Euphoria spilled across the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Halloween night, and one of the people caught up in it was a recruit USC wants badly. After the Trojans stunned No. 2 Ohio State, 30-18, fans poured onto the field for the program’s first 2026 field rush, and 2028 three-star running back Malaki “Mali” Davis didn’t just watch it happen - he joined in.
“I was hyped. So I also joined,” Davis told USC Trojans on SI.
The Centennial High of Corona, California standout ended up in the middle of the scene, with cardinal and gold covering the grass around him. He later posted two photos from the field, including one with USC running back King Miller, one of the key figures in the upset.
Davis said the trip left a mark. “Enjoyed my time at USC,crazy game can’t wait to be up there again. @uscfb @USCFootballNews @USCJ32 @USC_Athletics @SchraderOn3 @GregBiggins @BrandonHuffman @BlairAngulo pic.twitter.com/KDMP2kg09y”
His interest in USC already had a personal connection before kickoff. Davis previously met Heisman Trophy-winning running back Marcus Allen, who was also at the game, and told Kendell Hollowell of USC Trojans on SI back in Aug. 2026 that Allen reached out to him during his recruiting process.
What Davis saw on the field mattered, too. Before running down to join the celebration, he paid close attention to how Waymond Jordan and Miller were deployed, and he liked what he saw as both backs kept pushing against a Buckeyes defensive front that has long been known for being tough.
“Them running through people and fighting for yards [I loved],” Davis said.
The win carried weight beyond the celebration. USC came into the night with pressure building and chatter swirling about whether Lincoln Riley was coaching for his job. The Trojans were staring at the possibility of a third loss, with expectations already high.
Riley answered after the game with a surprise in his postgame press conference, pulling out a handwritten statement explaining why he believes he is the right fit for USC and promising to “Fight On.”
“I said before this game that I'm the right person for this job. And as long as all those people know that, that's all I care about," Riley said as part of the statement.
"I appreciate being part of this university and all it does. I appreciate our kids and our staff, and I'm gonna continue to fight on, 'cause that's what being a Trojan is all about."
For Davis, that kind of moment matters on the recruiting trail. He said the win over Ohio State - especially with the Buckeyes ranked No. 2 - helps USC, and he noted that Riley remains in contact with him and his family.
“I would say beating a team like Ohio State definitely helps. Especially with them [Ohio State] being ranked No. 2,” Davis said.
USC isn’t the only program in the mix. UCLA is pushing for him, and Michigan, Minnesota and Oregon have all offered as Big Ten rivals. Ole Miss has also extended an offer.
For now, Davis is turning his attention back to high school football. Centennial will face Mater Dei High of Santa Ana on Nov. 13 in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division I playoffs. The Huskies are chasing an 11th section title under longtime coach Matt Logan, while also trying to win their first state championship since 2008.
In Other News...
USC Just Got National Validation For Its Biggest Win Yet
The win over No. 2 Ohio State is still resonating well beyond Los Angeles, and now it has brought USC another round of national recognition. The Football Writers Association of America named the Trojans the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week after the 30-18 upset on Oct. 31, a result that pushed USC to 7-2 and back into the AP Top 25 at No. 18.
It is a notable honor for a program that has been waiting a long time for this kind of weekly spotlight. This is USCs fifth selection for the award, and its first since 2013, which says plenty about how rare this sort of validation has been even in seasons when the Trojans have had big moments. After beating one of the sports premier teams, they have at least earned a fresh national platform, with the bigger question now being how much staying power that performance will have. [Read more 🡒]
USC Just Made Its Biggest November Question A Lot More Interesting
USCs win over No. 2 Ohio State did more than add another marquee result to the rsum. It pushed the Trojans to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, with Lincoln Riley getting a performance that looked as complete as anything USC has put together this season. Freshman tight end Mark Bowman was part of the story, and Trent Mosleys 69-yard touchdown early in the game helped set the tone for a night that felt bigger than a single upset.
Ohio State still moved the ball on the ground, finishing with 204 rushing yards, but USCs defense tightened when it mattered most and held the Buckeyes to just one red-zone touchdown. For a team trying to sort out its November ceiling, that kind of response is what makes the conversation around the Trojans suddenly a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Faces A Bigger November Question Before Surging USC Arrives
The Trojans trip to Bloomington on November 14 now looks even more intriguing after USCs upset of Ohio State, a result that changed the tone around this matchup before the teams even come back from their bye weeks. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. PT on CBS, and both programs will have had extra time to reset, heal and sort through the kind of details that often decide Big Ten games in November.
For Indiana, the biggest question may be under center, where quarterback Josh Hoover has the benefit of that extra week after taking an injury in a previous game. How healthy he is by the time USC arrives will shape plenty of what the Hoosiers can realistically do, especially against a Trojans team that suddenly has momentum and a national spotlight following it into the final stretch of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]