University Southern California Trojans
November 02, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES—USC Football has been named the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America after defeating No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 on Halloween (Oct. 31).
This is USC's fifth selection for this honor, its first since a 20-17 victory over No. 5 Stanford in 2013. The Trojans also earned the honor in 2003 following a 23-0 victory at No. 6 Auburn, in 2005 after a 34-31 victory at Notre Dame, and in 2008 following a 35-3 rout of No. 5 Ohio State. Saturday's victory marks the second time USC has earned the award by defeating the Buckeyes. This is the 334th selection in the award's 25 seasons.
The victory marked USC's highest win over a ranked team since it defeated No. 2 Oklahoma in the 2004 season (Jan. 5, 2005). It was also USC's first home victory over an Associated Press top-five opponent since 2015. This was USC's 17th all-time win versus an AP top-two team which is third-most all time, and USC snapped Ohio State's 22 game road win streak against unranked opponents.
USC rebounded from a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin the previous week to score more points against Ohio State's defense than any opponent had in the Buckeyes' previous 31 games. The Trojans built a 20-9 halftime lead and extended their advantage to 27-9 in the third quarter before a rain-soaked Coliseum crowd stormed the field following the victory.
USC improves to 7-2, 4-2, and the Trojans now hold a 14-10-1 record over Ohio State. The win moves the Trojans to No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll and No. 17 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley set the tone with a career-long 69-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jayden Maiava on USC's second offensive play. Mosley finished with five receptions for 101 yards and added a 44-yard punt return that helped set up Waymond Jordan's nine-yard touchdown run. Maiava completed 15 of 22 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
Freshman tight end Mark Bowman provided another highlight with a 70-yard reception in the third quarter, hurdling a defender and breaking multiple tackles to set up King Miller's one-yard touchdown run. Kicker Caden Chittenden made field goals from 36 and 32 yards, while fellow kicker Ryon Sayeri connected from 54 yards, tying his career-long and matching the second longest field goal in USC history.
USC's defense kept Ohio State out of the end zone until 2:12 remained, holding the Buckeyes to three field goals on their first five possessions. Linebacker Desman Stephens II also forced a second-half fumble recovered by defensive tackle Floyd Boucard that set up Miller's touchdown and stopped Ohio State on downs in the closing minute, after the Buckeyes had driven to the USC 12-yard line.
"That's two of the best teams in the country on the field right there," Riley said. "It's going to come down to who plays the situations best, and we did it tonight."
The FWAA has recognized a National Team of the Week since the 2002 season. Weekly candidates are evaluated by the FWAA All-America Committee.
Each honored team receives a delivery of assorted Pop-Tarts and a custom-crafted game ball from Big Game USA, the Dallas-based manufacturer of handcrafted American-made footballs.
This is USC's fifth selection for this honor, its first since a 20-17 victory over No. 5 Stanford in 2013. The Trojans also earned the honor in 2003 following a 23-0 victory at No. 6 Auburn, in 2005 after a 34-31 victory at Notre Dame, and in 2008 following a 35-3 rout of No. 5 Ohio State. Saturday's victory marks the second time USC has earned the award by defeating the Buckeyes. This is the 334th selection in the award's 25 seasons.
The victory marked USC's highest win over a ranked team since it defeated No. 2 Oklahoma in the 2004 season (Jan. 5, 2005). It was also USC's first home victory over an Associated Press top-five opponent since 2015. This was USC's 17th all-time win versus an AP top-two team which is third-most all time, and USC snapped Ohio State's 22 game road win streak against unranked opponents.
USC rebounded from a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin the previous week to score more points against Ohio State's defense than any opponent had in the Buckeyes' previous 31 games. The Trojans built a 20-9 halftime lead and extended their advantage to 27-9 in the third quarter before a rain-soaked Coliseum crowd stormed the field following the victory.
USC improves to 7-2, 4-2, and the Trojans now hold a 14-10-1 record over Ohio State. The win moves the Trojans to No. 18 in the AP Top 25 poll and No. 17 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley set the tone with a career-long 69-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jayden Maiava on USC's second offensive play. Mosley finished with five receptions for 101 yards and added a 44-yard punt return that helped set up Waymond Jordan's nine-yard touchdown run. Maiava completed 15 of 22 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
Freshman tight end Mark Bowman provided another highlight with a 70-yard reception in the third quarter, hurdling a defender and breaking multiple tackles to set up King Miller's one-yard touchdown run. Kicker Caden Chittenden made field goals from 36 and 32 yards, while fellow kicker Ryon Sayeri connected from 54 yards, tying his career-long and matching the second longest field goal in USC history.
USC's defense kept Ohio State out of the end zone until 2:12 remained, holding the Buckeyes to three field goals on their first five possessions. Linebacker Desman Stephens II also forced a second-half fumble recovered by defensive tackle Floyd Boucard that set up Miller's touchdown and stopped Ohio State on downs in the closing minute, after the Buckeyes had driven to the USC 12-yard line.
"That's two of the best teams in the country on the field right there," Riley said. "It's going to come down to who plays the situations best, and we did it tonight."
The FWAA has recognized a National Team of the Week since the 2002 season. Weekly candidates are evaluated by the FWAA All-America Committee.
Each honored team receives a delivery of assorted Pop-Tarts and a custom-crafted game ball from Big Game USA, the Dallas-based manufacturer of handcrafted American-made footballs.
Players Mentioned
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LB
/ FootballSunday, November 01
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Saturday, October 31
Saturday, October 31
