USC walked into Saturday carrying the weight of a rough week and walked out with the kind of win that changes the conversation fast.
Behind a defense that never let Ohio State get comfortable, the Trojans knocked off No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 in Los Angeles, holding the Buckeyes to one touchdown and turning a matchup that looked daunting on paper into a statement result. The Buckeyes were without Julian Sayin, and life without him started badly, with backup quarterback Luke Fahey getting pressured all night by a USC front that finished with two sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Ohio State did move the ball in stretches, but USC kept bending just enough and then slamming the door before the Buckeyes could cash in. Field goals replaced touchdowns too often for Ohio State, and that was the difference in a game where the Trojans kept control of the scoreboard.
The night’s biggest swing came on a 70-yard catch-and-run by Mark Bowman, a burst that set up a touchdown and stretched the USC lead to 27-9. From there, the Trojans had more than enough room to finish the job.
For Lincoln Riley, it was a milestone win: his first against a top-five opponent at USC. It also handed Ohio State its second loss of the season and added another jolt to the top of the AP Poll, where chaos has been the theme.
That makes the turnaround even sharper considering where USC stood just a week ago. The Trojans came in unranked after scoring only seven points in a loss to Wisconsin, a performance that was the worst offensive outing of Riley’s head-coaching career and had plenty of people in Los Angeles calling for him to be fired.
Instead, USC answered with what was arguably its best showing under Riley. The result also extended a strange run at the top of the rankings, with this marking the fourth straight week that a top-two AP Poll team has fallen to an unranked opponent.
The win keeps USC in the playoff picture, while Ohio State heads into next week’s game against Oregon with real questions on offense. Fahey’s first collegiate start wasn’t a disaster - he finished with 260 yards on 21 of 38 passing and a touchdown - but he didn’t bring the same deep-ball threat Sayin gives the Buckeyes, and that absence showed up in a game Ohio State couldn’t afford to let slip away.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Got Troubling News Before USC's Passing Test
Ohio States secondary took a hit this week as Jay Timmons was downgraded from questionable to doubtful ahead of the matchup with USC. The Buckeyes have leaned on Timmons for several critical plays this season, and his status now casts a shadow over a defense that is already bracing for a major passing challenge.
If Timmons cannot go, Ohio State is expected to turn to Jermaine Matthews Jr. and Cam Calhoun to help fill the void. Against a Trojans offense that should test the back end early and often, the Buckeyes may have to adjust on the fly without one of their more reliable defensive backs. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Tavien St. Clair Question Fans Feared
Tavien St. Clair was supposed to be part of Ohio States long-term answer at quarterback, but the picture has shifted in a hurry. With true freshman Luke Fahey stepping in for the injured Julian Sayin, St. Clair is now working as the backup, a development that has changed the conversation around the room and around his place in the program.
For a player once viewed as the future at the position, the move naturally raises bigger questions about what comes next. Ohio State still has time to sort through the quarterback depth chart, and there are several possible paths ahead, but nothing has been settled yet, leaving St. Clairs status one of the more intriguing storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Bigger Problem In Los Angeles Was Never The Freshman QB
Luke Faheys first extended look as Ohio States true freshman quarterback came in a difficult spot, and the early returns were mixed in the best possible way for a player still learning the speed of the college game. He completed 8 of 15 passes for 86 yards in the first half against USC, and the staff showed enough trust in him to keep the offense moving despite his inexperience.
The larger issue in Los Angeles was everything around him. Ohio States deficit had far more to do with missed tackles, penalties, special teams problems and defensive miscommunications than with the freshman trying to steady the offense, and those breakdowns helped USC build a 20-6 halftime lead. Fahey may have been the most visible change, but he was not the reason the Buckeyes were in trouble. [Read more 🡒]