Northwestern vs Michigan
Sat 11/22 Northwestern vs Minnesota
Sat 11/29 Northwestern at Illinois
Total: Elite: 3, Good: 4, Avg 2, Bad 1, Poor 2
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 3, Good: 4, Avg 2, Bad 1, Poor 2
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
USC's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResult
Sat 8/30 USC vs Missouri State
Sat 9/6 USC vs Georgia Southern
Sat 9/13 USC at Purdue
Sat 9/20 USC vs Michigan State
Sat 9/27 USC at Illinois
BYE WEEK
Sat 10/11 USC vs Michigan
Sat 10/18 USC at Notre Dame
BYE WEEK
Sat 11/1 USC at Nebraska
Sat 11/8 USC vs Northwestern
Sat 11/15 USC vs Iowa
Sat 11/22 USC at Oregon
Sat 11/29 USC vs UCLA
Total: Elite: 3, Good: 3, Avg 2, Bad 2, Poor 2
Played: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg 0, Bad 0, Poor 0
Future: Elite: 3, Good: 3, Avg 2, Bad 2, Poor 2
Wins: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0
Losses: Elite: 0, Good: 0, Avg: 0, Bad: 0, Poor: 0

NW's OC Zach Lujan vs USC's DC D'Anton Lynn     USC's OC Josh Henson vs NW's DC Tim McGarigle

Important Stats (2024)
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
NW#129 (.02)37% (123)17.839% (113)2.63 (124)9936% (116)1863.02 (127)#57 (.15)45% (106)26.344% (80)46% (117)3.74 (64)38.81.51.3
USC#42 (.24)48% (11)30.252% (10)3.49 (9)13846% (27)2693.76 (84)#77 (.18)44% (94)24.144% (78)44% (103)3.64 (49)461.41.2
 Teams                  Off Explosive.Off SuccessPPGRush SuccessOL Yds Per AttRush YPGPass SuccessPass YPGOff ScoreZoneDef Explosive.Def SuccessDef PPGRunD SuccessPass D SuccessDef ScoreZonePenalty YPGTO PGDef TO PG
NW0%0%000%000%0%0%0000
USC0%0%000%000%0%0%0000



Overall Stats 2024
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
NW Offense1217.817.637.1%3.021.516285991863.445%54%39%36%19%.02
USC Defense1324.123.843.8%3.641.2 - - - - - 46%53%44%44%14%.18
 Teams                  GamesPPGPPG H/RSuccess RatePts PerOppTO1stD PGTotalYds PGRushYds PGPassYdsPGRYPARun RatePass RateRun SuccessPass SuccessHavoc RateTotal PPA
NW Defense1226.328.845%3.741.3 - - - - - 47%53%44%46%15%.15
USC Offense1330.236.848.4%3.761.4214081382695.540%60%52%46%18%.24

Additional Stats 2024
 Teams                  GamesPossession Time1st Downs PG3rd Down %4th Down %Penalties PGPenalty Yds PGOff TO PGDef TO PGTFL PGSacks PGD/ST TDsAvg Field Pos
Northwestern1229:491633%50%4.838.81.51.34.81.9328
USC1328:1221.345%47%5.3461.41.23.91.5133.7
Run Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
NW Offense1245% (105)39% (113)29.398.63.412 (114).07 (102)2.63 (124)66% (113)11% (100)1.1 (20)
USC Defense1346% (22)44% (78) - - - - .18 (96)3.17 (91)76% (82)7% (127)1 (77)
 Teams                  GamesRun Play RateRun Play SuccessRush Att PGRush Yds PGRush Yds Per AttRushing TDsRun Pred Pts AddedOL Yds Per Att3rd/4th & ShortFront 7 HavocRun Play Explosivness
NW Defense1247% (26)44% (80) - - - - .07 (41)2.99 (63)69% (47)8% (107)0.86 (15)
USC Offense1340% (126)52% (10)25.2138.45.519 (73).23 (21)3.49 (9)85% (6)8% (26)0.89 (106)

Pass Game Stats (2025)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
NW Offense1254% (32)36% (116)17.632.7186.15.710.67 (130)11 (72).02 (132)1.3 (134)35% (119)31% (81).2 (108)8% (121)1.8 (120)
USC Defense1353% (113)44% (103) - - - - - - 10 (66).2 (49)1.3 (4)28% (122)27% (27).14 (6)7% (43)1.8 (8)
 Teams                  GamesPassPlay RatePassPlay SuccessComp PGAtt PGYds PGYds PAYds PCTDs    Ints    PassPlays PPAPassPlays ExplPassDowns RatePassDowns Succ RatePassDowns PPADB HavocPassDowns Expl
NW Defense1253% (110)46% (117) - - - - - - 10 (66).25 (76)1.4 (13)27% (128)35% (116).28 (53)7% (33)1.8 (24)
USC Offense1360% (9)46% (27)24.138269.27.111.225 (31)12 (85).25 (74)1.5 (108)29% (24)36% (18).4 (37)10% (134)2 (74)

