Game updates, live scores for college football

On Saturday, Michigan football hosts another top-15 team to kick off its Big Ten schedule. And old Pac-12 and Rose Bowl foe USC enters the Big House in Ann Arbor.

No. 17 Michigan (2-1) hosts No. 12 USC (2-0) at 3:30 p.m. at Michigan Stadium in the first conference game for both teams. Michigan will have a new point guard, junior Alex Orji, under center to open its nine-game conference schedule after first-year head coach Sherrone Moore announced Monday that Orji would replace the struggling Davis Warren.

Michigan’s offense suffered a major blow when it was announced before the game that star quarterback Colston Loveland would not play with an upper-body injury.

His first career start will be against USC quarterback Miller Moss and an undefeated Trojans team making its conference debut in the new 18-team Big Ten that stretches coast to coast. USC already has one win over LSU and is looking to become just the second team to beat Michigan on the road, after Texas did so two weeks ago.

Watch Michigan-USC Live on Fubo (Free Trial)

Michigan, the three-time defending Big Ten champion, enters the game as a 4½-point underdog, looking to avoid an 0-1 conference start for the first time since 2019. The game begins at 3:30 p.m. in the Big House. It airs on CBS and can be watched on Paramount Plus and Fubo (free trial).

INITIATE: Early quarterback change undermines faith in Michigan football regime led by Sherron Moore

You can follow live coverage from Michigan Stadium below.

Michigan vs USC live match highlights

Game notes and highlights coming soon.

Michigan vs. USC Pre-Game Update

All eyes will once again be on the quarterback position at Michigan after the switch from Warren to Orji three weeks into the season. Moore was forced to reverse the most important decision of his young coaching career and will have to get the offense going for the first time this season against No. 12 USC after a week off.

USC’s defense has looked to be improving through three weeks of the season, which presents an interesting challenge for Orji and a Michigan offense that often sets the run. The Wolverines may be without top target Colston Loveland after the tight end left the game early last week with an apparent shoulder injury.

On the other side of the court, it will be a power-for-power matchup between Michigan’s defense and the Trojans’ offense. USC ranks 16th nationally in total offense (495.5 yards per game) and 27th in scoring offense (37.5 points per game), while the Wolverines rebounded with a strong performance against Arkansas State after being outplayed at times by Texas.

Michigan is looking to avoid its first Big Ten opener loss since a road loss to Wisconsin in 2019.

LATEST: The absence of one player has a big impact on Michigan’s defense ahead of their clash with USC

What time is the Michigan vs. USC game?

Date: Saturday, September 21.
Time: 3:30 PM EST
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.

What channel can I watch the Michigan vs. USC game on?

Who is calling the Michigan-USC game?

Game report:Brad Nessler.
Analyst:Gary Danielson.
Reporter on the side: Jenny Dell, born

USC’s first-ever Big Ten conference game will air on one of the conference’s new network homes, CBS, in its main 3:30 a.m. slot. New college football media rights deals have transformed CBS’s 3:30 a.m. slot from the SEC’s top game of the week to a major Big Ten clash.

READ MORE: Conference reorganization shines a spotlight on the business of college football. It’s about time.

Michigan vs. USC Accessibility Report

Michigan: Out of the game: S Rod Moore, TE Colston Loveland, safety Jaden Mangham, linebacker Micah Pollard, running back Jordan Marshall and linebacker Jason Hewlett.

USC: Out of the game: Offensive player Micah Banuelos, offensive player Kilian O’Connor.

Michigan vs. USC Predictions

Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: It’s rare for there to be so many unknowns in Week 4, but that’s what happens when there’s a major quarterback change. It could go a number of ways. Maybe Orji unlocks the running element, complements the defense perfectly, and Michigan finds a new formula. Or maybe there’s a reason Orji wasn’t originally the starter and it shows. Or maybe there are flashes, but not enough to play a full game. Either way, USC has too much talent and too solid a scheme. Elite: USC 27 Law School, Michigan 16.

Michigan vs. USC Betting Odds

Saturday afternoon odds come from BetMGM.

Proliferation: USC by 4½ points.
Over/under: 44 points.
Money line: USC -190; Michigan +160.

Michigan vs USC Weather

The weather forecast for Ann Arbor is calling for partly cloudy skies and a high of 85 degrees.

Michigan 2024 Schedule

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vs. Texas (P 31-12)
vs. Arkansas State (W 28-18)
against Civil Registry Office
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Jared Ramsey is a Detroit Free Press sports reporter who covers the city’s pro teams, the state’s two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22 and email him at [email protected].

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