USC secured a hard-fought 24-20 victory over Washington on Saturday, rebounding after recent struggles on both sides of the ball. The Trojans improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Pac-12 play, while the Huskies dropped to 3-2 and 0-2 in conference.
The game, played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, saw USC’s defense begin strongly, forcing Washington into consecutive three-and-outs on the opening drives. Defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, calling the game from the press box rather than the sideline, adjusted the defensive alignments in an effort to improve communication and positioning, a move head coach Lincoln Riley likened to “moving chess pieces.” While the defense limited Washington’s offense for much of the game, it nearly faltered late. On the Huskies’ final possession, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (referred to as “Williams” in some sources) converted critical third- and fourth-down plays, including a 43-yard pass on fourth-and-two, advancing to the USC 12-yard line before the Trojans ultimately held firm to seal the win.
Offensively, USC struggled with inconsistency against a Washington defense that had trouble sustaining drives throughout the contest. Quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 21 of 34 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. However, penalties and turnovers hampered the Trojans’ efforts. Notable mistakes included a muffed punt by wide receiver Terrell Anderson, an illegal formation penalty that negated a long touchdown pass to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, and a costly pass interception when Maiava threw under duress. USC was penalized 50 yards in the first half alone, a number exceeding Washington’s total passing yardage during that period.
Despite early offensive difficulties, the Trojans managed to convert defensive stops into scoring opportunities. Waymond Jordan scored on an eight-yard touchdown run, and a critical turnover led to a 10-yard touchdown by Tanook Hines, who stripsacked a Washington defender in the end zone. Linebacker Stewart further contributed with a 48-yard fumble return, marking a 12-point momentum swing in USC’s favor.
Washington’s offense managed to find success using a trick play and a 42-yard touchdown run by tight end Decker DeGraaf, a former local standout. His long touchdown reception late in the second quarter drew audible frustration from the home crowd, who chanted for Riley’s dismissal after several USC miscues.
Head coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged the team's flawed execution but emphasized their resilience. “We had to dig deep for this one, especially as sloppy as we played,” he said. “To overcome all that and still win shows me some of the guts and toughness and culture in this room right here. We could’ve folded.”
In the final moments, the USC defense withstood Washington’s late surge, registering five sacks on the game, including timely pressure from Kameryn Crawford to end the Huskies’ final threat. The victory ended a challenging week for the Trojans, who now aim to build on the positive aspects of the performance as they move forward in the season.