LOS ANGELES, Calif. — USC took down second-ranked Ohio State 30-18 on a wet Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a result that dents the Buckeyes’ national title path and gives coach Lincoln Riley the signature win of his time with the Trojans.
The tone was set on the second play from scrimmage. Freshman receiver Trent Mosley turned a screen pass into a 69-yard touchdown against a defense that had not given up a gain longer than 36 yards all season. Mosley ended with 101 receiving yards on five catches and also ripped off a 44-yard punt return.
Jayden Maiava threw for 222 yards and a score. Waymond Jordan and King Miller each ran for touchdowns, and Miller’s came after freshman tight end Mark Bowman hurdled a tackler on a 70-yard catch-and-run that pushed the lead to 27-9 in the third quarter.
Ohio State outgained USC with 464 yards but kept settling for field goals, including after a trip to the USC 1 before halftime. Freshman Luke Fahey, starting in place of the injured Julian Sayin, passed for 260 yards. The Buckeyes did not reach the end zone until Jeremiah Smith caught a 1-yard pass with 2:12 left, a score that set a Big Ten career record with his 40th touchdown reception. USC then recovered the onside kick and added a third field goal.
Ohio State was flagged 11 times for 75 yards. USC put up more points than the Buckeyes had surrendered in any of their prior 31 games.
Sayin has been out since hurting his elbow against Indiana two weeks ago. The College Football Playoff committee releases its next rankings Tuesday night, and USC gets an open week before trips to Indiana, a visit from Maryland and its season finale against crosstown rival UCLA.
USC moved to 7-2 and 4-2 in the Big Ten a week after a loss at Wisconsin. Ohio State fell to 6-2 and 4-1, its first time with two losses this early since 2011. Students and fans poured onto the field at the final whistle.
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