Fans storm the field after USC upsets No. 2 Ohio State at Coliseum

The obituaries were all but written, the whole college football world ready and eager to dump one last shovel of dirt on another doomed season for USC and Lincoln Riley.

The team heard it all week after their deliriously disappointing defeat at Wisconsin. How all hope was lost. How their coach’s clock was ticking. How the walls were closing in. But by the time the second half arrived Saturday, USC was well on its way to a season-altering 30-18 win over No. 2 Ohio State, and Mark Bowman, the Trojans’ freshman tight end, had taken off in the open field with no intention of being stopped.

It didn’t matter Bowman had sat out the last month with an injury or that multiple Buckeye defenders stood in the freshman’s way, in the same sense it didn’t matter how the masses had written off USC before the game. As one defender closed in, Bowman simply hurdled over him. Another slipped helplessly off his leg. A third was dispatched with a brute force. It would be 70 yards before Bowman was pushed out of bounds.

USC 30, No. 2 Ohio State 18, end of game

Ohio State took a fair catch at its 14.

Luke Fahey was under pressure and passed to Chris Henry Jr. for 39 yards. Fahey passed to Bo Jackson for 15 yards. Fahey tossed a pass intended for Devin McCuin in the end zone and Chasen Johnson broke up the pass. McCuin was injured on the play.

On second-and-10 at the USC 32 with 1:15 left, USC called timeout. Fahey tossed an incomplete pass.

Fahey passed to Jeremiah Smith for 20 yards. Fahey’s pass to the right corner of the end zone and refs called it an interception by Desman Stephens II, but a review showed he caught the ball out of bounds. Fahey tossed the ball out of bounds and Ohio State was called for holding but USC declined the penalty.

On fourth-and-10 at the USC 12 with 44 seconds left, Fahey tossed an incomplete pass that sailed high and out of bounds.

USC took over on its 12 with 32 seconds left and took a knee to run out the clock.

USC 30, No. 2 Ohio State 18, 1:50 left in fourth quarter

Ohio State attempted an onside-kick, but Tanook Hines caught it and returned it 24 yards to the Buckeyes’ 21.

Waymond Jordan ran for one yard and the two-minute timeout was triggered with 2:04 left on the clock.

King Miller ran for one yard and Ohio State called timeout to stop the clock with 2:00 remaining.

On third-and-eight, King Miller ran for four yards.

Ohio State called timeout to stop the clock with 1:54 remaining.

Caden Chittenden hit a 32-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining.

USC 27, No. 2 Ohio State 18, 2:16 left in fourth quarter

Ohio State started on its 20.

Luke Fahey passed to Jeremiah Smith for eight yards. Bo Jackson ran for seven yards. Fahey tossed an incomplete pass. Fahey tosses a screen pass to Jackson for 17 yards. Fahey ran for eight yards. On second-and-two at the USC 40, Jackson ran for four yards.

USC called timeout with 5:01 left because his team was not set on the field.

Fahey passed to Isaiah West for six yards and Christian Pierce was injured on the play. Fahey passed to Devin McCuin for 17 yards. Fahey passed to Smith for seven yards to the USC 5.

Ohio State was called for false start. Fahey’s off balance throw to the left side of the end zone was incomplete. Fahey ran for nine yards. Fahey ran for no gain with 2:49 left on the clock.

Fahey tossed a one-yard touchdown pass to Smith. The Buckeyes go for two, Fahey passed to the back of end zone under pressure. The ball sailed high and out of bounds.

USC 27, No. 2 Ohio State 12, 7:57 left in fourth quarter

USC started on its 40 after the punt.

King Miller ran for six yards. Miller ran for 18 yards. Waymond Jordan ran for a two-yard loss and USC’s illegal formation penalty was declined. On second-and-12 at the Ohio State 38, Maiava tossed the option pass to Jordan for a one-yard loss.

Everyone but the USC center was called for false start. On third-and-18, Miller ran for six yards.

Lachland Carrigan punted into the end zone.

USC 27, No. 2 Ohio State 12, 11:53 left in fourth quarter

Ohio State started on its 15.

Luke Fahey was sacked for a loss of two yards. Fahey passed to Phillip Bell for seven yards. Fahey passed to Chris Henry Jr., but he couldn’t hold onto the ball.

Ohio State was called for delay of game. The Buckeyes then punted to the USC 40, where the Trojans took a fair catch.

USC 27, No. 2 Ohio State 12, 13:21 left in fourth quarter

USC started on its 25.

