USC Falls Short Again as Lincoln Riley's Road Woes Continue in Loss to Indiana
No. 18 USC dropped to 7-3 after a 27-13 road loss to No. 9 Indiana, extending head coach Lincoln Riley's struggles away from home against ranked opponents.
🧠AI AnalysisPhoto: The Athletic
Key points
- USC fell 27-13 to No. 9 Indiana, dropping to 7-3 on the season.
- Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw three interceptions and the offense capitalized just once on six trips inside the 35-yard line.
- Lincoln Riley's road record against ranked opponents fell to 1-8 during his tenure.
The No. 18 USC Trojans suffered another costly road defeat on Saturday, falling 27-13 to No. 9 Indiana in Bloomington. Despite reaching Indiana's 35-yard line six times, the Trojans managed only one touchdown, dropping to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten.
Head coach Lincoln Riley pointed to self-inflicted mistakes as the primary driver of the defeat. Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw three interceptions, kicker Caden Chittenden missed two field goal attempts, and the Trojans committed multiple special teams penalties. A crucial fourth-quarter red-zone interception by Indiana linebacker Isaiah Jones effectively sealed the outcome, overshadowing a defensive effort that also saw USC drop four potential picks.
- Final Score: No. 9 Indiana 27, No. 18 USC 13
- USC Record: 7-3 overall, 4-3 in Big Ten
- Key Turnovers: Three interceptions by Jayden Maiava and two missed field goals
The loss highlights a persistent trend for the program under Riley. The Trojans dropped to 12-12 in true road games during his tenure, including a dismal 1-8 record on the road against ranked opponents. A victory would have thrust USC into the 12-team College Football Playoff conversation and a tie for second place in the conference standings.
Source The Athletic — nytimes.com/athletic/7782496/2026/11/14/usc-indiana-lincoln-riley-s… ↗
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