USC Trojans Upset No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes in Halloween Beat Down

LOS ANGELES — A rainy Saturday Halloween night set the stage at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the USC Trojans upset the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, 30-18. 

In an unprecedented turn of events, the Trojans dusted themselves off from last week's embarrassing showcase against the Wisconsin Badgers and put on an unrecognizable performance on both sides of the ball. 

"Every game is its own season," head coach Lincoln Riley said following the win. "We've put ourselves in a good position here; this was a big one."

Elite red zone defense, big-time plays on offense from true freshmen, and a shift in overall charisma from Riley were just the tip of the iceberg in the win. 

The Trojans had an almost-perfect first half to kick off this matchup against their top-five foe.

As the pregame fireworks smoke began to fade and the anticipated rain started to fall, the Trojans offense wasted no time getting started. On just the second play of the game, Jayden Maiava connected with Trent Mosley, who took it 69 yards to the house, zigzagging Ohio State defenders, for the first score. 

"You get those opportunities to go take it right away, and we did," Riley said on the huge opening play. "He's an electric player, and the guys blocked it up awesome." 

Mosley has scored a touchdown in every home game at the Coliseum this season. 

Trojans running back Waymond Jordan was back in the rotation running the rock against the Buckeyes after taking zero snaps in the loss at Camp Randall.

On the Trojans' third offensive drive and first snap in the red zone all evening, Jordan rushed USC's second score of the first quarter for a nine-yard rush.

"I thought the backs ran harder," Riley said. "Having Waymo back — a little bit healthier than he's been — provided a real spark, for sure."

Ohio State, which was without Julian Sayin due to an injury to his throwing arm in the win against the Indiana Hoosiers earlier in the month, sent out true freshman Luke Fahey for his first collegiate start.

The Mission Viejo native relied heavily on the run game to begin his debut, with sophomore Bo Jackson taking the majority of the carries (12) for 47 yards in the first half. Fahey targeted Heisman favorite Jerimiah Smith five times for 34 receiving yards as the USC defense held the Buckeyes to just three field goals through the first two quarters. 

Overall, the USC defense was able to shut down the Buckeyes' offense with Fahey at the helm, as he threw for 260 yards on 21-of-38 attempts. 

The Trojans picked up right where they left off in the third quarter, forcing a fumble in Ohio State's first drive of the quarter courtesy of Desman Stephen's II, that ended up in the hands of Floyd Boucard. 

Maiava jump-started that next offensive series with a pass to tight end Mark Bowman, who hurdled it down the field for 70 yards on one of the most electric plays this season.

"I actually taught him that," Riley jokingly said. 

Just to put into perspective how big those two plays for USC were in retrospect, the Ohio State Buckeyes were just one of two teams in the FBS to not allow a 40-plus yard play, according to Joey Kaufman of The Columbus Dispatch. 

King Miller ended that drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown to extend the Trojans' lead to 27-9 late in the third. 

The Trojans would remain in cruise control from there and notch their seventh win of the season in front of a sold-out crowd that stormed the field, rightfully so. 

Before Riley stepped off the podium at the end of his media availability, he pulled out a white sheet of paper, promptly and articulately displaying his thoughts on what the program truly means to him. 

"This program is built on internal joy, not external applause. This win's for all the staff members, the players, the leaders, admin — all the people within the walls. I said before this game that I'm the right person for this job, and as long as those people know that, that's all | care about. I appreciate being a part of this university, and all it does. I appreciate our kids and our staff, and I want to continue to fight on 'cause that's what being a Trojan's all about. Adios."

A seventh win that is the true definition of a life saver on many fronts and one that could change the tempo of the Trojans' season from here on out.