Welcome back inside the Ann Arbor Studios of the Big 1050 WTCA online at the Big 1050.com every Friday before a Michigan football game.

We go behind enemy lines and get the scoop from the opponent side of things.

So it's time to go behind enemy lines with Alejandro Zaniga from the Michigan Insider.com.

Now here on the Michigan Insider on the Big 1050 WTK. Our guest for this week's episode

of Behind Enemy Lines is Connor Morissette of USCFootball.com, part of our 24-7 sports network.

Connor, this is a pivotal game for both Michigan and USC. The Trojans enter at 4 and 1 with

notable wins at Purdue versus Michigan State, but then a road upset loss at Illinois before the bye week.

Lincoln Riley is in his fourth year with the Trojans.

Could be on the hot seat.

2023 and 2024 were absolutely disappointments compared to what USC standards are.

They have not made the college football playoff yet under Lincoln Riley.

But this game could propel USC back into that conversation.

ESPN says the Trojans are 30% chance of making the playoffs with a win.

That drops to 6% with a loss.

Michigan, on the other hand, up to 58% chance of making the playoffs with a win,

just 20% with a loss.

Connor, take us through big picture what this game means for a USC program that needs more

success under Lincoln Riley, and this game could be a statement in that process.

It's a huge game, especially coming off of that Illinois defeat where USC's defense just had

nothing that day. But to their credit, offensively, Jade Maiava, USC's quarterback, led the team on

three straight touchdown drives to end that game and gave him a chance to win. So USC on offense,

I think they're feeling pretty good right now. But defensively, there's a lot of question marks.

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