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USC’s Lincoln Riley gets revenge on doubters with massive top-5 win over Ohio State

USC head coach Lincoln Riley silenced critics with a commanding 30-18 victory over No. 2 Ohio State, marking the Trojans’ first top-10 win since his arrival in Los Angeles.

The win came after a tough loss to Wisconsin and followed months of mounting pressure on Riley’s program, as USC overcame a key injury to Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, who left the Buckeyes’ previous game with a throwing-arm injury. Freshman Luke Fahey stepped in for Ohio State but managed just 260 passing yards and no turnovers, while USC’s Jayden Maiava threw for 222 yards and a touchdown, anchoring a balanced offensive attack.

Running back Bo Jackson provided Ohio State’s lone bright spot with solid ground gains, but the Buckeyes’ offense stalled repeatedly, leaving them with their second career loss to an unranked opponent under head coach Ryan Day. The loss dropped Ohio State to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten play, while USC climbed to 7-2 and 4-2 in conference standings, securing a statement win in a high-profile matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

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