USC vs. Ohio State Football: Trojans Win 30–18 in 2026
USC beat No. 2 Ohio State 30–18 on Oct. 31, 2026. See the final score by quarter, key plays, player leaders and what decided the Big Ten game.
USC vs. Ohio State Football: Trojans Win 30–18 in 2026
USC upset No. 2 Ohio State 30–18 on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans built a 20–9 halftime lead, kept the Buckeyes out of the end zone until the final minutes and finished with a 12-point Big Ten victory. The result was not a yardage rout: Ohio State gained 464 total yards to USC’s 338. USC’s early explosive plays and stronger scoring conversion made the difference.
USC vs. Ohio State final score by quarter
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| USC | 14 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 30 |
| Ohio State | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 18 |
Date: October 31, 2026. Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles. Competition: Big Ten football. USC improved to 7–2 overall (4–2 Big Ten); Ohio State fell to 6–2 (4–1 Big Ten). The Buckeyes entered the game ranked No. 2.
How USC took control of the game
First quarter: a touchdown before Ohio State settled in
The Trojans needed only two plays to score. On USC’s second offensive snap, Jayden Maiava connected with Trent Mosley, who turned the play into a 69-yard touchdown. The speed of the opening score forced Ohio State to respond immediately, but its first points came from Connor Hawkins’s 39-yard field goal. USC then benefited from Mosley’s 44-yard punt return and struck again on a 9-yard Waymond Jordan touchdown run to lead 14–3 after one quarter.
Second quarter: the Buckeyes moved the ball but settled for kicks
Ohio State continued to reach scoring range, yet its first-half drives produced field goals rather than touchdowns. Hawkins converted from 34 and 23 yards in the second quarter. USC added a 54-yard field goal by Ryon Sayeri and a 36-yarder by Caden Chittenden, taking a 20–9 advantage into halftime. Through the Buckeyes’ first five possessions, they had scored only nine points despite generating 192 yards. That gap between advancing the ball and finishing drives would shape the night.
Third quarter: the turnover and the biggest swing
After halftime, Ohio State lost possession on an Isaiah West fumble in USC territory. The Trojans answered with a short 1-yard King Miller touchdown run following a 70-yard reception by tight end Mark Bowman. That sequence pushed USC ahead 27–9. Ohio State did not score at all in the third quarter, leaving a steep deficit entering the final period.
Fourth quarter: Ohio State’s late touchdown came too late
Hawkins opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a 47-yard field goal. Luke Fahey then led an 80-yard touchdown drive and found Jeremiah Smith from one yard out with 2:12 remaining. The two-point try failed, so USC still led 27–18. The Trojans recovered the ensuing onside kick and Chittenden added a 32-yard field goal to complete the 30–18 final score.
Team stats: why more yards did not mean more points
| Statistic | USC | Ohio State |
| Total offense | 338 yards | 464 yards |
| Passing yards | 222 | 260 |
| Rushing yards | 116 | 204 |
| First downs | 15 | 25 |
| Time of possession | 20:32 | 39:28 |
| Penalty yards | 42 | 71 |
Ohio State led by 126 total yards, ten first downs and nearly 19 minutes of possession. Those advantages look substantial in isolation, but the scoreboard measures points, not the amount of field a team covers.
The Buckeyes produced four Hawkins field goals before finally scoring their only touchdown late in the fourth. USC, by contrast, scored touchdowns early, turned the second-half possession change into seven points and protected a cushion that field goals alone could not erase.
The 69-yard Mosley touchdown and 70-yard Bowman reception illustrate the game’s central contrast. USC could generate major scoring opportunities in a few snaps, while several long Ohio State possessions ended in three points. This is an explanation of the observed box score, not a claim about unverified efficiency metrics or advanced analytics.
Player performances that mattered
USC: Maiava, Mosley and Miller
Jayden Maiava completed 15 of 22 passes for 222 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Mosley led the Trojans with five receptions for 101 yards, including the 69-yard opening score; his long punt return also helped create a short field for another USC touchdown. King Miller carried 13 times for 78 yards and scored from one yard in the third quarter. Waymond Jordan accounted for the other rushing touchdown. Their contributions spread USC’s scoring across explosive receiving, rushing finishes and timely special teams play.
Ohio State: Fahey, Jackson and Smith
With starter Julian Sayin unavailable because of an arm injury, freshman Luke Fahey made his first career start. He went 21-for-38 for 260 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Bo Jackson rushed for 121 yards, and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith made ten catches for 83 yards. Smith’s late touchdown catch was the 40th of his career, which Ohio State identified as a Big Ten career record. Those individual numbers show that the offense had productive pieces even as the team struggled to turn drives into touchdowns.
What the result meant for both teams
USC’s win gave Lincoln Riley’s team a significant response after its 24–7 defeat at Wisconsin a week earlier. Beating the second-ranked team at home improved the Trojans to 7–2 and 4–2 in conference play. Ohio State left Los Angeles 6–2 and 4–1 in the Big Ten. The result tightened each team’s late-season margin for error, though a single October game cannot determine a final conference place or College Football Playoff selection. Those outcomes depend on subsequent games and official rankings.
For USC, the encouraging lesson was not that the Trojans controlled every statistic; they did not. It was that their opening speed, special-teams field position and ability to cash in on key moments were enough to beat a highly ranked opponent. For Ohio State, the review point was straightforward: the Buckeyes needed more touchdowns from drives that had already accumulated considerable yardage.
Where the October 31 game was televised
NBC carried the 2026 matchup nationally, with Peacock providing the announced streaming option. Kickoff was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Pacific / 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Those are historical broadcast details for a completed game, not a claim that the matchup is still available live. Replay and highlights availability depend on the broadcaster’s current rights and catalog.
USC vs. Ohio State 2026: FAQs
Who won USC vs. Ohio State in 2026? USC defeated No. 2 Ohio State 30–18 on October 31, 2026, in Los Angeles.
What was the score at halftime? USC led 20–9 after two quarters, having scored 14 in the first and six in the second.
Who scored USC’s touchdowns? Trent Mosley caught a 69-yard touchdown from Jayden Maiava; Waymond Jordan and King Miller scored on runs.
How many yards did Ohio State gain? Ohio State gained 464 total yards compared with 338 for USC, despite losing by 12 points.
Where was the game and what channel showed it? The game was at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 31, 2026. NBC televised it, with Peacock listed for streaming.