Three Things We Learned as USC Trojans Playoff Hopes End Against Indiana

No. 18 USC saw their College Football Playoff hopes end on Saturday as they fell to No. 9 Indiana 27-13.

Once again, Maiava struggled mightily on the road, throwing thee interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter when the Trojans trailed by seven. USC had several miscues, which included two missed field goals, one coming from 27 yards and three dropped interceptions in the end zone.

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley Jayden Maiava Josh Hoover Indiana Hoosiers College Football Playoff Trent Mosley Live Score Big Ten — Oct 10, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws a pass during a warmup prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

This article will be updated throughout the game.

Fourth Quarter

2:52 - Jayden Maiava throw up a prayer to Tanook Hines that is INTERCEPTED by Jamari Sharpe and returned 34 yards.

3:36 - TOUCHDOWN Indiana. Grant Wilson goes deep to Charlie Becker for a 42-yard touchdown to cap off a 7-play, 93-yard drive.

6:35 - Jayden Maiava is INTERCEPTED by Isaiah Jones and Indiana takes over on the 7-yard line.

7:41 - Jayden Maiava to Trent Mosley for 34 yards down to the 8-yard line,

14:11 - Caden Chittenden's 27-yard field goal is right wide. NO GOOD.

Third Quarter

0:50 - Jayden Maiava lofts a pass for Trent Mosley for 19 yards and USC is inside the 25-yard line.

Throwing off the back foot?
Lots of traffic?
Not a problem. pic.twitter.com/lKBXvp7vT3
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 14, 2026

2:39 - TOUCHDOWN Indiana. Khobie Martin 1-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 5-play, 75-yard drive. Indiana leads 20-13.

2:54 - Khobie Martin runs 38 yards down to the 1-yard line.

4:29 - Caden Chittenden's 25-yard field goal is GOOD. Game tied 13-13.

8:44 - King Miller runs for 19 yards and USC is across midfield.

10:02 - Nico Radicic's 24-yard field goal is GOOD. Indiana leads 13-10.

Second Quarter

0:21 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Jayden Maiava to Zacharyus Williams for a 7-yard TOUCHDOWN to cap off a 3-play, 60-yard drive. Game tied 10-10.

ALL TIED UP 🙌

📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/uZXFKa5BXU
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) November 14, 2026

0:29 - Jayden Maiava goes deep to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for 51 yards and USC is in the red zone.

That’s beautiful throw by Jayden Maiava to freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt pic.twitter.com/zxPl8WkPw4
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) November 14, 2026

0:37 - Grant Wilson is INTERCEPTED by Deven Bryant and USC takes over on their own 40-yard line.

0:49 - USC punts after going 3-and-out and gets flagged for catch interference.

1:45 - Nico Radicic's 21-yard FIELD GOAL is GOOD. Indiana leads 10-3.

5:33 - Jayden Maiava is INTERCEPTED by Preston Zachman and Indiana takes over.

6:27 - Nico Radicic 44-yard field goal is NO GOOD.

7:23 - Charlie Becker's 24-yard touchdown reception is nullified after an illegal man down the field.

8:45 - Grant Wilson goes deep to Nick Marsh for 65 yards and Indiana is down to the 23-yard line.

9:36 - USC punts after picking up one 1st down. Indiana takes over own their own 11-yard line.

11:21 - Indiana punts after going 3-and-out. USC takes over on the 19-yard line.

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13:14 - USC goes 3-and-out and punts after an offensive pass interference call on Kayden Dixon-Wyatt

First Quarter

0:00 - Indiana punts to end the 1st quarter after Jide Abasiri came up with the sack on 3rd down.

2:03 - Ryon Sayeri's 29-yard field goal is GOOD. USC trails 7-3.

4:47 - Indiana gets flagged for roughing the passer on 3rd and USC gets an automatic 1st down on the 19-yard line.

8:18 - TOUCHDOWN Indiana. Grant Wilson to Brock Scott for a 13-yard touchdown to cap off a 6-play 65-yard drive. Indiana leads 7-0.

One drive for Indiana.
One touchdown for Indiana. pic.twitter.com/oMlwXzofGy
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 14, 2026

9:34 - Grant Wilson goes deep to Shazz Preston for 48 yards on 3rd down and Indiana is in the red zone.

10:37 - Ryon Sayeri's 51-yard field goal is NO GOOD.

12:25 - Jayden Maiava to Trent Mosley for 19 yards and USC is across midfield.

15:00 - USC receives the opening kickoff.

Overcoming Road Struggles

USC has been a much different team away from the Coliseum in the Riley era. The program's struggles when playing in two or three time zones away predates Riley but it hasn’t gotten better.

Riley is 1-7 on the road against ranked teams as the Trojans head coach.

Wisconsin was not ranked when USC suffered a devastating loss on them on Oct. 24. The offense scored seven points and rushed for 39 yards outside of sack yardage. Quarterback Jayden Maiava was picked off twice on the first three possessions.

Outside of the Trojans first half defense, it as an ugly performance from all three facets of the game.

Southern Cal had play much better in a win over Penn State on Oct. 10, arguably their best road performance since joining the Big Ten three years ago. That performance came after previously struggling in a narrow victory over a winless Rutgers team on Sept. 19. So, which version of the Trojans shows up on Saturday?

Either way, a matchup with Indiana presents the biggest road challenge this season. The Hoosiers have only lost one game at home in Curt Cignetti’s three seasons as head coach.

College Football Playoff Path

USC went into their game against then-No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 31 with everything on the line, including Riley’s future in Los Angeles. The Trojans upset the Buckeyes, keeping their CFP hopes alive.

Now, they have to do it all over again. It’s been a one-game season for USC since the loss to Wisconsin to remain in the College Football Playoff race. The path simple for the Trojans, win out, and they're likely in. Riley’s squad still controls their destiny, but it all starts on Saturday.

Indiana dropped five spots in the latest playoff rankings, despite not playing last week. They can’t afford to drop another game, especially with no big-time wins on the resume.

Game Preview

Maiava felt the impact of having his trio of star freshmen in receivers Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and tight end Mark Bowman in the lineup together for the first time since late September.

USC patched up its offensive line against the Buckeyes by inserting freshman Kannon Smith in at left guard. They got their best showing from running back Waymond Jordan that night to complement King Miller.

The Trojans offense runs into a stingy Indiana defense that has only allowed more than 20 points this season, which came against Northwestern all the way back on Sept. 25

The strength of the Hoosiers defense comes upfront. How USC fairs in the trenches on both sides of the ball will play a major factor in Saturday’s outcome.

Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover is off the injury report after leaving at halftime against Minnesota on Oct. 31 but Cignetti did not reveal during the week if Hoover or Grant Wilson would start.

The Hoosiers desperately need to jumpstart an offense that has not scored more than 20 points in regulation in over a month. And they’re going to have to do without leading rusher Turbo Richard and guard Joe Brunner, who sustained an injury in practice on Tuesday.

The good news for Indiana is they still have two star receivers in Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh. Both present a unique challenge for a Trojans secondary that is battled tested but not faced a pair of receivers like they will in week 11.

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