Northwestern's Power Ratings
Northwestern's Power Rating: 3.30 #56
Northwestern's Offense Rating: 11.14 #87
Northwestern's Defense Rating: 7.84 #34
2025 Talent Rating: 840.00 #33
Blue Chip Ratio: 3% #69
Northwestern's 2025 Expected Record: 4.2 - 7.8
Northwestern's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: -6.1 #87
Northwestern's Offense SP+ Rating: 17.6 #122
Northwestern's Defense SP+ Rating: 23.7 #39

Northwestern's SP+ Ratings
Northwestern's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: -6.1 #87
Northwestern's Offense SP+ Rating: 17.6 #122
Northwestern's Defense SP+ Rating: 23.7 #39

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 903.22
Average Power Five Talent: 862.84
Average FBS Talent: 688.93

Power Ratings Matchup
Northwestern: 3.30   USC: 14.69

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Northwestern: -6.1   USC: 9.7




USC's Power Ratings
USC's Power Rating: 14.69 #28
USC's Offense Rating: 21.58 #31
USC's Defense Rating: 8.89 #40
2025 Talent Rating: 876.00 #27
Blue Chip Ratio: 40 #17
USC's 2025 Expected Record: 7.2 - 4.8

USC's SP+ Ratings
USC's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 9.7 #30
USC's Offense SP+ Rating: 35.4 #14
USC's Defense SP+ Rating: 25.8 #52

Average Talent
Average Big Ten Talent Rating is 903.22
Average Power Five Talent: 862.84
Average FBS Talent: 688.93


Northwestern Scoring
Offense: 17.8 PPG
Offense on Road: 17.6
Defense: 26.3 PPG
Defense on Road: 28.8

Northwestern's 2025 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 0 - 0
Projected Score
USC 28
Northwestern 21

Projected Total Points: 49
USC Scoring
Offense: 30.2 PPG
Offense at Home: 36.8
Defense: 24.1 PPG
Defense at Home: 23.8

USC's 2025 Record
Record: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0
Record at home: 0 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 0 - 0 - 0


YearDateHomeScoreAwayScoreWinnerSpreadCoverTotalO/U
TeamWinsCoversO/U
USC000 Overs
Northwestern000 Unders

WinsCoversFavsDogs
Home Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0
Road Teams0 - 00 - 00 - 00 - 0

(#56) Northwestern Info

Preseason ratings
Power Rating: 3.30 #56
Offense Rating: 11.14 #87
Defense Rating: 7.84 #34
Overall SP+ Rating: -6.1 #87
Offense SP+ Rating: 17.6 #122
Defense SP+ Rating: 23.7 #39
Talent Rating: 840.00 #33
Blue Chip Ratio: 3% #69
Expected Record: 4.2 - 7.8

Northwestern     Ratings Matchup     USC
Power #56
#28
Off #87
#31
Def #34
#40
Talent #33
#27
SP+ #87
#30
SP+ Off #122
#14
SP+ Def #39
#52

Weather Forecast
Playing in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Team Information
Injuries: NW | USC
Depth Chart: NW | USC
Rosters: NW | USC
(#28) USC Info

Preseason ratings
Power Rating: 14.69 #28
Offense Rating: 21.58 #31
Defense Rating: 8.89 #40
Overall SP+ Rating: 9.7 #30
Offense SP+ Rating: 35.4 #14
Defense SP+ Rating: 25.8 #52
Talent Rating: 876.00 #27
Blue Chip Ratio: 40 #17
Expected Record: 7.2 - 4.8





  
Northwestern's OC Zach Lujan
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Jack Lausch15929654%1714785.8
Preston Stone305159%421518.3
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Cam Porter12650164.044
Joseph Himon II5225724.951
Jack Lausch8721322.429
Caleb Komolafe5013902.817
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Cam Porter2317407.628
CJ Johnson II11121011.023
Frank Covey IV109809.827
Joseph Himon II159616.422
USC's OC Josh Henson
Player NameCOMPATTPCTYDSTDINTYPA
Jayden Maiava10116960%12011167.1
Makai Lemon11100%390039.0
Player NameCARYDSTDYPCLONG
Eli Sanders147106497.275
Bryan Jackson3618815.223
A'Marion Peterson166514.114
Jayden Maiava204542.313
Player NameRECYDSTDYPCLONG
Makai Lemon52764314.770
Ja'Kobi Lane435251212.233
Prince Strachan25304112.237
Lake McRee24245010.234

Northwestern's DC Tim McGarigle
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Mac Uihlein844201
Yanni Karlaftis572121
Robert Fitzgerald461100
Damon Walters424002
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Aidan Hubbard337671
Anto Saka155440
Michael Kilbane203300
Mac Uihlein844201
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Josh Fussell391005
Fred Davis II173004
Evan Smith282003
USC's DC D'Anton Lynn
Top DefTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Kamari Ramsey606215
D.J. Harvey587206
Bishop Fitzgerald557028
Eric Gentry337201
SacksTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Braylan Shelby285321
Kamari Ramsey606215
D.J. Harvey587206
Kameryn Fountain195210
Pass DTackTFLSACKSPRESSPD
Bishop Fitzgerald557028
D.J. Harvey587206
Kamari Ramsey606215