Southern Cal Knocks Off No. 2 Ohio State

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, November 1, 2026

Southern California defeated No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 at home, propelled by standout performances from freshmen and a strong defensive effort that held Ohio State without a touchdown for most of the game. The victory marks USC’s first home win over a top-five opponent since 2015 and boosts their prospects for a top 25 ranking as Ohio State struggles without their starting quarterback.

Southern California secured a notable 30-18 victory over No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Coliseum, marking a significant milestone for Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley. The win was fueled by a balanced offensive effort led by quarterback Jayden Maiava, who completed 222 passing yards including a touchdown, as well as strong rushing contributions from King Miller and Waymond Jordan.

Freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley made an immediate impact with a 69-yard touchdown catch on the second play from scrimmage, finishing the game with five receptions for 101 yards. Mosley’s early scoring run broke Ohio State’s defensive streak, as the Buckeyes had not allowed a play longer than 36 yards all season. Freshman tight end Mark Bowman also played a key role late in the game, with a 70-yard reception that set up Miller’s touchdown run.

USC’s defense was instrumental in the victory, holding Ohio State without a touchdown for nearly the entire game—57 minutes—against an offense led by freshman quarterback Luke Fahey. Fahey stepped in for the injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin and threw for 260 yards in his first career start, completing 21 of 38 passes. Despite accumulating 464 total yards, Ohio State was limited to three field goals on its first five drives and struggled to convert crucial red zone opportunities, including a missed touchdown before halftime and a fumble in USC territory.

Ohio State’s offense finally reached the end zone late in the game on a one-yard catch by Jeremiah Smith with just over two minutes remaining. However, their subsequent two-point conversion attempt failed, and USC recovered the onside kick, allowing the Trojans to close out the game with a third field goal. The Buckeyes fell to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play, marking their first time starting a season 6-2 or worse since 2011. Under coach Ryan Day, Ohio State has now lost only two games against unranked teams, including this contest and a previous home loss to Michigan earlier in the season.

For USC, now 7-2 overall and 4-2 in their conference, the victory represents a turnaround following a low-scoring loss to Wisconsin the previous week. The win ended a long drought against top-five opponents at home for the Trojans, who had not defeated such a highly ranked team at the Coliseum since 2015. Following the win, USC players and fans celebrated by storming the field, energized by the strong performance on both sides of the ball.

The game highlighted the emergence of several key freshmen on both rosters and underscored the challenges Ohio State faces in the absence of their usual starting quarterback. Meanwhile, USC’s success has raised hopes of a return to the top 25 rankings and a strong finish to the season under Riley’s leadership.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.