Illinois edges USC 34–32 on last-second field goal

Illinois edges USC 34–32 on last-second field goal originally appeared on The Sporting News

As the seconds ticked away, David Olano drilled a 41-yard field goal that sent Illinois into
celebration and left USC stunned in a 34-32 final. 

It was a nail-biter to the very end, featuring thrilling plays, a back-and forth comeback, and a final kick that made all the difference.

"I knew the team was counting on me, and I just put my head down and focused on the kick,"
Olano said after the game. "It’s moments like these that make all the hard work worth it."

Illinois struck first in the opening quarter with a precise 10-play, 70-yard drive, capped by a
12-yard touchdown run from quarterback Luke Altmyer. USC responded quickly, answering
with a 75-yard march finished by Quinten Joyner’s one-yard touchdown run, tying the game
at 7–7.

The second quarter saw Illinois regain control thanks to a clever trick play — wide receiver
Hank Beatty threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Altmyer, aided by a crucial roughing-the-
passer penalty on USC. The Trojans managed a 21-yard field goal from Rafael Sayeri just
before halftime, closing the half at 14–10 in favor of the Illini.

Illinois extended their lead in the third quarter with a 45-yard field goal from Olano, followed
by a stunning 64-yard touchdown strike from Altmyer to Kaden Feagin that electrified the
crowd. USC fought back with an 11-play, 81-yard drive, capped by Joyner’s 2-yard
touchdown run, narrowing the gap to 24–17.

The fourth quarter was a rollercoaster. Altmyer found Jadon Bowick for a 25-yard
touchdown, giving Illinois a 31–17 advantage. But USC wasn’t done. Quarterback Jayden
Maiava connected with Makai Lemon twice for touchdowns, including a game-winning 16-
yard score, plus a successful two-point conversion put USC ahead 32–31 with under two
minutes remaining.

With the clock winding down and the pressure mounting, Illinois calmly orchestrated a final
drive. Then, with time expiring, Olano delivered the game-winning 41-yard field goal,
sending the stadium into a frenzy and sealing the victory.

Key stats from the game

Passing:

Luke Altmyer (Illinois): 20/27, 328 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Jayden Maiava (USC): 30/43, 364 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Rushing:

Quinten Joyner (USC): 20 carries, 94 yards, 2 TD
Kaden Feagin (Illinois): 14 carries, 60 yards

Receiving:

Makai Lemon (USC): 11 receptions, 151 yards, 2 TD
Collin Dixon (Illinois): 4 receptions, 90 yards

Defensive Leaders:

Miles Scott (Illinois): 10 tackles (7 solo)
DeShawn Stephens II (USC): 9 tackles (4 solo)

Turnovers:

Both teams committed 2 turnovers each.

What this means

• Illinois improves to 4–1 overall and 4–1 in Big Ten play, climbing to 8th in the conference standings with momentum on their side.
• USC also stands at 4–1 overall but drops to 3–3 in Big Ten play, falling to 7th place.
• Both teams face crucial matchups next week—Illinois hosts Purdue (2–2), aiming to build on this big win, while USC travels to face 19th-ranked Michigan (3–1) in a true test of their resilience.

Illinois’ thrilling win over USC the one that got away for the Trojans. With the season heating up, both teams look to keep their playoff hopes alive in the coming weeks.

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