Lincoln Riley finally has his signature Big Ten victory at USC, and it came against No. 2 Ohio State, a massive 30-18 win on Saturday night that just threw the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff chances into real peril. This wasn’t just another game, it was a statement, especially given it was Ohio State’s first outing without quarterback Julian Sayin, who suffered a potentially season-ending right shoulder injury back on October 17.
The Play That Blew Up the Buckeyes
Ohio State was already trailing by 11 at halftime, but they had a golden chance to get back into it in the third quarter. Then, total disaster struck. Luke Fahey’s pass to Isaiah West ended up as a fumble, recovered by the Trojans, right after the Buckeyes had pushed deep into USC territory. Talk about a momentum killer! Two plays later, freshman tight end Max Bowman, a former five-star recruit and the No. 44 recruit in the country, decided it was his time. The dude broke off a mind-blowing 70-yard catch-and-run, complete with a hurdle and a bunch of broken tackles. Seriously, go watch the replay, “AIR BOWMAN DOES IT AGAIN” is right. Two plays after that incredible effort, King Miller hammered it in, giving USC an 18-point lead. Yeah, the game was pretty much done from there. Ohio State did manage to cut the lead to nine with a Jeremiah Smith TD catch with just 2:12 left, but the ensuing two-point conversion was a complete whiff, with Fahey’s pass sailing clear out of the end zone.
What This Means for the CFP Picture
So, how real are USC’s playoff hopes now? Look, if you’re still feeling skeptical, we get it. This is the same team that just got absolutely shut down, losing 24-7 at Wisconsin a week ago, even racking up negative rushing yards. And let’s not forget how Oregon, a team that’s had its own struggles getting its act together, dominated them. But, if you’re looking for that glimmer of hope for USC, the College Football Playoff is suddenly a very real possibility. After an off week in Week 10, the Trojans have huge road trips against No. 4 Indiana and No. 7 UCLA, plus a game against Maryland. If USC can snag all three of those wins, they’re in the playoff. No debate, it’s that simple. Their offensive stats against Ohio State weren’t exactly “eye-popping,” with only 339 yards on 49 plays, largely because Ohio State held the ball for two-thirds of the game and ran double the plays. Still, this win marks Riley’s first victory over a top-five team during his time in Los Angeles.
And for Ohio State? Their playoff chances are in real peril. Saturday night was a brutal showcase of how easily they could miss the postseason without Julian Sayin. Even though Ohio State was favored by 6.5 points, it’s easy to argue this was a game USC should have won, especially against a true freshman making his first career start. The Buckeyes still have Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Michigan left on their regular season schedule. They’ll be favored in all four, but after what we just saw, those are far from guaranteed wins. The whole season just got flipped on its head.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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