Waymond Jordan ran for 25 yards. Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Trent Mosley. Maiava passed to Carson Tabaracci for a one-yard loss. Maiava tossed a pass high to Mosley under pressure and the receiver could not pull the ball in.

USC punted and Ohio State returned the ball to its 16-yard line.

USC 27, No. 2 Ohio State 12, 14:56 left in fourth quarter

Ohio State started on its 25 after the touchback.

Bo Jackson ran for five yards and another four yards. Luke Fahey ran for two yards.

Legend Bey ran for five yards. Fahey tossed a deep pass to Jeremiah Smith that was on target, but Smith slipped and it fell incomplete. On third-and-five at the Ohio State 41, the Buckeyes called timeout to avoid a delay of game penalty. Fahey passed to Mason Williams for 24 yards.

Bey ran for one yard. Jackson ran for nine yards. On first down at the USC 25, Jackson ran for a loss of three yards. Jackson ran for six yards. On third-and-seven, Fahey was sacked by Braylan Shelby for a loss of seven yards as time expired in the third quarter.

Connor Hawkins hit a 47-yard field goal to trim USC’s lead.

USC 27, No. 2 Ohio State 9, 6:14 left in third quarter

USC started on its 32 after the fumble recovery.

Elijah Paige was called for a false started. On first-and-15, Jayden Maiava passed to Mark Bowman across the middle at the USC 44. Bowman hurdled a defensive player and bulldozed a few more for a 70-yard gain.

Maiava passed to King Miller for two yards. Then Miller punched in the one-yard touchdown.

Caden Chittenden hit the extra point.

USC 20, No. 2 Ohio State 9, 7:51 left in third quarter

Ohio State started on its five-yard line.

Bo Jackson ran for four yards, but the Buckeyes were called for holding. On first-and-12 at the Ohio State 3, Jackson ran for 14 yards.

Luke Fahey tossed the ball out of bounds and Ohio State was called for a five-yard illegal formation penalty. On first-and-15 at the USC 22, Fahey passed to Jeremiah Smith for 12 yards.

Jackson gashed the middle of the USC defense for 28 yards, moving the ball to the Trojans’ 48. Isaiah West ran for two yards and Tomuhini Topui Jr. was called for hands to the face.

Fahey passed to West, but Desman Stephens II stripped the ball and Floyd Boucard caught it at the USC 32.

USC 20, No. 2 Ohio State 9, 10:42 left in third quarter

USC started on its 29 after a punt.

Waymond Jordan ran for four yards. Jayden Maiava was under pressure and passed to Tucker Ashcraft for three yards. Jordan ran for a loss of two yards.

Lachlan Carrigan punted and Ohio State 10 and the Buckeyes were called for holding, erasing a return and moving them back to their five-yard line.

USC 20, No. 2 Ohio State 9, 12:59 left in third quarter

Ohio State started on its 25 after the touchback.

Isaiah West ran for four yards, three yards and no gain.

Ohio State punted to the USC 29.

USC 20, No. 2 Ohio State 9, end of second quarter

USC started on its 25 after a fair catch on the kickoff.

Jayden Maiava passed to Mark Bowman for 10 yards. Ohio State was called for holding. USC accepted the penalty.

Maiava passed Waymond Jordan for five yards. Jordan ran for one yard. On third-and-four, Maiava passed to Trent Mosley for 12 yards.

Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Kayden Dixon-Wyatt. Maiava passed to Zacharyus Williams for 15 yards.

USC called timeout with 23 seconds left.

Jordan ran for four yards and USC called timeout with 19 seconds left on the clock.

Maiava passed to Bowman for three yards.

USC called timeout with 11 seconds left on the clock.

Maiava passed to Bowman for six yards and a first down. Maiava spiked the ball.

Caden Chittenden hit a 36-yard field goal to extend USC’s lead with one second remaining.

USC kicked the ball off and time expired in the first half. Ohio State will receive the kickoff to open the third quarter.

USC 17, No. 2 Ohio State 9, 1:50 left in second quarter

USC started on its 35 after the Ohio State punt.

Jayden Maiava passed to Trent Mosley for two yards. King Miller ran for five yards. Miller ran for three yards. Miller ran for eight yards. Miller ran for five yards before it was punched out and recovered by Earl Little Jr.

Ohio State took over at its 42.

