USC walked into Saturday night carrying plenty of doubt, and walked out with the kind of win that changes the conversation in a hurry. The Trojans stunned No. 2 Ohio State 30-18, moving to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play.
The result landed as a jolt because almost nobody had this one circled for USC. After the way the week had gone around the program, the Trojans needed something dramatic, and they delivered it in the biggest possible spot.
Just as striking was how different this looked from last week’s trip to Madison. USC was a mess against Wisconsin, but against Ohio State it flipped the script completely and played like the sharper, more complete team from start to finish.
For Lincoln Riley, this was the kind of win USC fans had been waiting nearly five years to see. Against Ohio State, he finally delivered a signature victory for the Trojans.
And this wasn’t the sort of upset that comes from a handful of lucky breaks. USC didn’t just survive on turnovers or strange bounces. The Trojans were the better team on the field.
The ground game, which had been a major problem a week earlier, also showed real life. After finishing with negative 17 rushing yards against Wisconsin, USC averaged 4.3 yards per carry against Ohio State and found the end zone twice on the ground.
Now the Trojans get a week off before heading back to the Midwest one more time. Their next game comes at Indiana on November 14.
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 🡒]