LOS ANGELES | Ohio State’s Halloween trip to Hollywood ended with a result that could haunt its postseason hopes.
USC knocked off the No. 2 Buckeyes 30–18 on Saturday night, handing Ohio State its second loss of the season and exposing the challenge of moving forward without injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin.
The Trojans wasted little time putting Ohio State on its heels. Jayden Maiava connected with Trent Mosley for a 69-yard touchdown just 39 seconds into the game. A 9-yard touchdown run from Waymond Jordan helped USC build a 14–3 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Ohio State spent the rest of the night chasing.
The Buckeyes managed three first-half field goals but entered the locker room trailing 20–9. USC added another touchdown in the third quarter while holding Ohio State scoreless, stretching the advantage to 27–9 entering the fourth.
For freshman quarterback Luke Fahey, his first career start became a difficult introduction to leading an offense with championship expectations. USC recorded two sacks and seven tackles for loss, repeatedly forcing Ohio State to settle for field-goal attempts instead of touchdowns.
Fahey finished 21-of-38 passing for 260 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Bo Jackson supplied 121 rushing yards on 21 carries, while Jeremiah Smith caught 10 passes for 83 yards and Ohio State’s lone touchdown. The late scoring connection gave the Buckeyes something to salvage, but it arrived too late to rescue the result.
For USC, the win delivered an emphatic response after a disappointing loss to Wisconsin. Mosley and fellow freshman Mark Bowman combined for 180 receiving yards, giving the Trojans the explosive plays Ohio State struggled to match.
The Buckeyes still have opportunities to repair their postseason résumé, with Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan remaining on the schedule. But Saturday made their margin
