SportsAmerican Football
USC beat second-ranked Ohio State 30-18 at the Coliseum
The Trojans scored a touchdown inside the first minute and never trailed, handing the Buckeyes their second defeat of the college football season.
Key points
- USC beat No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night.
- Jayden Maiava's 69-yard pass to Trent Mosley put the Trojans ahead inside the first minute.
- USC move to 7-2 for the season, and Ohio State drop to 6-2.
USC beat second-ranked Ohio State 30-18 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night, a result that knocks a hole in the Buckeyes’ season.
The Trojans struck almost at once. Inside the first minute, Jayden Maiava found Trent Mosley for a 69-yard touchdown, and Caden Chittenden’s extra point made it 7-0 with 14:19 still on the first-quarter clock. Connor Hawkins answered with a 39-yard field goal for Ohio State, but USC were 14-3 up after one quarter and never trailed.
The hosts led 20-9 at half-time and stretched the gap with a third-quarter touchdown while holding Ohio State scoreless. The Buckeyes found nine points in the fourth quarter, too late to matter.
How the numbers fell
Maiava was efficient rather than spectacular, completing 15 of 22 passes for 222 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Mosley caught five balls for 101 yards, and King Miller ran for 78 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
Ohio State moved the ball but could not finish drives. Quarterback Luke Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown, Bo Jackson ran for 121 yards on 21 carries, and Jeremiah Smith caught 10 passes for 83 yards and the Buckeyes’ only touchdown.
The win came at a big moment for coach Lincoln Riley, whose side had lost twice before Saturday. USC are now 7-2, while Ohio State, unbeaten in the Big Ten coming into the game, fall to 6-2.