The No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes just got absolutely floored, falling 30-18 to the unranked USC Trojans on Saturday night. This stunning upset against Jayden Maiava’s crew is a gut punch, especially since the Buckeyes were without former Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin, whose absence is already proving incredibly costly.
Freshman Under Fire and Trojans Bring the Heat
Let’s be real, going on the road as a 6.5-point favorite against an unranked team, you expect to handle business. But Ohio State, already missing Sayin indefinitely due to a right throwing arm injury from that October 17th game against Indiana, threw true freshman Luke Fahey into the fire for his first career start. Fahey, who previously subbed out in a 19-15 win over Indiana after going 0-of-2 passing, got a full workload this time. He finished the night 21-of-38 for 260 yards, one touchdown, and zero picks. Not terrible for a first start, but not enough to win, either.
The Trojans, who were reeling from a 24-7 loss to Wisconsin last week, came out swinging and showed they meant business from the jump. Jayden Maiava didn’t waste any time, hitting Trent Mosley with a 69-yard bomb on the opening possession, scoring in just 39 seconds! That’s how you set a tone. Running back Waymond Jordan piled on with a 9-yard rushing touchdown, giving USC a commanding 14-3 lead after the first quarter. By halftime, despite King Miller losing a fumble, USC still held strong with a 20-9 lead thanks to two field goals, while Ohio State only managed a pair of their own.
Fumbles, Records, and a Late Rally That Fell Short
Coming out of the locker room, Ohio State needed a spark, but instead, running back Isaiah West fumbled after a reception from Fahey. USC capitalized immediately, turning that turnover into another rushing touchdown from King Miller, extending their lead and making that hill even steeper for the Buckeyes heading into the fourth quarter. It felt like every mistake OSU made, USC was there to make them pay.
The Buckeyes did try to mount a comeback in the fourth, holding the Trojans to just three points while adding a field goal and a touchdown pass from Fahey to Jeremiah Smith. That touchdown for Smith wasn’t just any score, either; it made him the Big Ten’s all-time receiving touchdown leader! What a moment for him, even in a loss. Smith pulled down 10 catches for 83 yards and that lone score. On the ground, Bo Jackson had a solid 121 yards on 21 carries, but couldn’t find the end zone. But here’s the kicker: the rally was too late. Ohio State fell 30-18. USC’s Maiava ended with 15-of-22 for 222 yards and a touchdown, while Trent Mosley had a huge night with 5 catches for 101 yards and that explosive opening score. King Miller had a rushing touchdown and Waymond Jordan added one too. The Trojans are now 7-2 overall, 4-2 in conference play, while Ohio State drops to a concerning 6-2 overall, 4-1 in the Big Ten.
Next Saturday, Ohio State has to regroup fast as they host the Oregon Ducks at 3:30 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, USC will look to keep this momentum rolling when they hit the road to face the Indiana Hoosiers. This upset changes everything for Ohio State’s season trajectory, and they better figure things out fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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