The premier matchup of No. 11 USC at No. 18 Michigan highlighted the schedule. It provided a preview of what the rest of the season will hold. With top brands USC, Oregon and Washington now in the mix, nearly every weekend has at least one top-end, marquee game.

It’s fitting that USC’s debut in its new league comes against Michigan, the Big Ten standard-bearer for the past three seasons. The Wolverines embodied old-school Big Ten physicality while winning three consecutive conference championships and the 2023 national championship.

Big Ten play is now mostly under way and two of the former Pac-12 teams went up against new conference foes for the first time — with some mixed results. The big game was a ranked-on-ranked matchup with No.

The Wolverines grinded out a win over the Trojans, plus the rest of the weekend’s most notable winners and losers.

The No. 18 Wolverines' rushing attack rolls for 290 yards and three touchdowns, including one with 37 seconds left, against the No. 11 Trojans on Saturday.

Run the ball and play defense. And the Wolverines did just enough of both to knock off USC 27-24 in the Trojans’ first-ever Big Ten game. Michigan quarterback Alex Orji, making his first career start,

No. 18 Michigan went nearly the entire second half without picking up a first down before its offense found an explosive gear at just the right time in a 27-24 victory over No. 11 USC. Kalel Mullings busted a 63-yard run with just over two minutes remaining to situate the Wolverines for the go-ahead score.