How USC, Lincoln Riley turned Big Ten, CFP race with complete victory against No. 2 Ohio State

November 1, 2026

Lincoln Riley’s USC Trojans delivered a statement win over No. 2 Ohio State, 30–18, in Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment in both the Big Ten race and the College Football Playoff picture.

The Trojans’ explosive start included a 69-yard touchdown from freshman receiver Trent Mosley on a screen pass and a 9-yard rushing score by Waymond Jordan, giving USC a 14–3 lead after just one quarter. Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey, making his first career start for the Buckeyes, struggled with accuracy and timing, completing only five of his first six passes while Ohio State’s ground game—led by Bo Jackson’s 121 rushing yards—failed to break down USC’s defense.

A defining play came when freshman tight end Mark Bowman hurdled Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain, eluded multiple tacklers, and ran out of bounds at the 3-yard line after a hard shoulder into linebacker Riley Pettijohn, sealing USC’s dominance in a rain-soaked Coliseum. Riley’s first win over a top-10 team reinvigorated the Trojans’ playoff hopes, while Ohio State’s mistakes raised questions about their consistency with Fahey at the helm and their first potential CFP exclusion in years.