Rutgers walked off the field with a 42-35 loss to No. 12 USC, but this one looked different from the games that have defined the Scarlet Knights’ season so far.
They played with more variety, more edge and, for long stretches, more belief. Still, USC’s offense kept landing punches, and Rutgers’ quarterback issues handed the Trojans too many easy points to overcome.
The game got away from Rutgers early. USC opened with a field goal, then cashed in on an interception by turning the mistake into a touchdown and a 10-point cushion. Rutgers settled in enough to put 14 points on the board before halftime, but the Trojans added 10 of their own to carry a 20-14 lead into the break.
The third quarter turned into a track meet. A 99-yard pick-six from USC helped drive the scoring burst, and the Trojans later found the end zone again on offense.
Rutgers answered with two touchdowns of its own, trimming the margin to seven entering the fourth. After both teams stalled on downs, USC scored again and Rutgers answered once more, but the Scarlet Knights could not get the final stop they needed.
Dylan Lonergan was better than he was against UMass, but the mistakes were still brutal. His two interceptions essentially spotted USC 14 points. He finished 18 of 36 for 252 yards, three touchdowns and those two picks, while also running six times for 26 yards.
Rutgers got strong production from two of its most dangerous weapons. KJ Duff caught seven passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, and Antwan Raymond turned in another big day with 122 rushing yards and a score on 21 carries. He also added three receptions for 39 yards.
Up front, the offensive line delivered a clearer step forward. Rutgers allowed only one sack and created room for Raymond to work.
The defense, though, had a hard time slowing USC down. Jayden Maiava threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns and added nine rushing yards on three carries. The Trojans’ ground game was just as damaging, producing 184 yards and two touchdowns on 31 attempts.
Even with the loss, Rutgers showed a different look against a heavy favorite. The Scarlet Knights mixed in stunts on defense, used audibles at the line on offense and even pulled off a fake punt that went for 40 yards.
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Rutgers Let A Huge Opportunity Slip In A Familiar Way
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Dylan Lonergans two interceptions, including a 99-yard pick-six that swung the game, proved costly in a 42-35 loss that felt very much like a missed opportunity. Rutgers has now dropped 44 straight games against ranked teams, and until the turnovers stop defining these moments, the program will keep finding itself close to something bigger without getting over the top. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Rileys USC Reaction Says A Lot About Rutgers Fight
Rutgers made USC work for every bit of its 42-35 win in the Trojans first road game of the 2026 season, and Lincoln Rileys tone afterward reflected just how much the Scarlet Knights pushed the visitors. The game doubled as USCs first Big Ten opener, and Riley pointed to a mix of strong offensive moments and the kind of defensive lapses that can turn a road trip into a fight, especially in this league.
For Rutgers, the details Riley called out were the ones that kept the game alive: big plays, penalties and a fake punt that helped tilt the evening into a pressure-packed fourth quarter. Even in defeat, the Scarlet Knights showed enough fight to force USC into a game Riley knew would matter in the conference race, which is why the loss still carried the feel of something Rutgers can build on. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Fans Wont Like How USC Kept That Drive Alive
Rutgers got a front-row look at how quickly a promising defensive stand can turn frustrating in a game like this. In USCs first road test of the season, the third quarter brought a sequence that left the Scarlet Knights chasing the officials as much as the Trojans, with an inadvertent whistle wiping out a third-down conversion before the drive was extended anyway through a series of penalties and a fourth-down completion.
For Rutgers fans, the aggravation was obvious because the stop they needed never quite arrived, and the drive stayed alive long enough for USC to keep control of the moment. The No. 12 Trojans left with the win and moved to 4-0, while Rutgers was left replaying one of those swing sequences that can loom large long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]