Big Ten chaos rolled on this weekend, and USC was right in the middle of it.
The Trojans turned in the kind of performance that can change the feel of a season, knocking off No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 and giving themselves a massive boost moving forward. Elsewhere around the league, Wisconsin followed a rough loss to USC with an even uglier showing, while several other teams spent the weekend either steadying themselves or slipping further into the mess.
Illinois 20, Maryland 17
Katin Houser was back, and Illinois did just enough to get past what has been the Big Ten’s weakest team. It was not a clean or convincing win, especially after last week’s victory over Oregon, and it felt more like a step back than a statement.
Iowa 30, Wisconsin 0
Wisconsin looked nothing like the team that beat USC last week. The Badgers never got going, and Iowa made them pay for it in a shutout that reinforced just how difficult Kinnick Stadium can be for visitors. The Hawkeyes came out of it looking like a contender again, while Wisconsin took another hit to its standing.
Michigan 28, Rutgers 21
Michigan survived a close one thanks in large part to Tommy Carr. The Wolverines’ passing game stood out as one of the few bright spots, but Rutgers was able to move the ball enough to keep the game uncomfortable all the way through.
Oregon 34, Northwestern 26
Northwestern has shown it can handle the games it is supposed to win, but this one got away from it. The Wildcats let up late, and Dylan Raoulia took advantage with a second-half comeback that flipped the game.
Indiana 23, Minnesota 16
Indiana finally made a quarterback change, and it mattered. Grant Wilson gave the Hoosiers’ offense a lift and looked like the better option moving forward. Minnesota still pushed Indiana to the edge, which says plenty about the Gophers, but the bigger takeaway was that if Indiana’s quarterback play improves, its outlook gets a lot brighter.
Penn State 31, Purdue 17
Penn State leaned on its run game and never let Purdue’s offense catch up. It was the kind of needed win that gets the Nittany Lions back on track.
UCLA 27, Nevada 0
UCLA turned in another dominant defensive outing, blanking Nevada and moving to 8-0. The Bruins are now inching closer to a perfect season.
USC 30, Ohio State 18
This was the headline result of the weekend. USC controlled the game for all four quarters and looked every bit capable of beating one of the best teams in the country. The Trojans still need to bring this level more consistently, but this was the kind of win that can reshape a season and maybe even more than that.
Washington 17, Nebraska 10
Elijah Brown had been hot lately, but this time the spark faded. Washington was in danger of letting the game slip away before Demond Williams Jr. entered in the fourth quarter and changed the tone of the offense. He sparked the comeback and delivered a huge win for the Huskies, a moment that could define his career.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Got A New Recruiting Concern After USC Upset
USCs upset of Ohio State did more than shake up the scoreboard at the Coliseum. It also gave the Trojans a jolt on the recruiting trail, with fans and 2028 running back prospect Malaki Davis joining the field rush after the game and leaving with a vivid first impression of the programs energy and atmosphere.
Davis, who spent time around the celebration and interacted with USC legend Marcus Allen, came away clearly enthused about the Trojans. The moment also arrived as Lincoln Riley tried to quiet outside noise about his future, issuing a handwritten statement to reinforce his commitment to USC, adding another layer to a night that could resonate well beyond one win. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]