Bo Jackson ran for three yards. Jackson ran for 12 yards. Luke Fahey’s pass intended for wide open Devin McCuin sailed long and incomplete. Fahey passed Chris Henry Jr. for 10 yards. Fahey’s pass intended for Jackson was dropped. Isaiah West ran for nine yards. West ran for four yards. Jackson ran for five yards. On third-and-one at the USC 3, officials on the field said Fahey ran for three-yard touchdown. The play was reviewed and deemed a two-yard gain.

Jackson ran for no gain and the two-minute warning was triggered. On second-and-one at the USC 1, Ohio State was called for a false start. Fahey tossed a ball to the back of end zone, but it was caught out of bounds. On third-and-five at the USC 5, Fahey’s pass was low and fell incomplete as he was getting tackled.

Connor Hawkins hit a 23-yard field goal.

USC 17, No. 2 Ohio State 6, 8:08 left in second quarter

Ohio State started on its 23 after the kickoff return.

Luke Fahey passed to Jeremiah Smith for a loss of five yards. Fahey ran for three yards, but Ohio State was called for a holding penalty. Fahey ran for seven yards. Bo Jackson ran for six yards. On third-and-19, Jackson ran for three yards.

Ohio State punted and Trent Mosley took a fair catch at the USC 35.

USC 17, No. 2 Ohio State 6, 10:26 left in second quarter

USC started on its 25 after the touchback.

Jayden Maiava passed to Waymond Jordan for 12 yards. Jordan then ran for 10 yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Jordan.

Maiava was tripped as he tossed the ball and was hit with an intentional grounding penalty. On third-and-19, King Miller ran for 21 yards to the Ohio State 41.

Miller ran for four yards. Maiava passed to Trent Mosley for no gain. Maiava rolled out under pressure and tossed an incomplete pass intended for Carson Tabaracci.

Ryon Sayeri hit a 54-yard field goal.

USC 14, No. 2 Ohio State 6, 13:24 left in second quarter

Ohio State started on its 25 after the touchback. Luke Fahey tossed an incomplete pass. Isaiah West ran for 17 yards and another 18 yards.

On first down at the USC 40, USC’s Jakheem Stewart was called for a false start. Fahey passed to Mason Williams for 18 yards and time expired in the first quarter.

On first down at the USC 17, West ran for four yards. West then ran for two yards. Ohio State was called for illegal substation and lost five yards. On third-and-nine at the USC 16, Fahey tossed an incomplete pass under pressure.

Connor Hawkins hit a 34-yard field goal to trim USC’s lead.

USC 14, No. 2 Ohio State 3, 2:30 left in first quarter

USC started on the Ohio State 31 after Trent Mosley’s punt return.

Waymond Jordan ran for a loss of one yard. Jayden Maiava passed to Mosley for 18 yards. Jordan ran for five yards. Jordan ran, took a stutter step and continued for a nine-yard touchdown.

Caden Chittenden hit the extra point.

The USC run game has returned after an abysmal showing at Wisconsin last week.

USC 7, No. 2 Ohio State 3, 4:08 left in first quarter

Ohio State started on its 33 after the punt.

Isaiah West ran for a loss of three yards. Luke Fahey passed Jeremiah Smith for 27 yards, with Ohio State narrowly snapping the ball before the play clock expired. Fahey passed to Smith for five yards. Bo Jackson ran for two yards and appeared to fumble but the ruling on the field was no turnover. West ran for a loss one yard and was wrapped up by Luke Wafle.

On fourth-and-four at the USC 37, Ohio State was called for a false start and loss of five yards.

Ohio State punted and Trent Mosley returned it 44 yards. The Buckeyes were called for a late hit, giving the Trojans another 15 yards on the play.

USC 7, No. 2 Ohio State 3, 7:44 left in first quarter

USC started on its 25 after a fair catch on the kickoff.

King Miller ran for a loss of four yards. Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass under pressure. On third-and-14, Maiava rolled away from pressure and tried to throw the ball up the sideline. It was intercepted by Jermaine Mathews, but it’s under review to determine whether his foot was in bounds. The pick was overturned on review and USC punted to the Ohio State 33.

USC 7, No. 2 Ohio State 3, 8:27 left in first quarter

Ohio State started on its 25 after a kickoff return.

Luke Fahey passed to Jeremiah Smith for one yard. Bo Jackson ran for three yards. Fahey passed to Smith for seven yards.

Jackson ran for three yards and then four yards. Isaiah West ran for seven yards. Fahey passed to Phillipe Bell for 23 yards.

