Our Michigan vs. USC prediction examines Saturday night’s pivotal Big Ten clash as the 15th-ranked Michigan Wolverines travel cross-country to face the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Both programs enter with identical 4-1 records, making this matchup crucial for conference standings and College Football Playoff positioning.
Michigan vs. USC Details
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Predicted weather at kick: Low 70s and Sunny
- How to watch: NBC
Michigan vs. USC Head-to-Head Record
These storied programs have clashed 11 times throughout their histories, with USC maintaining a narrow 6-5 advantage in the all-time series.
The rivalry began with Michigan’s inaugural triumph in 1948, a dominant 49-0 Rose Bowl victory that established the foundation for this historic matchup. Their most recent encounter took place in September 2024, when Michigan secured a thrilling 27-24 home victory in Ann Arbor.
The series has been characterized by alternating periods of dominance, with most meetings occurring in bowl games, particularly the Rose Bowl, where seven of their 11 matchups have taken place.
Michigan claimed victories in its first regular-season meeting in 1957 and the classic 1958 home contest, while USC dominated during the 1970s and early 2000s with multiple Rose Bowl triumphs before the Wolverines’ recent success.
Michigan vs. USC Team Grades
PFSN College OFFi
- Michigan (80.92, B-)
- USC (92.17, A-)
PFSN College DEFi
- Michigan (84.56, B)
- USC (78.5, C+)
PFSN College OLi
- Michigan (89.1, B+)
- USC (88.6, B+)
PFSN College QBi
- Bryce Underwood, Michigan (80.6, B-)
- Jayden Maiava, USC (95, A)
PFSN College RBi
- Justice Haynes, Michigan (84.42, B)
- Waymond Jordan, USC (84.24, B)
PFSN College WRi
- Donaven McCullley, Michigan (78.2, C+)
- Makai Lemon, USC (85.9, B)
PFSN College TEi
- Marlin Klein, Michigan (80.05, B-)
- Lake McRee, USC (81.72, B-)
PFSN College EDGEi
- Jaishawn Barham, Michigan (85.6, B)
- Anthony Lucas, USC (78.2, C+)
PFSN College DTi
- Rayshaun Benny, Michigan (79.67, C+)
- Devan Thompkins, USC (79.43, C+)
PFSN College LBi
- Ernest Hausmann, Michigan (76.16, C)
- Eric Gentry, USC (76.08, C)
PFSN College CBi
- Jyaire Hill, Michigan (91.2, A-)
- DeCarlos Nicholson, USC (71.5, C-)
PFSN College SAFi
- TJ Metcalf, Michigan (78.51, C+)
- Bishop Fitzgerald, USC (85.37, B)
Michigan vs. USC Prediction
Not long ago, Michigan and USC facing off as Big Ten opponents would have seemed impossible, but in 2025, that’s exactly the matchup we get this weekend. Both teams enter the game at 4-1, with Michigan holding a 2-0 conference record and USC sitting at 2-1 in Big Ten play.
With each team already carrying a loss, this game is crucial. A defeat would seriously hurt their College Football Playoff hopes, while a win would keep them firmly in contention.
This matchup is a classic showdown of a dominant offense versus a dominant defense. Michigan’s defense ranks 17th nationally according to PFSN’s CFB DEFi metric, while the Trojans’ offense ranks as the best in the country in PFSN’s CFB OFFi metric, making that the key matchup to watch in this game.
Big Ten teams have seemed to struggle on these cross-country trips this season, with Michigan State getting blown out on the road against USC and Penn State falling to UCLA.
Michigan is wary of the travel and time differences. Head coach Sherrone Moore has already stated that the team will leave for Los Angeles on Thursday instead of Friday, allowing players time to adjust.
Time difference and travel aside, this game will likely come down to the trenches. Both teams boast strong offensive lines, with Michigan ranking sixth and USC seventh nationally according to PFSN’s CFB OLi metric.
Defensively, Michigan has the edge, as they’ve shown a better ability to pressure the quarterback and stop the run than the Trojans this season.
While USC quarterback Jayden Maiava is the top-ranked signal-caller in college football according to PFSN’s CFB QBi metric, Michigan’s secondary is one of the best in the country. Combined with their pass rush, they should be able to limit Maiava’s effectiveness.
Michigan’s elite offensive line should help the Wolverines run the ball effectively against a weak USC defensive front, which in turn should allow them to sustain long drives and keep the ball out of Maiava’s hands
Overall, it should be a competitive battle, but if Michigan can avoid issues caused by the time change, the Wolverines will likely come out on top.
Prediction: Michigan 27, USC 24