Mullings Plays Hero in Michigan's Late-Game Victory Over No. 11 USC

Saturday, September 21

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:30 PM

Michigan

3-1 , 1-0

USC

2-1 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Southern California

Michigan

Kalel Mullings (Michigan Photography)

Mullings Plays Hero in Michigan's Late-Game Victory Over No. 11 USC

9/21/2024 7:54:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Notes Press Conference: Players Press Conference: Coach Moore In the Trenches: USC Recap Participation PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #18 Michigan 27, #11 USC 24
Records: U-M (3-1), USC (2-1)
Attendance: 110,702
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 28 -- vs. Minnesota (Michigan Stadium), Noon (TV: Fox)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 18-ranked University of Michigan football team put together a dramatic late fourth-quarter drive to secure a hard-fought 27-24 victory to open Big Ten play Saturday evening (Sept. 21) at Michigan Stadium.

With just over four minutes left in the game and trailing by four points, the Wolverines mounted a 10-play, 89-yard touchdown drive to take the lead late in Saturday's contest. Michigan ran the ball on eight of the drive's 10 plays, including a 63-yard rush by Kalel Mullings -- his second run of over 50 yards in the contest. Mullings handled all eight carries (for 77 total yards) and found the end zone for a one-yard score on fourth down to put the Wolverines ahead 24-20 with 37 seconds remaining. U-M secured the victory with a defensive stand on USC's final offensive drive.

Mullings accounted for 161 of the team's 322 total yards over 18 touches and added a pair of touchdown runs in the win. The Wolverines' lead back broke off runs of 63 and 53 yards in the contest, marking the two longest offensive plays for the team this season.

Michigan's potent rushing attack (290 total rushing yards) was supplemented by Donovan Edwards (14 rushes for 74 yards and one touchdown) and Alex Orji (13 rushes for 43 yards).

Edge rushers Josaiah Stewart (two sacks, three TFL, four quarterback hurries and one forced fumble) and Derrick Moore (two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup) played a significant role in limiting USC's offensive production in the contest. The Trojans scored three points and were held to -16 rushing yards in the game's first half. In total, Michigan's defense held Southern Cal to 96 rushing yards, forced two turnovers and recorded four sacks and eight TFL.

After Saturday's contest opened with four punts traded between the two teams, the Wolverines posted points first on a 53-yard touchdown run by Mullings with 3:17 remaining in the first quarter. En route to its 7-0 first-quarter lead, Michigan forced three-and-outs on all three USC drives and allowed just three total yards.

At 7:14 in the second quarter, Edwards broke free for a long touchdown run of 41 yards to widen the gap to 14-0. The Trojans responded with points of their own, closing the first half by scoring with 29-yard field goal with 4:15 remaining.

USC opened the second half with a 12-play, 75-yard drive which ended in a nine-yard passing touchdown. Michigan responded with a Will Johnson 42-yard pick six on the Trojans' next drive. This marked Johnson's third career pick six, setting a new program record. A missed extra point brought the game to 20-10 Michigan advantage.

The Trojans proceeded to score 14 unanswered points on 16- and 24-yard passing touchdowns over the next quarter of game play. U-M's final 89-yard drive which ended with a one-yard Mullings rushing touchdown with 37 second remaining in the contest thwarted the short-lived 24-20 USC lead and secure the Michigan victory.

The Wolverines continues their conference schedule next Saturday (Sept. 28), hosting Minnesota at Michigan Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon, and the game will be brodcast live on Fox.