USC at Indiana: Battle for the Playoffs in America’s Heartland

The No. 18 USC Trojans (7-2) are headed across the country one last time to take on the No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers (8-1).

This game has playoff implications for both teams.

The Hoosiers have been to the playoffs the last two years, and won the national championship last season.

USC is looking to defeat their second Top-10 team. That would further solidify their playoff resume. They want to make the playoff for the first time under coach Lincoln Riley.

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

TV: CBS

Betting Odds: Indiana -8.5-point home favorite

Indiana's lone loss of the season was against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Starting quarterback Josh Hoover is banged up after taking a hard hit in the Minnesota game that forced him to the sideline for the second half.

Hoover has passed for 1,860 yards, 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions through nine games.

Backup Grant Wilson has thrown three touchdown passes, zero INTs, and has completed 59 percent of his passes.

For the Hoosiers, running back Turbo Richard is out for this game with a shoulder injury. He leads the team with 745 rushing yards and six touchdowns and has averaged 6.6 yards per carry.

Receivers Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh have combined for 1,544 yards and 17 touchdowns. Both have averaged 17 yards per catch.

The Hoosiers defense, under coach Curt Cignetti, is always top-notch. They do not rebuild; they simply reload. Indiana is ranked in the top 10 nationally in the following categories:

The Hoosiers have allowed less than 100 yards rushing and zero rushing touchdowns in each of the last three games.

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava leads the Big Ten with 2,524 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. He has thrown just five interceptions and has completed 67 percent of his passes.

Maiava has played at an elite level, on the road, in a hostile environment before. He threw for 301 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in the win at Penn State in the "White-Out" game.

He has weapons all over the field at his disposal. Maiava’s top five receivers are:

Running backs King Miller and Waymond Jordan have combined for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns. They will be challenged by that tough Indiana defense.

On defense, freshman defensive end Luke Wafle leads the team in tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (3). He also has 36 tackles to his credit.

Other players to watch are linebacker Kennedy Urlacher, with 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks.

Also, safety Christian Pierce has 49 tackles, one interception, and two pass breakups.

In the 30-18 win over Ohio State, the Trojans recorded two sacks and seven tackles for loss. They also held receiver and Heisman candidate Jeremiah Smith under 100 yards receiving.

USC could be playing Indiana at the right time. With a potential injury to Hoover that could limit his abilities, and the loss of Richard for this game, the Men of Troy just might have a chance to pull off the upset.