Photo by Bobak Ha'Eri (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons

USC stuns No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 with big plays from Jayden Maiava, freshman Trent Mosley

Southern California delivered a stunning upset against the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday night, winning 30-18 in a game that marked the biggest victory of head coach Lincoln Riley’s tenure. The Trojans’ explosive offense, led by Jayden Maiava’s 222-yard passing performance and a touchdown, combined with key contributions from King Miller and Waymond Jordan, overwhelmed the vaunted Buckeyes defense.

Freshman sensation Trent Mosley made an immediate impact, hauling in a 69-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage and finishing with five receptions for 101 yards. USC’s defense held Ohio State scoreless for 57 minutes, with the Buckeyes’ only touchdown coming late in the game, but a failed two-point conversion sealed their fate.

The win snapped Ohio State’s early-season dominance, as the Buckeyes fell to 58-2 against unranked teams under coach Ryan Day, including their infamous home loss to Michigan last year. Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey, starting in place of injured Julian Sayin, threw for 260 yards but struggled against USC’s high-powered offense, which scored more points than Ohio State’s defense had allowed since 2024.

The victory also marked USC’s first win over a top-12 team under Riley, with students and fans storming the field in celebration at the Coliseum.

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