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USC stuns No. 2 Ohio State, 30-18, derailing Buckeyes' CFP hopes

sportsNov 1, 202618227

USC upset No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 in Los Angeles, a loss that sharply complicates the Buckeyes' College Football Playoff chances. Ohio State entered the game without starting quarterback Julian Sayin after his elbow injury two weeks ago, forcing Luke Fahey and freshman Taven St. Clair to take snaps; Fahey made his first start and the offense looked disjointed. Despite totaling 484 yards, Ohio State had not scored a touchdown through three quarters and struggled with pass protection and red zone execution. Jeremiah Smith scored Ohio State's first touchdown with 2:12 remaining on a five-yard out, but it proved too late. The defeat, described as a reality check for the Buckeyes, raises doubt about Ohio State's national title contention and leaves marquee conference games against Oregon, Nebraska and Michigan looming on the schedule.

Chris Vannini
@chrisvannini.com

A top-2 team loses to an unranked team for the fourth week in a row. USC 30, No. 2 Ohio State 18

924h ago
Sean Brennan2

There's zero basis for Ohio State to be ranked ahead of Texas

MM (Again)2

lol. OSU fans kept telling Oregon if they were good they could win without their QB. Guess it’s not that easy, huh?

Sal of Troy1

I’m telling the Coaches’ Poll

Quoting this
Dolphin Pilot17

Los Angeles is the epicenter of college football, no one denies this

Mike
@kantwistaye.bsky.social

Iowa > Wisconsin > USC > Ohio State > Iowa

124h ago
Basketball Fan, of the Sixers and LeBron James lmao!
@drewhamm5.bsky.social

USC getting steamrolled by Wisconsin last weekend and then turning around and dumptrucking Ohio State this weekend is, admittedly, an excellent bit

126h ago
dr peppermint patty
@jessespector.com

congratulations to usc on beating no. 2 ohio state you have unlocked a B1G BADGE to mark your progress as a conference member b1g badge unlocked: purdue pete

114h ago
Daniel Fienberg
@thefienprint.bsky.social

Ohio State lost that one as much as USC won it, but... USC also didn't LOSE it, which is pretty much unprecedented in recent years. Go Trojans! And... #ExtendLincolnRiley

114h ago
Kristin Bartus
@kristinbartus.bsky.social

This is definitely a scary Halloween. I have to root for USC because the alternative is rooting for Ohio state.

115h ago
Quoting this
Bradley P. Moss69

I root for teams that make me puke on a weekly basis just to hope Ohio State loses.

David Burbach 🇺🇸12

Tell me about it 🤢. I'm writing in Jill Stein.

Eric Seeds
@ericseeds.bsky.social

Lincoln Riley’s USC has simply made Ohio State quit Ryan Day’s America

116h ago
Karoli
@karoli.bsky.social

I really don’t care enough about who wins the USC-Ohio State game to watch the incessant ads hating on Sherrod Brown, Amy Acton and AES. UCLA is 7-0 and that’s what matters.

116h ago
Austin Mock
@amock419.bsky.social

USC knocks off Ohio State and keeps their playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, are the Buckeyes in trouble? Could they miss the playoffs? CFP odds are updated at @TheAthletic

94h ago
Morgan Hughes
@morganhughes.bsky.social

Every time we play USC some broke ass motherfucker with some stupid ass weird ass German ass last name like Boeckman or Bauserman or Fahey rises up out of nowhere and is like “oh hey what up want me to take a break from doubles tennis to play football for the Ohio State Buckeyes”

85h ago
Dave Minuk
@icdave.bsky.social

Jets prospect Sascha Boumedienne (2025 1st) ripped home this shot against Michigan for his first goal with Ohio State. It proved to be the game-winner as the Buckeyes knocked off the No. 1-ranked Wolverines. 🎥: NCAA Hockey Highlights

73h ago
The Daily Gopher
@thedailygopher.bsky.social

USC beats Ohio State. Gophers take Indiana to OT trading 60 yd fgs Iowa smokes Wisconsin. Oregon beats Northwestern. Nebraska blows a game late to Washington. Penn State beats Purdue. And somehow UCLA is 8-0. Welcome to the weird Big Ten. Well Maryland and Rutgers still lost. That's normal.

54h ago
Bill Radjewski
@collegefootballdata.com

Trick or treat, Ohio State 👻 💀 USC 30, #2 Ohio State 18 (USC +6.5) 💀 Iowa State 51, #24 Oklahoma State 49 (ISU +10) #2 is the highest-ranked Halloween upset victim since #1 Penn State fell to Miami in 1981. 5 ranked teams lost to unranked foes today, topping 2020's 4.

54h ago
NR
@nosecomplaint.bsky.social

I would be more excited about Ohio State going down, but USC is who did it, so that erases SOME of the joy Not all, though!

54h ago
creamcityjw (WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS! 🩵🤝)
@creamcityjw.bsky.social

last week: badgers beat USC 24-7. this week: badgers lose to iowa 30-0. - and - USC leads ohio state 27-9 in the 3rd. wtf?

55h ago
3 sources
foxnews.comOhio State's national title hopes are rightfully fading after USC delivers reality check in shocking upsetnytimes.comLincoln Riley says he's 'right person for this job' after USC beats Ohio Statesportingnews.comLuke Fahey stats today: Ohio State backup QB's first start results in loss to USC, gives fans reason to worry | Sporting News

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