USC's Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane are two of the best wide receivers in the nation for good reason. Northwestern had no answer for the junior pass-catchers on Friday night, who devastated the Wildcats' defense in the Trojans' 38-17 win.

The pair of projected NFL draft picks combined for 18 catches, 235 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Lemon, who logged 161 receiving yards himself, also added a rushing score on a jet sweep.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava diced up the 'Cats' secondary for 299 yards and finished with three total touchdowns. On the other sideline, Northwestern passer Preston Stone had an accurate 20-for-30 clip, but threw for just 150 yards with an average of five yards per attempt.

Redshirt-sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe provided a bright spot for David Braun's group. With Joseph Himon and Dashun Reeder out due to injury, Komolafe compiled 158 yards from scrimmage as the bell-cow back.

Now 5-4 (3-3 Big Ten) on the season, Northwestern will have to wait another week to attempt to clinch bowl eligibility. The 7-2 (5-1 Big Ten) Trojans remain in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth.

Maiava made his impact felt early, leading the Trojans on a 16-play, 82-yard opening drive that ended in a score. The redshirt-junior quarterback went 9-for-11 on the efficient possession, capping it off with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Lemon.

Northwestern responded with a long drive of its own, fueled by 49 scrimmage yards from Komolafe. Three plays after the running back hauled in an over-the-shoulder grab on third down, Stone found Griffin Wilde for a four-yard score to even the game at seven apiece.

The 'Cats initially appeared to stop USC on the ensuing possession, but a Trojan trick play caught Northwestern off guard to keep the chains moving. Backup quarterback Sam Huard, wearing the same No. 80 jersey number as punter Sam Johnson, delivered a fourth-down completion on a fake punt that picked up the first. Maiava continued his magic a few plays later with a six-yard touchdown scramble, in which he evaded multiple sacks.

After Komolafe's touchdown made it 14-14, the Wildcats nearly took their first lead on a game-changing play. Defensive tackle Najee Story picked off Maiava for his first career interception, but with an opportunity to put Northwestern up by a touchdown, the 288-pounder fumbled at the one-yard line out of the back of the end zone. Maiava's hit jarred the ball loose, and the very next play was a 55-yard run by USC's King Miller. The freshman running back then took it in untouched for six points.

What could have resulted in a 21-14 lead for Northwestern instead put the Trojans ahead by the same margin at the break. NU drove the ball into enemy territory to open the second half, but after punting on 4th-and-3 from the 44, USC went on a 91-yard touchdown drive to take a two-score advantage.

Lemon's rushing touchdown made the score 35-17 in favor of USC and put the finishing touches on Northwestern's second consecutive loss. The Wildcats will return to Wrigley Field next Saturday, looking to bounce back against No. 20 Michigan.

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