USC: Trojans upend No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 in rain-soaked thriller

Southern California defeated the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes 30-18 on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The result stands as the most consequential victory for head coach Lincoln Riley since he took over the program half a decade ago. USC became the first team to score more points against Ohio State than their defense had allowed since 2024.

The Trojans built a 20-9 lead by halftime. This performance came one week after USC recorded the fewest points of any Riley-led offense in a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin. The Buckeyes’ defense, previously considered among the nation's best, yielded the second-highest point total of their season in a single game. Ohio State generated 464 total yards but managed only three field goals in its first five drives.

Freshman Trent Mosley delivered the opening blow on the second play from scrimmage. He caught a pass behind the line of scrimmage and sprinted 69 yards for a touchdown. That score was the sixth of his freshman season. Ohio State had not allowed a play longer than 36 yards prior to this moment. Mosley finished the night with five receptions for 101 yards.

Jayden Maiava completed passes for 222 yards and a touchdown for USC. King Miller and Waymond Jordan both rushed for scores. Miller’s touchdown followed a 70-yard reception by freshman tight end Mark Bowman. Bowman hurdled a defender and broke multiple tackles on that play. The sequence extended the lead to 27-9 late in the third quarter.

Ohio State quarterback Luke Fahey made his first career start. He replaced injured Julian Sayin, who damaged his arm two weeks earlier at Indiana. Fahey, a freshman from Orange County, completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards. The Buckeyes’ offense produced 192 yards in the first half but struggled to convert drives into touchdowns.

USC’s defense limited Ohio State to a single score for the first 57 minutes. Jeremiah Smith finally found the end zone on a one-yard catch with 2:12 remaining. Ohio State failed on the subsequent two-point conversion attempt. USC recovered the onside kick and kicked a field goal with 1:46 left on the clock to seal the result.

Bo Jackson rushed for 121 yards for the Buckeyes. Smith added 10 receptions for 83 yards. Despite the offensive volume, Ohio State could not overcome the early deficit. The team has now lost two games this early in a season for the first time since 2011.

The defeat drops Ohio State to 58-2 against unranked opponents under head coach Ryan Day. The loss joins the Buckeyes’ home defeat to Michigan in 2024 as a notable stumble for the program. Ohio State hosts Oregon on Saturday next week.

USC improves to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten. Students and fans stormed the field after the final whistle. The victory marks the first time since 2015 that the Trojans have beaten a top-five opponent at the Coliseum. USC is set for a bye week before traveling to Indiana on November 14.

Light rain fell throughout the game in Los Angeles. The weather did not dampen the energy of the 7-2 crowd. The Trojans’ surge in scoring efficiency stands in sharp contrast to their previous outing in Madison. The win provides immediate momentum for a team that appeared to be struggling just seven days prior.