LOS ANGELES — Ohio State entered Saturday night's game against USC knowing it would need a strong team effort with true freshman Luke Fahey making his first collegiate start. Instead, the Buckeyes delivered a poor performance on both sides of the ball, falling 30-18 to the Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The problems extended well beyond breaking in a true freshman quaterback. Ohio State's offensive line struggled with pass protection and penalties, the offense repeatedly failed to finish drives, and a defense that was supposed to lead the team allowed several explosive plays. The Buckeyes also committed numerous penalties, making an already difficult situation even harder for their freshman quarterback.
USC wasted little time exposing the defense, scoring on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Maiava to Trent Mosley just 39 seconds into the game. It was their second play from scrimmage. Waymond Jordan added a nine-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter, giving the Trojans a 14-3 advantage.
Ohio State had opportunities to stay close but repeatedly settled for field goals. Connor Hawkins connected from 39, 34, and 23 yards in the first half, with the third coming after Fahey's apparent touchdown run was overturned by replay. Bo Jackson was then stopped at the 1-yard line, and a false-start penalty by Nate Roberts pushed the Buckeyes back five yards, squandering a touchdown opportunity. USC added a field goal just before halftime to take a 20-9 lead.
The second half brought more problems. Ohio State moved into USC territory during the third quarter, but Isaiah West lost a fumble that the Trojans recovered at their own 32-yard line. Three plays later, Maiava connected with tight end Mark Bowman, who went into full beast mode, breaking tackles and rumbling for a 70-yard gain, setting up a one-yard touchdown run by King Miller that extended USC's lead to 27-9.
The offensive line's performance was especially disappointing. Gabe VanSickle had a really bad night, including an offensive holding penalty that backed Ohio State up near its own goal line. Other penalties and sacks disrupted drives, leaving Fahey dealing with difficult down-and-distance situations even when the offense had shown an ability to move the ball.
Hawkins added a 47-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, but Ohio State's first touchdown did not arrive until 2:18 remained. Fahey connected with Smith for a one-yard score, giving the receiver his 40th career touchdown reception and the Big Ten's all-time record. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the Buckeyes trailing 27-18.
Ohio State attempted an onside kick, but USC recovered and added a field goal to push the lead to 30-18. The Buckeyes reached the USC 12-yard line on their final possession, but Fahey threw four consecutive incompletions to end their last opportunity.
The only bright spot for Ohio State was Jeremiah Smith, who finished with 10 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown while breaking two major records. Smith became the first Buckeye with three 1,000-yard receiving seasons, then caught his 40th career touchdown pass to become the Big Ten's all-time leader, passing Michigan's Braylon Edwards.
However, with Fahey facing a difficult assignment in his first start, and his teammates outside of Smith did little to ease the burden. Ohio State needed better protection, fewer penalties, and a stronger defensive performance. Instead, the Buckeyes struggled in all three areas and suffered their second loss of the season.
What's Next
Ohio State returns home Saturday, November 7, to face Oregon at Ohio Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, with the game televised on CBS.
