This story was updated with quotes on Oct. 3, 2026 at 9:35 p.m.
When Washington junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr. dropped back on fourth and 12 at No. 18 USC’s 21-yard line, trailing by four, it seemed unlikely that the Trojans would make the stop. After all, Washington had gone 3-for-3 on third down so far during Saturday’s game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Williams tossed a lob to the endzone with 39 seconds left on the clock, where it was broken up by USC redshirt senior safety Prophet Brown, punctuating the Trojans’ narrow victory.
While USC improved to 5-1, the victory leaves a lot to be desired for a College Football Playoff-hopeful group.
The Trojans were plagued by mistakes all day. A senseless illegal formation on a would-be 37-yard touchdown toss to freshman wideout Kayden Dixon-Wyatt prevented USC from taking a 14-3 lead in the first quarter.
Instead, Washington canned redshirt senior quarterback Jayden Maiava and forced a punt. Shortly thereafter, freshman defensive tackle Luke Wafle’s monster chasedown of Williams was wiped by a facemask penalty.
On its final offensive possession of the half, USC had to forfeit a fourth and one opportunity at midfield because of an unsportsmanlike conduct call. The Trojans committed five penalties in the first half, totaling 50 total yards.
“It wasn’t a very clean performance. Penalties were just massive in this game. I felt like for a really long period of the game we were really outplaying them, but, when you make some of those mistakes, you just kind of, let it keep kind of keep hanging around just have missed opportunities,” head coach Lincoln Riley said postgame.
In sum, the Trojans committed nine penalties for 84 yards, a season high. Even so, USC was able to amend their first half woes, leaning on their robust offensive unit to escape a second consecutive loss, but Riley’s unit won’t be able to rely on roster alone as their docket intensifies in the coming weeks.
A physicality differential is usually an impossible obstacle for a less talented squad, and Saturday was no outlier.
Even when Riley’s aptitude as a program manager comes into question, his knack for player acquisition is undeniable. His squad’s sheer talent was enough for USC to hurdle its subpar play, but that can’t be the norm if the Trojans want to compete on a national level.
It is absolutely imperative for USC to dust off the basics before its trip out east next week.
Washington’s Williams completed 15 passes for 198 yards. Husky sophomore wideout Chris Lawson was his favorite target, burning USC’s cornerbacks on more than one occasion, completing two pivotal fourth-down conversions late in the fourth quarter. Lawson notched 82 yards on five catches.
Husky sophomore wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck also threw for a touchdown to sophomore tight end Baron Naone.
USC was sound in the trenches, notching five sacks against Washington’s one. The Trojans had few problems penetrating the Huskies’ leaky offensive line, but spotty tackling and a talented backfield let Washington snag a respectable day on the ground.
Washington freshman running back Brian Bonner Jr. was problematic for the Trojans, managing 89 yards on 16 carries. The Huskies docked 116 total rushing yards to the Trojans’ 115.
Williams was under duress all night, but the pressure crystallized in the third quarter when USC redshirt sophomore linebacker Elijah Newby completed a strip sack. The loose ball was then scooped up by sophomore defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart, who made his way to the endzone to give USC the 22-21 lead after another failed two-point conversion.
“We don’t want to hold the ball. We don’t want to not take our shots. We don’t want to not press the ball down the field. We definitely want to find those easier throws,” Washington head coach Jedd Fisch said about his offensive approach postgame.
Stewart, who was nursing a rolled ankle sustained in the second quarter, did not tab any tackles alongside the scoop-and-score. Junior safety Christian Pierce led the team with nine tackles. Freshman defensive tackle Luke Wafle notched one sack, the first of his career as a Trojan.
USC looked out of form on both sides of the ball through halftime. Maiava completed 12 passes on 18 attempts alongside an interception, only throwing for one touchdown.
Washington was similarly sloppy in the back half, recording 10 penalties worth 74 yards.
USC has the athletes, but can’t seem to get out of its own way. The Trojans lack of follow through points to an executive issue, one that all the five star recruits in the world can’t mend. That turns the spotlight to personnel.
USC is far from fully realized, but that begs the question: will the Trojans ever fully arrive?
The win will keep USC’s head above water in the Playoff race, but the team Riley fielded Saturday has much to consider before its postseason viability. Trips to Wisconsin, Penn State and a home date with Ohio State will stretch a fundamentally sore Trojans group. Those contests will likely not be as forgiving as Saturday.
The Oregon loss exposed a host of questions about USC’s ability to endure its exceptionally difficult slate. Even in a win, those questions loom large.
USC will travel to Happy Valley at Beaver Stadium next week to take on Penn State at 4:30 p.m. PDT at Beaver Stadium.
Edited by Adriana Brady and Sammie Vassallo