So, the dust has finally settled on the 94th edition of the Crosstown Showdown. Honestly, if you just looked at the scoreboard on November 23, 2024, you’d see a 19-13 USC victory and think, "Okay, a typical low-scoring defensive battle." But man, that’s not even half the story.
The 2024 UCLA USC football game was basically a fever dream of historic transitions, massive travel schedules, and two programs trying to figure out who they are in a world where they now live in the Big Ten.
Forget the Pac-12. That’s gone. This was the first time these two LA giants met as members of a conference that stretches all the way to New Jersey. It felt different. It smelled different. Even the chill in the Rose Bowl air that night felt a little more "Midwestern," didn't it?
The 19-13 Reality Check: Why the Score Lies
Most people look at a six-point game and assume it was a nail-biter from start to finish. It kind of was, but for all the weirdest reasons. USC wasn't exactly a juggernaut. They settled for field goals. A lot of them.
Michael Lantz, the Trojans' kicker, was basically the MVP for three-quarters of that game. He knocked through four field goals. When your kicker is your primary scoring engine in a rivalry game, you're living on the edge.
UCLA, under first-year head coach DeShaun Foster, actually looked like they might pull the upset. They held a 13-9 lead late in the third quarter. Ethan Garbers was slinging it, finishing with 265 yards. J. Michael Sturdivant was a problem for the USC secondary, racking up 117 receiving yards. For a minute there, it felt like the Bruins were going to ruin Lincoln Riley’s whole year.
Then, Jayden Maiava happened.
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Maiava wasn't perfect. He threw for 221 yards. But when it mattered—midway through the fourth—he found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 4-yard touchdown that shifted the entire energy of the stadium. That drive was only three plays long. 49 yards. Boom. Lead changed.
Key Stats from the 2024 Battle
- Final Score: USC 19, UCLA 13
- The Lantz Factor: 4 for 4 on field goals (19, 23, 22, and 30 yards).
- Rushing Battle: T.J. Harden (UCLA) nearly hit the century mark with 99 yards, while Woody Marks (USC) grinded out 76.
- Turnover on Downs: The game basically ended when Garbers was stuffed on a QB sneak on 4th-and-1 at the Bruins' 34-yard line. Talk about a heartbreaker.
The Big Ten Growing Pains Nobody Talks About
Let's be real: both these teams were exhausted by the time they hit late November. Joining the Big Ten wasn't just about bigger TV checks. It was about logging 20,000+ miles in a single season.
UCLA was crossing the country multiple times a month. You’ve got student-athletes doing homework in hotel ballrooms and taking red-eye flights back from places like New Brunswick or Ann Arbor.
By the time the UCLA USC football 2024 matchup rolled around, these rosters were taped together. It explains why the game felt a bit sluggish at times. It wasn't just "Pac-12 after dark" anymore. It was two programs suffering from a massive geographic hangover.
Lincoln Riley’s seat was getting a little warm before this win. USC entered the game 5-5. They needed this to become bowl-eligible. If they lose to UCLA in year one of the Big Ten? The boosters would've been outside his house with pitchforks.
Deshaun Foster and the "Bruinprint"
People weren't sure what to expect from Foster. He’s a legend at UCLA, sure, but coaching is a different beast. Honestly, the 4-7 record doesn't tell the whole story of their season.
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They won four of their last six games leading into the rivalry. They beat Iowa. They showed grit. Against USC, they held the Trojans to field goals on three separate trips inside the 10-yard line. That’s high-level defensive coaching.
But the "Bruinprint" hit a snag with those three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties at the end of the second quarter. UCLA had to kick off from their own 5-yard line to start the second half. I’ve been watching football for decades and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that. It was a bizarre sequence that gave USC great field position and highlighted the raw, emotional edge of this rivalry.
Why This Win Saved USC’s Season (Sort Of)
If USC loses this game, they don't go to a bowl. Period.
Jayden Maiava’s rally didn't just win a trophy; it secured extra practice time for a young roster and a chance to end a disappointing season on a high note.
The Trojans have now won 19 of the last 26 meetings. Dominance? Maybe. But the gap is closing. UCLA’s defense, led by Carson Schwesinger (who had 12 tackles that night), proved they can hang with anyone in the Big Ten.
What most people get wrong is thinking this rivalry is losing its luster because the teams aren't ranked #1 and #2. Wrong. The stakes are actually higher now. You aren't just fighting for the Victory Bell; you're fighting for survival in a conference where every game feels like a war of attrition.
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What’s Next for the Crosstown Rivals?
If you're a fan or a bettor, keep an eye on these specific movements.
- Transfer Portal Activity: Both Riley and Foster need depth. The Big Ten schedule is a meat grinder. Look for them to target interior linemen specifically.
- Maiava vs. The Field: Is Jayden the definitive QB1 for 2025? His performance in the 2024 rivalry game bought him a lot of equity, but the competition will be fierce.
- Recruiting the "Local" Big Ten: Now that these schools are in the Big Ten, they are recruiting against Ohio State and Michigan for kids in their own backyard. The winner of the 2024 game gets a massive boost in those living room conversations.
The 2024 chapter of UCLA USC football wasn't the prettiest. It wasn't a high-flying offensive explosion. But it was a gritty, weird, and deeply Southern Californian introduction to a new era.
Keep an eye on the 2025 schedule releases. The travel patterns are going to change again, and how these two schools manage the "miles per gallon" of their athletes will determine who holds that 295-pound brass bell next year.
For now, the Victory Bell stays cardinal. But if the 2024 game showed us anything, it’s that the Bruins aren't going away quietly. Not in this conference. Not ever.
To keep track of the upcoming 2025 rosters, you should start by monitoring the spring game dates usually announced in February. Watching how the offensive lines are rebuilt during these sessions is the best way to predict if the 2025 game will be another field goal fest or a return to the high-scoring shootouts of the past.