Looking back at Micah's predictions for USC vs Iowa

Jayden Maiava plays well against the Hawkeyes’ tough defense

“Iowa has one of the best defenses in the country, and they will challenge Jayden Maiava like he has never been before. Maiava showed last week that he has heart and that singular play might have brought something special out of him. The Trojans have not lost games this season because of him, but they have won games because of his elite play. He has battled adversity very well this season, and he looked like he got back to his elite and efficient play last week. Maiava will outplay Gronkowski in this game and keep the balls out of harm’s way because he is now comfortable extending plays with his legs. Maiava will need to use each of his skill sets against the Hawkeyes. His numbers may not be 300 yards and 4 touchdowns, but he will have one of the more complete performances out of any quarterback this week in the Big Ten leading the Trojans to a huge win.”

Jayden Maiava was great in this game and a big reason why the Trojans came out on top. He took care of the football, and he had all the trust in the world in his teammates, consistently giving them an opportunity to make a play. It is games like this that make you wonder why Maiava does not get the credit and recognition he deserves for being one of the top quarterbacks in the country.

Makai Lemon has a clutch performance

“Last week, Lemon got his swagger back, putting up a dominant performance with 11 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown versus Northwestern. Against an even better Hawkeyes defense, Lemon will need to be at his best. If the Trojans win this football game, it will be because of Lemon making a couple of plays in the 4th quarter. I think last week was exactly what he needed, especially being against a good pass defense in Northwestern. Lemon will show up for Maiava and the Trojans and put another double-digit catch, 100-yard receiving, and at least 1 touchdown game.”

Makai Lemon not only came up clutch, but he was also unstoppable in this game. He exceeded my prediction with 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. He was critical to the success of the Trojans’ offense in the second half, and he bailed out Jayden Maiava every time. The Hawkeyes had no answer for Lemon nor Ja’Kobi Lane.

Mark Gronowski struggles in this game

“Mark Gronowski has been great for the Hawkeyes this season and has had his fair share of late-game heroics. When the occasion arises, he always sets up Iowa in a position to win the football game. He has been a dual-threat star, providing Iowa with something they haven’t had in quite some time. Stability at the quarterback position. He has not thrown an interception in the last two weeks and has scored a rushing touchdown in all 9 games this season. Both streaks will come to an end this weekend. D’Anton Lynn puts together a great game plan, and the Trojans build off two solid defensive outings of late. The Trojans know what is at stake for this game, and rattling Gronkowski and limiting his success will be a huge key to victory Saturday. I think Gronowski will throw two interceptions, one of them coming late, to lose the football game for Iowa.”

Mark Gronowski could not have had a better start to the game versus USC, having his way completely. Unfortunately for him, his play and an interception that was not entirely his fault cost the Hawkeyes late in the game. D’Anton Lynn and the Trojans’ defense came alive in the second half, and Mark Gronowski and the Hawkeys’ offense had no answer whatsoever.

Eric Gentry has a big game

“The Hawkeyes have a dominant run game, and even starting quarterback Gronowski plays a huge part in this physical rushing attack. The Trojans will need to limit this rushing attack to win this game. If they can force Mark Gronowski to win this game through the air, the Trojans will have the advantage. That will only happen with a dominant game from linebacker Eric Gentry. He has been the leader and the backbone of this defense; he will need to step up big against Iowa.”

Eric Gentry did not have the game I expected him to; instead, it was Desman Stephens who was the most impactful linebacker in Saturday’s win. Gentry still made his presence felt and played his own part in the defense, turning things around in the second half.

Iowa loses another clutch game at their own hands

“Last week, Iowa gift-wrapped the game away to Oregon with a crucial fumble in the red zone. That has been the story for Iowa, good enough to keep the other team’s heart racing, but in the clutch, they can not put the game away. I think this Saturday, it will be the same story for Iowa. With the Trojans playing well against the run in this game, there will be a Mark Gronkowski interception late in the game that will seal the fate of the Iowa Hawkeyes. This game will come down to turnovers and making costly mistakes, just as each high-stakes Big Ten game this season has. Unfortunately for Iowa, it will be them that makes the most mistakes.”

Iowa had this game in the bag with a hot start in the first half. Unfortunately for them, they got outplayed in the second half, and they had no type of adjustment for the energy and the toughness the Trojans played with. It was another game that Iowa let slip out of their hands. As good as Mark Gronkowski has been late in games, he did as I predicted, throw a late-game interception that completely stole the momentum. Iowa has now lost 4 close games, and all 4 of them, they had plenty of opportunity to win.