USC Upsets No. 2 Ohio State 30-18: 69-Yard Touchdown 39 Seconds In and a Late Red-Zone Stand
USC pulled off a Week 9 upset on Saturday night, October 31, beating No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to improve to 7-2 (4-2 Big Ten), while the Buckeyes fell to 6-2 (4-1 Big Ten) with their second loss of the season.
The Trojans scored 39 seconds into the game when Jayden Maiava hit freshman Trent Mosley on a screen that went 69 yards. After an Ohio State field goal, Mosley's 44-yard punt return set up Waymond Jordan's 9-yard touchdown run and a 14-3 first-quarter lead. Ohio State outgained USC 464-339 and held the ball for nearly 39 minutes, but kept stalling in the red zone: Connor Hawkins kicked three first-half field goals, the Buckeyes trailed 20-9 at halftime without a touchdown, and one drive that reached the USC 1-yard line ended in a field goal after a false-start penalty.
In the third quarter, Desman Stephens II forced an Isaiah West fumble that Floyd Boucard recovered, and King Miller capped a three-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown for 27-9. Ohio State rallied in the fourth on Hawkins' 47-yard field goal and Jeremiah Smith's 1-yard touchdown catch to make it 27-18, but the two-point try failed; USC drained the Buckeyes' remaining timeouts and Caden Chittenden's 32-yard field goal with 1:50 left made it 30-18. Ohio State's final drive reached the USC 12 before turning over on downs, and USC kneeled out the clock.
Maiava finished 15-of-22 for 222 yards and a touchdown; Mosley caught five passes for 101 yards and a score; Miller ran 13 times for 78 yards and a touchdown. With starter Julian Sayin out with an arm injury, California native Luke Fahey made his first career start for Ohio State and went 21-of-36 for 260 yards and a touchdown; Bo Jackson ran for 121 yards; Smith's 10 catches for 83 yards included his 40th career touchdown reception, breaking Braylon Edwards' Big Ten record of 39. Ohio State has not beaten USC at the Coliseum since 1946.
Related: 大学橄榄球第9周今晚上演三场排名队对决：Ohio State远征USC、榜首Miami客战Belichick的North Carolina
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：洛杉矶 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 外景，本场比赛的举办地（资料图）。MikeJiroch 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Exterior of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the game (file photo). Photo by MikeJiroch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- 2026-10-30Baylor Routs UCF 41-9: Lagway Throws Four Touchdowns in Interim Coach Klanderman's Debut Win
- 2026-10-31College Football Week 9: Ohio State Visits USC and No. 1 Miami Faces Belichick's North Carolina in Three Ranked Matchups
- 2026-10-31No. 1 Miami Holds Off North Carolina 38-35 to Stay Unbeaten as Fletcher Scores Three Touchdowns and Breaks School Record
- 2026-10-31USC Upsets No. 2 Ohio State 30-18: 69-Yard Touchdown 39 Seconds In and a Late Red-Zone StandThis story
- 2026-10-31Pittsburgh Beats Georgia Tech 34-11: Ferguson Scores Twice as Defense Picks Off Three Passes
- 2026-10-31Washington Rallies Past Nebraska 17-10: Two Fourth-Quarter Touchdowns and McLaughlin's Pick-Six Seal It
- 2026-10-31San Diego State Holds Off Washington State 26-20: Running Backs Combine for 202 Rushing Yards as Trick Play Seals Halloween Win
