Indiana’s latest College Football Playoff ranking drop gives the Hoosiers a clear target on Saturday: beat ranked USC, and make the committee look twice again.
That’s the setup, but the real story is on the field, where Indiana may have the exact kind of defense that can squeeze the Trojans into a game they don’t want to play. The Hoosiers have been stingy all season, allowing just 12.4 points per game.
Against Big Ten opponents, that number only climbs to 16. They even held a Julian Sayin-led Ohio State offense to 19 points.
The backbone of that defense starts with the front. Indiana has been brutal against the run, giving up only 2.5 yards per carry and ranking fourth in total rush defense at 75 yards allowed per game.
That matters because USC has already shown what happens when the ground game disappears. In a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin earlier this season, the Trojans couldn’t get anything going.
And in 2026, USC sits 107th in FBS in rushing.
If Indiana shuts down the run again, USC could be forced into obvious passing downs, and that opens the door for the Hoosiers to get after the quarterback and throw off the rhythm of the offense. That would put even more pressure on Jayden Maiava to keep everything afloat in a tough road setting.
And road games have not been kind to USC. Over the past three seasons, the Trojans are just 4-8 away from Los Angeles.
So while USC may have enough talent to hang around, Indiana’s physical edge up front could decide the whole thing. The Trojans may have to win a style of game that hasn’t consistently fit Lincoln Riley’s teams, and that’s the harsh reality here: Indiana can take away the run and force USC to live and die through the air.
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At the same time, USC is making sure the future does not sit idle. Freshman Jonas Williams is getting valuable work through scout team reps and limited game action, and both Lincoln Riley and Maiava have spoken positively about his potential. The Trojans are folding him into the culture now, even as the present still belongs to Maiava, which gives USC a clear short-term answer and a developing option down the road. [Read more 🡒]
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A showdown with real Big Ten and College Football Playoff weight is waiting for USC on Saturday, and the Trojans arrive with a little extra time to get ready after their win over Ohio State. No. 18 USC heads into Bloomington to face No. 9 Indiana in a matchup that suddenly feels like more than just an early-season measuring stick, with both teams sitting in the kind of spot where one result can reshape the conversation around the conference race.
The Hoosiers have had two weeks to sort through some recent inconsistency, and the betting line reflects how tough this trip is expected to be for USC, with Indiana favored by 8.5 points. For the Trojans, the spotlight lands on Jayden Maiava and an offense that will have to deal with a defense that has given opponents plenty to think about, making this one of those games where preparation matters almost as much as execution. [Read more 🡒]
USC Stars In The NFL Suddenly Face Mounting Injury Questions
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The most immediate concern may be in Seattle, where Sam Darnold is expected to miss another game as he works through a cracked rib and a quad injury. For USC fans tracking the programs presence on Sundays, the timing is frustrating, with multiple alumni now waiting on medical updates rather than preparing for full workloads. [Read more 🡒]