Michigan State LB Wayne Matthews Hospitalized After Serious Injury at USC

Michigan State linebacker Wayne Matthews III suffered a severe injury during a game against the USC Trojans, requiring him to be stretchered off the field and transported by ambulance to LA General Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center. The injury occurred late in the second quarter while Matthews was tackling USC running back Waymond Jordan in the red zone. Despite the severity of the incident, Michigan State confirmed that Matthews' motor skills were intact. The injury deeply affected both teams, with players from Michigan State gathering for a prayer huddle before resuming play. Matthews, a fifth-year senior who transferred from Old Dominion, had been a key defensive player with 26 tackles in the season prior to the injury. The game experienced a delay following the injury, and USC capitalized on the moment by scoring a touchdown before halftime.