Waymond Jordan made his presence felt against Ohio State with just 12 carries, wearing down the Buckeyes' defense and averaging 4.0 yards per carry for a total of 48 yards. His effectiveness gave the USC Trojans a bruising edge in the run game that they will need to replicate against Indiana. The Trojans' offense hit its stride when Jordan found his rhythm, signaling a return to form for their running back.
Trent Mosley made an early impact in the same game with a 69-yard touchdown catch and finished with 101 yards on five receptions. Mosley outshone Jeremiah Smith, who is widely regarded as the best receiver in the country, proving the freshman’s ability to perform under pressure. His breakout performance against one of the nation’s top defenses is exactly what USC hopes to see more of from its most recent recruiting class.
Mark Bowman returned to the lineup and immediately changed the dynamic for the Trojans. The freshman tight end made a 70-yard big play early against Ohio State, setting a tone of physicality and effort that seemed to energize the entire team. Bowman’s presence was missed before, and his return brought an added dimension to USC’s offense. The energy he brings will be important against Indiana.
The offensive line, which struggled against Wisconsin by allowing five sacks and producing negative rushing yards, rebounded sharply against the Buckeyes. They limited Jayden Maiava to just one sack while opening lanes for the running game. Their dominant performance in the trenches helped USC control the pace on offense and will be critical against Indiana’s defensive front.
Defensively, Alex VanSumeren had a solid outing with three tackles and half a sack. While his stats may not jump off the page, his disruption helped USC’s defense deliver its best performance of the season. The Trojans will be hoping he continues to apply pressure and influence the game as they face the Hoosiers.
In the secondary, Jontez Williams matched up with Jeremiah Smith and effectively limited him to three catches for seven yards. Williams’ coverage was a major reason the Buckeyes struggled to move the ball consistently. His ability to contain top-level receivers will be tested again this weekend.
Not all USC players carried momentum into the Indiana game. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt was a non-factor against Ohio State, failing to record a single target. The talented freshman’s absence in the passing game was noticeable, and USC will need him to contribute more as they face tougher competition ahead.
Zacharyus Williams also saw a dip in production after a productive stretch earlier in the season. His ability to stretch defenses and provide big-yardage plays has been limited recently. Lincoln Riley will need to find ways to involve Williams more to keep opposing defenses off balance.
After a week off, the Trojans are in better shape than they were earlier in the season. The performances of Jordan and Mosley in particular have given the team a boost heading into one of their biggest games of the year against Indiana. The offensive line and defensive standouts like VanSumeren and Williams offer additional reasons for optimism as USC looks to build on its upset over Ohio State. The Hoosiers will face a Trojans squad that has shown it can rise to the occasion when key players step up.
According to Yahoo Sports.
