Southern California secured a significant upset over Ohio State on Saturday, handing the Buckeyes their second loss of the season in a 30-18 victory at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The result marked a notable moment for Trojans coach Lincoln Riley, who has faced mounting pressure throughout the season.

Ohio State entered the contest ranked second in the Associated Press poll and was widely expected to maintain its tradition of at least 10 wins a year, a mark it has achieved in nearly every season since 2002. However, the Buckeyes have grappled with a challenging schedule, compounded by the early loss of starting quarterback Julian Sayin due to injury. Freshman Luke Fahey took over under center but was unable to lead the team past Southern California’s dynamic offense.

The Trojans, now 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Pac-12, relied heavily on a promising freshman duo in receiver Trent Mosley and tight end Mark Bowman. Bowman, in particular, made a highlight-reel play when he caught a pass from Jayden Maiava, hurdled Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain, evaded multiple tackles, and ran 70 yards to energize the USC offense. Despite Fahey’s steady performance, including 10 receptions by wideout Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes fell behind early and failed to mount a sustained comeback.

Ohio State’s defense, typically a strong suit, faltered against the Trojans’ offense, raising concerns for the team’s College Football Playoff aspirations. With two key home games upcoming against Oregon and Northwestern, losses could effectively end their championship hopes. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will be tasked with addressing the team's vulnerabilities, especially given the offense’s current limitations under Fahey.

For Riley, the victory provided some breathing room amid speculation about his future at USC. After the game, he read a statement emphasizing his commitment to the program and reassuring players, staff, and administrators that he believes he remains the right person to lead the team forward. Still, the Trojans face a demanding schedule with upcoming road games against top-ranked Indiana and UCLA, leaving little margin for error.

Elsewhere, the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes maintained their unbeaten record with a narrow 38-35 win over North Carolina. The Tar Heels quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. delivered a strong performance, throwing for 341 yards and four touchdowns, but Miami’s Darian Mensah matched him closely. Miami’s defense, which has been tested repeatedly this season, will confront another rigorous challenge next week against No. 5 Notre Dame in what is shaping up to be a marquee matchup.

Meanwhile, No. 4 Indiana survived a closely contested game against Minnesota, winning 23-16 in overtime after a late 60-yard field goal by the Gophers was answered by a tying field goal by the Hoosiers as time expired. Indiana’s coach Curt Cignetti made a key halftime decision to replace struggling quarterback Josh Hoover with Grant Wilson, who threw the overtime touchdown pass to seal the victory.

Oregon snapped a losing streak with a 34-26 win over No. 20 Northwestern. The Ducks’ offense showed improvement after firing offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer and promoting Jay Johnson to play caller, coupled with the return of receiver Evan Stewart. The win offers a boost to Oregon’s playoff hopes, though they face Ohio State next on the road.

In the Southeastern Conference, No. 3 Georgia held off Florida 27-8, leading comfortably at halftime and stifling the Gators’ offense until late in the game. The Gators, with a 5-3 record, now look ahead to a critical matchup against No. 9 Kentucky.

Texas Tech moved to 7-1 by defeating No. 22 Arizona 34-26 after a quarterback change from Will Hammond to Florida State transfer Thomas Castellanos. Castellanos's eligibility has been subject to ongoing legal proceedings, but his recent play helped spur the Red Raiders to a much-needed victory.

No. 6 Utah extended its winning streak to 14 games with a 49-25 rout of Cincinnati, maintaining an undefeated record in the Big 12 under first-year coach Morgan Scalley. Utah’s momentum positions them well ahead of their upcoming rivalry game against BYU.

Other notable results included Iowa State’s last-second 51-49 win over Oklahoma State, South Carolina’s 42-25 road victory against Oklahoma, and Air Force’s continued success with a 35-26 win over UConn, despite a near pass-free offense. Colorado snapped a nine-game conference losing streak with a 27-24 overtime win at Kansas State, providing a rare bright spot for Deion Sanders’s program.

As the season progresses toward its final weeks, several teams remain in contention while others confront significant challenges, underscoring the competitive and unpredictable nature of college football in 2026.