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USC Safety Bishop Fitzgerald Named Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week
October 15, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES—USC S Bishop Fitzgerald has been named Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week for his performance in USC's decisive 31-13 victory over No. 15 Michigan in front of a sold out crowd in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday (Oct. 11).
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The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's top defensive player, who also exhibits the characteristics of Ronnie Lott by making an IMPACT on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
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Fitzgerald's performance against Michigan places him as the country's interception leader, and he is tied for second on USC's defense with 30 total tackles, 24 of them solo stops.Â
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Fitzgerald recorded 5.0 tackles against Michigan and a key sack. With Michigan on the USC 32-yard-line in the second quarter, Fitzgerald registered a third-down sack – the first of his career – for a loss of 11 yards that took Michigan out of field goal range and forced a punt at a crucial point in the game. His 2 INTs ended two other Michigan drives.
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Fitzgerald has quickly become a defensive leader for the Trojans. His 5 INTs are tied for the national lead, already the most by a Trojan since Calen Bullock in 2022, with 3 of them occurring within USC's red zone. He had a 39-yard pick-six in USC's opening 73-13 win over Missouri State.
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His leadership in the secondary against Michigan helped post USC's fewest points allowed against a ranked opponent since 2016 at No. 4 Washington (13). Due in part by Fitzgerald stopping three Michigan drives, the Trojans gave up the fewest total yards against a ranked opponent since their 2023 game against Notre Dame and marked USC's largest margin of victory against a ranked opponent since 2019 when the Trojans toppled No. 23 Stanford by 25 points.
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The Trojans travel to South Bend, Ind.  this weekend to challenge Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4:30 p.m. PT.
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The Lott IMPACT Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's top defensive player, who also exhibits the characteristics of Ronnie Lott by making an IMPACT on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Â
Fitzgerald's performance against Michigan places him as the country's interception leader, and he is tied for second on USC's defense with 30 total tackles, 24 of them solo stops.Â
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Fitzgerald recorded 5.0 tackles against Michigan and a key sack. With Michigan on the USC 32-yard-line in the second quarter, Fitzgerald registered a third-down sack – the first of his career – for a loss of 11 yards that took Michigan out of field goal range and forced a punt at a crucial point in the game. His 2 INTs ended two other Michigan drives.
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Fitzgerald has quickly become a defensive leader for the Trojans. His 5 INTs are tied for the national lead, already the most by a Trojan since Calen Bullock in 2022, with 3 of them occurring within USC's red zone. He had a 39-yard pick-six in USC's opening 73-13 win over Missouri State.
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His leadership in the secondary against Michigan helped post USC's fewest points allowed against a ranked opponent since 2016 at No. 4 Washington (13). Due in part by Fitzgerald stopping three Michigan drives, the Trojans gave up the fewest total yards against a ranked opponent since their 2023 game against Notre Dame and marked USC's largest margin of victory against a ranked opponent since 2019 when the Trojans toppled No. 23 Stanford by 25 points.
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The Trojans travel to South Bend, Ind.  this weekend to challenge Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4:30 p.m. PT.
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