Ohio State vs. USC: Trojans Beat No. 2 Buckeyes 30-18
Quick answer
USC beat No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. Ohio State outgained USC 464 yards to 338 and held the ball for 39:28, but it scored one touchdown and kicked four field goals.
Key facts
- Final score: USC 30, Ohio State 18 (USC was the home team).
- Points by quarter: USC 14-6-7-3; Ohio State 3-6-0-9.
- Before kickoff, Ohio State was ranked No. 2 and was 6-1, while USC was 6-2, according to a WSYX pregame report. By our count, USC is now 7-2 and Ohio State is 6-2.
- WSYX reported before the game that Ohio State would be without starting quarterback Julian Sayin. L. Fahey threw the Buckeyes' only touchdown pass.
- USC scored on a 69-yard pass from J. Maiava to T. Mosley 28 seconds into the game.
- Ohio State made all four of its field goals (39, 34, 23 and 47 yards). USC made all three of its tries (54, 36 and 32 yards).
- Ohio State had 11 penalties for 71 yards. USC had six for 42.
How the game unfolded
USC needed just 28 seconds to score, when J. Maiava threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to T. Mosley. Ohio State answered with a 39-yard field goal by C. Hawkins, and W. Jordan's 9-yard touchdown run made it 14-3 USC late in the first quarter.
The second quarter was a field-goal exchange. Hawkins kicked a 34-yarder and a 23-yarder for Ohio State, while R. Sayeri hit a 54-yard field goal and C. Chittenden added a 36-yarder with 5 seconds left to send USC into halftime up 20-9. K. Miller's 1-yard run made it 27-9 in the third quarter.
Ohio State kicked a 47-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter to cut it to 27-12. L. Fahey threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to J. Smith with 2:18 left to make it 27-18, but the two-point try failed. Chittenden's 32-yard field goal with 1:50 left sealed the 30-18 final.
Why 464 yards didn't win it for Ohio State
Ohio State controlled the ball but not the scoreboard. It ran 81 plays to USC's 50, gained 204 yards on the ground (4.7 per carry) and had 25 first downs to USC's 15. The problem was finishing. The data feed counts 18 Ohio State plays inside the opponent's 20-yard line (8 runs and 10 pass attempts), and the Buckeyes came away with one touchdown and four field goals from those drives and others. Penalties also hurt, with 11 for 71 yards, and Ohio State lost a fumble. USC, by contrast, averaged 6.8 yards per play, made all three field goals, forced three three-and-outs and stopped Ohio State once on fourth down. The 69-yard touchdown pass accounted for nearly a third of USC's passing yards, as USC threw 15-of-23 for 222 yards.
Scoring plays
| Quarter and clock | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 14:32 | USC | J. Maiava 69-yard pass to T. Mosley (kick good) | USC 7, Ohio State 0 |
| Q1 8:30 | Ohio State | C. Hawkins 39-yard field goal | USC 7, Ohio State 3 |
| Q1 2:30 | USC | W. Jordan 9-yard run (kick good) | USC 14, Ohio State 3 |
| Q2 13:25 | Ohio State | Hawkins 34-yard field goal | USC 14, Ohio State 6 |
| Q2 10:26 | USC | R. Sayeri 54-yard field goal | USC 17, Ohio State 6 |
| Q2 1:50 | Ohio State | Hawkins 23-yard field goal | USC 17, Ohio State 9 |
| Q2 0:05 | USC | C. Chittenden 36-yard field goal | USC 20, Ohio State 9 |
| Q3 6:16 | USC | K. Miller 1-yard run (kick good) | USC 27, Ohio State 9 |
| Q4 15:00 | Ohio State | Hawkins 47-yard field goal | USC 27, Ohio State 12 |
| Q4 2:18 | Ohio State | L. Fahey 1-yard pass to J. Smith (two-point try failed) | USC 27, Ohio State 18 |
| Q4 1:50 | USC | Chittenden 32-yard field goal | USC 30, Ohio State 18 |
Team stats
| Stat | USC | Ohio State |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 338 | 464 |
| Plays | 50 | 81 |
| Rushing | 116 yards on 27 carries | 204 yards on 43 carries |
| Passing | 15-of-23, 222 yards | 21-of-38, 260 yards |
| Passing touchdowns | 1 | 1 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| First downs | 15 | 25 |
| Field goals | 3-of-3 | 4-of-4 |
| Penalties | 6 for 42 yards | 11 for 71 yards |
| Time of possession | 20:32 | 39:28 |
What's next
Ohio State is scheduled to host Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 3:30 p.m. ET, then host Northwestern on Nov. 14 (time to be announced).
USC is listed at Indiana on Nov. 14 (time to be announced). The schedule data we checked shows no USC game on Nov. 7.
What we could not confirm
- Updated national rankings after this weekend. We only confirmed Ohio State's No. 2 ranking before the game.
- Whether Julian Sayin was out for the entire game. WSYX reported before kickoff that he would not play, and the play-by-play credits L. Fahey with the Buckeyes' touchdown pass, but we did not find a post-game confirmation.
- Full names and positions for most players listed by initial in the data feed.
- Season records after the game are our own tally from the results feed, not an official source.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of USC vs. Ohio State?
USC won 30-18 on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
Was Ohio State ranked No. 2?
Yes, before the game. WSYX reported Ohio State entered ranked No. 2 with a 6-1 record. We have not confirmed where the Buckeyes rank after the loss.
Why did Ohio State lose despite 464 yards?
Ohio State scored one touchdown and four field goals, lost a fumble, had 11 penalties for 71 yards and failed on a two-point try. USC also scored on a 69-yard touchdown pass 28 seconds into the game.
When does Ohio State play next?
Ohio State is scheduled to host Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Sources
- Sportradar college football data feed: final score, team stats and play-by-play, retrieved Nov. 1, 2026
- WSYX (ABC6): No. 2 Ohio State prepares for USC in Big Ten clash Saturday