Skip to content USC football enters Week 11 with fresh momentum and a genuine path toward the Big Ten title race after toppling the Ohio State Buckeyes. Lincoln Riley finally secured his signature win in Los Angeles, giving the Trojans belief right when the season demanded it most.
A bye week gave the squad time to heal and recalibrate before heading into a massive clash against the Indiana Hoosiers. If Southern California wants to turn that upset into a playoff push, specific contributors must maintain their form while others need to wake up quickly.
Also read: College Football Playoff Rankings Reaction: Alabama Rises as Indiana Drops
Here is how the roster shapes up as the stakes reach their peak.
USC football risers on offense
Freshman wideout Trent Mosley announced himself to the nation against Ohio State. While everyone focused on Jeremiah Smith across the field, Mosley stole the spotlight on the opening drive with a 69-yard touchdown reception. He finished the contest with five catches for 101 yards, showing no fear against one of the top secondaries in college football.
Tight end Mark Bowman returned to the lineup and immediately shifted the emotional temperature of the offense. Bowman ripped off a 70-yard play that swung the game firmly in Southern California’s favor. His physical blocking and competitive fire gave the unit an edge it sorely lacked earlier in the year.
Running back Waymond Jordan also earned his stripes against the Buckeyes. Jordan took 12 carries for 48 yards, grinding out four yards per touch against a heavy defensive front. He gave the Trojans a punishing ground presence, which opened up throwing lanes downfield.
How USC football fixed the offensive line
Two weeks earlier, the Trojans looked lost in the trenches against the Wisconsin Badgers. That afternoon in Madison was a disaster, featuring five sacks conceded and a miserable minus-17 rushing yards. Quarterback Jayden Maiava had nowhere to step up and little time to scan the field.
The front five responded with a complete turnaround against Ohio State. Maiava was sacked only once, and the running lanes stayed open all afternoon. Keeping Maiava upright changes what Lincoln Riley can dial up, especially when facing an aggressive Indiana pass rush next.
USC football defensive stoppers trending up
Cornerback Jontez Williams delivered perhaps the finest individual outing of the season against Ohio State. Assigned to track Jeremiah Smith, Williams held the standout receiver to just three catches for seven yards. That shutdown effort strangled the Buckeyes’ passing attack and gave defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn the blueprint he needs for November.
Up front, Alex VanSumeren supplied the muscle. He recorded three tackles and half a sack, but his constant push in the middle disrupted running lanes before they could develop. VanSumeren rarely fills the highlight reels, yet his dirty work inside made life easier for the linebackers behind him.
The USC football stock falling before Indiana
Not everyone enjoyed the upset win, and freshman receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt saw his role vanish entirely. Dixon-Wyatt failed to earn a single target against Ohio State after showing flashes earlier in the autumn. Riley shortened his receiver rotation in high-leverage moments, leaving the young pass-catcher on the outside looking in.
Fellow wideout Williams also hit a cold spell over the last two outings. His production cratered after a productive early run where he routinely stretched defenses for 40-yard gains. Getting Williams involved early against Indiana will be vital, because the Trojans cannot rely solely on Mosley to carry the vertical passing attack.
Riley knows one marquee win does not guarantee anything in this grueling conference. The real test comes this Saturday against the Indiana Hoosiers, where Southern California must prove that their defensive discipline and trench dominance are here to stay.
Source: Yahoo Sports
