The University of Southern California Trojans defeated the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes 30-18 on October 31, 2026, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a major college football upset.
Freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley made a game-changing impact early, scoring a 69-yard touchdown reception on the second snap and finishing with five catches for 101 yards. Quarterback Jayden Maiava passed for 222 yards and one touchdown, while running backs King Miller and Waymond Jordan each scored rushing touchdowns for USC.
The Trojans’ defense held Ohio State scoreless for the first 57 minutes of the game, stifling a Buckeyes offense led by freshman quarterback Luke Fahey, who passed for 260 yards in his start replacing the injured Julian Sayin. Ohio State kicker Connor Hawkins made five field goals, including a 47-yard effort, but the Buckeyes were hindered by 11 penalties for 75 yards.
Freshman tight end Mark Bowman contributed a spectacular 70-yard reception in the third quarter that energized USC and set up a touchdown run by Miller. The victory raised USC’s record to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while Ohio State fell to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten standings. USC will have a bye week before facing Indiana on November 14.
CSB Take
The University of Southern California’s stunning upset over a top-ranked Ohio State squad signals a renewed strength in the Trojans’ program under coach Lincoln Riley. Trent Mosley’s explosive early touchdown and critical contributions from the defense demonstrated USC’s ability to compete against elite competition. This win offers critical momentum and confidence as USC navigates the remainder of its schedule and pursues a postseason berth.
Source: Original report
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