USC Stuns No. 1 Ohio State With 30-18 Victory in Los Angeles

The Trojans of the University of Southern California defeated then-No. 1 Ohio State 30-18 on Halloween in a rain-soaked game at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The result snapped a losing streak that had seen USC drop to Wisconsin earlier in the season. That loss had cast doubt on the future of head coach Lincoln Riley at the school. A final record of 7-5 would have likely ended his tenure.

The win over the Buckeyes was USC's most complete performance this season. Quarterback Jayden Maiava played well, and the defense limited big plays in critical moments, particularly in the red zone. The Trojans now enter a bye week with a 7-2 record. They will travel to Bloomington to face No. 4 Indiana on November 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

Indiana has won its last two games in overtime against unranked opponents. The Hoosiers have struggled with offensive consistency, though quarterback Grant Wilson showed some promise in recent play. Indiana will use its own bye week to decide between Wilson and Josh Hoover at the starting position. The Hoosiers present a stiff test for USC on the road.

USC has struggled away from home under Riley. The team is 5-7 in Big Ten road games over the past three years. One of those wins came against UCLA, which is technically an in-state trip. USC also lost to Notre Dame during that span. This season, the Trojans lost to Wisconsin as favorites and narrowly escaped a loss at Rutgers. They also fought with Penn State, which is 1-4 in conference play.

The first College Football Playoff rankings placed Ohio State at No. 12, outside the initial field. This means the Buckeyes have zero margin for error. They face Oregon at home on Saturday. Oregon won its last game against Northwestern, showing offensive improvement under new leadership. USC, ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten power rankings, must beat Indiana to keep its playoff hopes alive.

UCLA sits at No. 1 in the Big Ten power rankings. The Bruins are undefeated and will face Minnesota this week. Minnesota just lost to Indiana in overtime. The Golden Gophers will attempt to upset the Bruins, who have handled favorable matchups well this season. UCLA's path to the College Football Playoff remains open if they continue to win against unranked teams.

The November 14 game at Indiana is the most important of Lincoln Riley's tenure in Los Angeles. A win would solidify the Trojans' standing in the conference. A loss would confirm that the team has not fundamentally changed its approach to road games. The result will define the narrative for the remainder of the season.