Good on Good: USC’s Passing Offense vs. Indiana’s Defense

Coming off a bye week after a signature victory over then-No. 2 Ohio State, the USC Trojans (7-2) are preparing for their 1,500-mile road trip to America’s heartland to take on the Indiana Hoosiers (8-1).

It will be a good-on-good matchup: USC’s passing offense, ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten, vs. Indiana’s vaunted, nationally ranked defense.

The defending national champion Hoosiers, under Curt Cignetti, have been on a meteoric rise since the 2024 season.

Indiana’s only loss this season, to Ohio State, was their first since a playoff loss to Notre Dame at the end of the 2024 campaign.

Cignetti-coached teams are great on defense, and this season is no exception.

Against the run, Indiana is a granite wall when it comes to stopping the run. The Hoosiers have allowed opponents just 75 yards per game running the football.

That production leads the Big Ten and ranks No. 4 nationally.

Over their last three games, Indiana has allowed a combined 230 yards rushing and zero touchdowns.

The Hoosiers are also good at stacking up negative plays. They are ranked in the top ten nationally in sacks (32) and tackles for loss (76).

The Indiana defense treats the red zone like it is Alcatraz, isolated and dehumanizing.

The Hoosiers clamp down on opponents and force them off the field on third down (31 percent conversion) and in the red zone (75 percent conversion).

Indiana is a battle-hardened unit that does not give an inch, or a yard.

USC will counter with arguably the best passer in the Big Ten, Jayden Maiava. The Trojans field the No. 2 passing offense in the conference at 294 yards per game.

Maiava has thrown for 2,524 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He has completed 66 percent of his passes, and he has averaged 280 passing yards per game through nine games.

In the win over Ohio State, Maiava threw for 222 yards and one touchdown. More importantly, he threw zero interceptions.

Over the last three games, Maiava has combined for five touchdowns and two INTs.

In the passing game, Indiana has allowed less than 200 yards passing, only one touchdown and one interception over the last two games.

Head coach Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator Gary Patterson have the Trojans playing at an elite level, on both sides of the ball.

The same blueprint used to beat the Buckeyes can be used to defeat the Hoosiers on their home field.

If that happens, the Men of Troy will throw a wrench in the College Football Playoff rankings as they ascend toward a Top 10 ranking.