Jackson ran for three yards and another three yards. Fahey’s pass under pressure appeared to be intercepted by Christian Pierce. After review, officials determined Ohio Pierce did not stay in bounds and the pick call was overturned.

Connor Hawkins hit a 39-yard field goal to trim USC’s lead.

USC 7, No. 2 Ohio State 0, 14:31 left in first quarter

Ohio State won the toss and elected to receive.

USC started on its 25 after the touchback.

Jayden Maiava passed to King Miller for six yards. Maiava then passed to Trent Mosley for a 69-yard touchdown.

Caden Chittenden hit the extra point.

USC running back King Miller said the Trojans’ struggles to run the ball on Saturday were at least partially due to his failings to read the Wisconsin defense.

Center Tobias Raymond and left tackle Elijah Paige both said the offensive line could have done things to help out.

Trojans coach Lincoln Riley took blame too, saying he didn’t stick with the run enough in the second half.

In short, it appears nobody was blameless in the USC rushing attack that struggled to a combined minus-17 rushing yards — plus-40 from running backs — during a 24-7 upset loss to No. 25 Wisconsin on Saturday.

As questions swirl this week about his future at USC and his potential fit elsewhere, Lincoln Riley didn’t mince words about where he wants to be coaching when asked Tuesday.

“I love it here,” the fifth-year coach said.

“Listen if I didn’t want to be at this place, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place. If I didn’t want to be at this place, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to leave. This is where I want to be. This is the right place for me. I’m the right person to be here. And that’s as honest and transparent as I can be with you guys.”

Whether Riley will actually have a say in that decision remains to be seen. After falling 24-7 to Wisconsin in one of the worst defeats of Riley’s tenure on Saturday, USC can’t afford another loss this season if it hopes to make the College Football Playoff for the first time.

When NBC’s production team came to meet with Lincoln Riley, ahead of a broadcast earlier this month, the USC football coach greeted the group like old friends.

“Look,” Riley joked, “the Trojan Network is back.”

He certainly should be familiar with the group by now, given that this week’s matchup with No. 2 Ohio State marks the sixth time in nine games that USC will be featured on NBC. That’s already tied for the most any one network has aired a Big Ten team since 2024, when the conference expanded to 18 teams.

Why has it been so hard for USC football to compete for a national title after setting the standard in college football during Pete Carroll’s tenure?

(Harrison Freeman / Los Angeles Times Studios )

Times USC beat reporter Ryan Kartje spent the past four years conducting more than 100 interviews, gaining new insight into the football program’s dramatic rise, fall and difficult push to return to national relevance.

Today, we begin sharing that story with you in “House of Troy,” a new narrative podcast from L.A. Times Studios available now on Spotify and Apple.

Check out Episode 1: “Win Now.”

In the late 1990s, USC football was in desperate need of a revival. The school turned to an unpopular choice: Pete Carroll, a former NFL coach. What happened next would transform USC into a college football powerhouse and Carroll into the face of a modern dynasty. In the first episode of “House of Troy,” Kartje takes us back to the beginning of the Carroll era and the drama that unfolded on and off the field.

Welcome back to the Times of Troy newsletter, where it’s beginning to feel like we’ve reached the point of no return for Lincoln Riley. USC’s 24-7 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday was objectively one of the worst of Riley’s tenure as a head coach.

That it came after a bye week only made it a more damning indictment of Riley and the culture he’s built at USC.

The reality is, another loss over USC’s next four games would eliminate the Trojans from College Football Playoff contention for the fifth straight season under Riley. And with three top-10 teams still on the schedule, it feels all but inevitable that USC will fall short of expectations once again this season, a half decade into Riley’s tenure as the Trojans coach.

MADISON, Wis. — Just two short weeks ago, as the Trojans’ marching band roared joyously from the bowels of Beaver Stadium and a cold Pennsylvania rain poured down on a jubilant Lincoln Riley, it seemed like USC and its embattled coach might’ve finally found a foothold, just as they were about to begin a brutal back half of the schedule. They even had a bye to be sure it stuck.

But by Saturday night, any renewed sense of hope in USC’s season had all but slipped away. Maybe for good.

Instead, the Trojans played as poorly as they have all season in a 24-7 loss to Wisconsin. Quarterback Jayden Maiava looked lost. The offensive line, a strong suit prior to Saturday, was totally overwhelmed. The rushing attack was worse than nonexistent, with minus-17 yards. And the special teams were an all-too-familiar disaster, with two critical missed kicks.