USC unexpectedly beat Ohio State, which was then ranked the second team in the country, and the victory immediately shifted the conversation about the future of head coach Lincoln Riley. Shortly before, the Trojans had lost to Wisconsin and looked like one of the weakest teams of the season, so many viewed the result against Ohio State as shocking.
A week earlier, the situation seemed hopeless. USC was a favorite on the road against Wisconsin but lost, scoring just seven points — the fewest in Riley's coaching career. The game also featured clear coaching decisions that backfired: an attempted 58-yard field goal into the wind failed and gave the opponent a favorable field position. Quarterback Jayden Maiava was flagged several times for intentional grounding, threw two interceptions, and finished with a negative rushing total: minus 17 yards. After the loss, fans and analysts in the comments speculated that Riley had already mentally left Los Angeles, and that the university had reportedly begun setting aside funds to cover his buyout, which is reported to be around 70 million dollars.
Against Ohio State, USC played completely differently. The defense, which had previously been criticized, forced a turnover, caused a fumble at a decisive moment, and repeatedly stopped drives at the right times. Ohio State held the ball longer and gained many yards, but in the key moments it could not convert even a first down or a goal-line play from one yard out. USC's very first play produced a long touchdown on a screen pass caught by freshman Trent Mosley, and tight end Mark Bowman made a spectacular catch, stepping over an opposing defender.
A confrontation followed the final whistle. Ohio State players and staff were heading off the field through the tunnel, and Riley tried to enter the same area with his family and a security guard, but a visiting team staff member stopped him. Seconds later, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork gestured toward Riley and said something to him. Riley responded with profanity, but was then allowed through. Another camera angle shows Bjork saying something unintelligible as he walked off the field.
At the press conference, Riley, who had earlier in the week said he wanted to remain in Los Angeles, read a prepared statement about the work and the program of the Trojans. In it he said: "This program is built on internal joy, not external applause." He also described himself as the right person for the job and thanked the staff, players, and university administration. Reporters viewed the tone of the statement and its closing word, "Adios," as unusually sharp toward the press.
Questions about Riley's status had been raised for several weeks, and USC's losses this season, including to Oregon and Wisconsin, remain a serious argument against him. The case for a "championship window," which the team actively promoted in the offseason, still looks unconvincing: with a 6-2 record and the season's prospects in jeopardy, the result against Ohio State stands as one of the few major wins of the Riley era. A victory over the country's second-ranked opponent could change the trajectory of the season and the program, but, as observers note, one game does not yet settle the question of the coach's future.