USC’s season took a decisive turn for the worse Saturday night as the No. 16 Trojans fell 24-7 to Wisconsin, marking their second loss of the year. The defeat exposed a fragile offensive line and a stagnant ground game that managed a staggering minus-17 yards on 25 carries. Despite entering the game with the Big Ten’s seventh-best rushing attack, USC’s backfield was neutralized, with Jayden Maiva suffering multiple sacks that further stifled momentum. The only touchdown drive of the night came in the second quarter, highlighting a lack of consistency that has plagued the program all season.
A -17 yard rushing night and two interceptions signal the Trojans’ CFP hopes are fading fast.
Quarterback Jayden Maiva completed 31 of 50 passes for 258 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions, but he was left without reliable support from the running game. This offensive collapse is particularly damaging given USC’s upcoming schedule, which features top-10 opponents in Ohio State, Indiana, and UCLA over the final four games. With Lincoln Riley now 41-20 in his fifth season, the pressure is mounting as the Trojans face a steep climb to secure a College Football Playoff berth. The likelihood of USC re-entering the at-large conversation is slim, especially considering their 5-15 record against top-25 opponents under Riley’s tenure.
The path forward for USC is increasingly narrow, with their three Big Ten victories coming against teams holding a combined conference record of 3-10. Riley’s optimistic summer expectations have now clashed with on-field reality, forcing a difficult conversation about the program’s direction. As the bottom falls out of the season, the question shifts from playoff aspirations to whether USC is willing to pony up and trigger Riley’s buyout clause. For a program that prides itself on elite recruiting and high-profile coaching, the current trajectory suggests that financial commitment to a coaching change may be the only viable option to reset the trajectory.
Source: CBS Sports
