USC just rocked No. 2 Ohio State 30-18, and it was freshman tight end Mark Bowman’s absolutely ridiculous 70-yard rumble in the rain that’s gonna stick with you. Picture this: Bowman hurdling safety Jaylen McClain, shrugging off tackle attempts from defensive backs Earl Little Jr. and Dominick Kelly, then running clear before throwing a shoulder into linebacker Riley Pettijohn at the 3-yard line. Yeah, that happened at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and it’s the kind of play that becomes legend in the anthology of Rose Bowl-turned-Big Ten rivals. This wasn’t just a win; it was a turning point for both the Trojans and the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff race.
USC’s Lightning Start and Riley’s Big Win
After an embarrassing 24-7 loss at Wisconsin on October 24, which had the Lincoln Riley hot-seat talk flaring up, the Trojans wasted no time bouncing back against the Buckeyes. It took them literally two plays to get cooking! Freshman receiver Trent Mosley turned a screen pass into a 69-yard touchdown reception, electrifying the crowd. Then, Waymond Jordan punched in a 9-yard touchdown run with 2:25 left in the first quarter, giving USC a commanding 14-3 lead. Mosley was unstoppable in the first half, snagging five catches for 105 yards and that huge touchdown, helping USC build a 20-9 lead by halftime. This was exactly the recipe to put pressure on a No. 2 team adjusting to a game plan with a new quarterback. Plus, it snagged Lincoln Riley his first victory against a top-10 team with the Trojans. That’s a massive monkey off his back, if you ask me.
Buckeyes QB Struggles and That HUGE Turnover
Ohio State, now sitting at 6-2 (4-1 Big Ten), had their own drama. Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey, a true freshman from Mission Viejo, got his first start filling in for Julian Sayin. He started okay, completing five of his first six passes, four of them going to star receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had a 27-yard explosive play. But that was about it for big plays. The Buckeyes kept settling for field goals from Connor Hawkins all night, which just isn’t going to cut it against a team like USC. Fahey even had a short touchdown run overturned by review late in the first half, and USC’s defense delivered a clutch goal-line stand. While Bo Jackson (21 carries, 121 yards) and Isaiah West (13 carries, 65 yards) ran for a solid 204 yards, Fahey couldn’t connect with Smith downfield, which certainly put a stumbling block in Smith’s runaway Heisman Trophy campaign.
Then came the key moment at the 7:47 mark in the third quarter. Fahey checked down to West, who got absolutely blasted by Desman Stephens II. The ball popped into the air, and Floyd Boucard was right there to grab it. That set up Bowman’s ridiculous highlight-reel hurdle that everyone’s still talking about, which then led directly to a 1-yard touchdown run by King Miller. Suddenly, it was 27-9 heading into the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes tried to rally late, with Fahey hitting Smith for a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:12 remaining, but the damage was done.
USC, now at 7-2 (4-2 Big Ten), is firmly back in the mix. Ohio State’s loss, with a new quarterback and too many mistakes, raises a huge question: could Ryan Day’s Buckeyes miss the 12-team CFP for the first time ever? The Big Ten intrigue heading into November just shot through the roof, and you know everyone’s watching what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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