Unranked Southern California defeated No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, propelled by 222 passing yards and a touchdown from quarterback Jayden Maiava alongside 145 all-purpose yards from wide receiver Trent Mosley.
The 30-18 victory lifts head coach Lincoln Riley’s USC football squad to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play, while handing Ryan Day’s Buckeyes (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) their second loss of the season. Fans stormed the field at the Coliseum after the final whistle.
USC wasted little time seizing control. Just 39 seconds into the first quarter, Mosley caught a short pass from Maiava and raced untouched for a 69-yard touchdown, putting the Trojans ahead for good. Later in the opening period, Mosley returned a punt 44 yards to the Ohio State 46-yard line, and a 15-yard personal foul against the Buckeyes moved the ball to the 31. Following a 14-yard reception by Mosley, Waymond Jordan scored on a 9-yard rushing touchdown two plays later for a 14-3 lead.
Trojans kicker Ryon Sayeri tied his career high with a 54-yard field goal in the second quarter to make it 17-6, and USC carried a 20-9 advantage into halftime. Despite outgaining the Trojans 464 total yards to 338 over the course of the game, Ohio State repeatedly stalled in scoring territory during the first half. Buckeyes kicker Connor Hawkins made first-half field goals from 39, 34, and 23 yards, with the 23-yard kick coming after Ohio State had a first-and-goal at the USC 1-yard line.
Ohio State entered the matchup without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who was sidelined with a throwing-arm injury suffered in the Buckeyes’ previous game against Indiana. True freshman Luke Fahey made his first collegiate start in Sayin’s place, completing 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown, while running back Bo Jackson rushed 21 times for 121 yards.
Midway through the third quarter, USC’s Desman Stephens II forced a fumble by Ohio State running back Isaiah West, and Floyd Boucard recovered the loose ball at the Buckeyes’ 32-yard line. A 70-yard catch-and-run by Mark Bowman set up King Miller’s 1-yard touchdown plunge to extend the Trojans’ lead to 27-9. Miller finished as USC’s leading rusher with 78 yards on 13 carries, while Maiava completed 15 of 22 passes with no interceptions and Mosley totaled five receptions for 101 yards.
Hawkins added his fourth field goal early in the fourth quarter to trim the margin to 27-12. With 2:12 remaining, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Fahey to cut the deficit to 27-18. It was Smith’s 10th catch of the day for 83 yards and his 40th career touchdown reception, breaking a tie with former Michigan wideout Braylon Edwards (39 from 2001 to 2004) to set the Big Ten career receiving touchdowns record.
After Ohio State’s ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed, USC wide receiver Tanook Hines recovered the Buckeyes’ onside kick and returned it 24 yards to the Ohio State 21-yard line. Caden Chittenden converted a 32-yard field goal with 1:46 left to seal the 12-point win. Following an upcoming bye week, USC is scheduled to travel to face No. 4 Indiana on Saturday, November 14.