Micah's takeaways from USC's biggest win of the season

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The USC Trojans put together their best performance of the season against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday. It took the Trojans' special playmakers, each having elite performances, to get it done. Jayden Maiava played elite football, and USC delivered another second-half defensive clinic to take down Iowa. This performance gives great hope that the Trojans can take down Oregon this Saturday. If the Trojans play like they did Saturday in the second half, not many teams can beat USC.

Here are my takeaways for the Trojans after their biggest win of the season in Week 12 versus Iowa:

Jayden Maiava has full trust in his playmakers

It did not matter if it was triple coverage or double coverage on USC's receivers; Jayden Maiava still was throwing the ball to his guys, and they showed up every single time. This is when USC is at its best, when this team is making it look like backyard football; they are tough to stop. Maiava is a highly effective quarterback, and he is great at keeping the ball out of harm's way, but he is still great when he is taking chances. Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane are good enough to come down with almost every 50-50 ball. I want to see Maiava have this same mindset against Oregon because it just worked against one of the best defenses in the country.

The Trojans have some of the best playmakers in the country

USC's weapons on offense made it look easy against one of the best defenses in the country. Makai Lemon was unstoppable as he chipped in, 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. Ja'Kobi Lane had a season's worth of highlight reel catches in this game. Lane had 7 catches for 65 yards, looking like an absolute matchup nightmare for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Lane consistently kept bailing out Maiava. On top of the Trojans' two receivers being dominant, King Miller was super effective in this game on the ground. Miller had 19 carries for 83 yards. USC has a big 3 within their playmakers on offense, and they were just miles better than anybody the Hawkeyes had on defense in this game. It is hard to see any defense that matches well with the weapons the Trojans have. This game put the notion that the Trojans have the best playmakers in the country clear for the whole country to see.

Limited amount of touches, but Bryan Jackson came up huge

The most touches on the ground Bryan Jackson has gotten this season in a game was 6 carries. It does not matter; when his number is called, he goes out there and fights for the tough yardage. Against Iowa, he only got 4 carries, but he turned that into 14 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Both of his touchdowns came at very key moments in the game. His first touchdown came as a response to the Trojans being down 14-0. If the Trojans don't score that touchdown, this game gets ugly and gets wrapped up early. His last touchdown of the game came in the 4th quarter, and it was the touchdown to put the Trojans up over Iowa, and it was the final lead change of the game. It is guys like Bryan Jackson stepping up and making plays that tremendously helped the Trojans get their biggest win of the season. With how King Miller looked and Bryan Jackson getting his touches, you almost forget that the Trojans' top two running backs have been hurt.

The Trojans second half defense continues their great run

The Trojans' defense answered the bell once again and put together a fantastic second half. Iowa dominated the Trojans through the air on the first two drives of the game and then ran the ball down their throat. The Trojans had no answer for Iowa early in this game, going down 14-0 early and then being down 21-10 at half. The Trojans came out in the second half and shut out the Hawkeyes. Iowa lost its creativity and was unsuccessful with just about everything offensively. It was the young guys making plays for the Trojans, too, in the second half. Freshman corner Marcelles Williams made one of the biggest plays of the game, tipping a pass, setting up another freshman, Jahkeem Stewart,for an interception. The Trojans were without Kamari Ramsey and Bishop Fitzgerald, and still, this defense was able to come alive in the second half once again. USC has only given up 6 points in its last 3 games in the second half. D'Anton Lynn and this defense have been on a special run at the most crucial time in the season.

Trojans still have way too many penalties on a game-by-game basis

The Trojans had too many penalties that were costly in situations that could have either made the game closer when they were done or, once they had the lead, likely put the game away. That will not fly against Oregon nor in the College Football Playoff. For example, late in the game, instead of a sack fumble in your own endzone on defense, a defense holding call takes away a significant turnover that would have ended the game. The Trojans are still winning, but mistakes like that will be costly against teams that can make you pay for it.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Lincoln Riley and USC football silenced the doubters vs Iowa

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