Indiana Defeats USC 27-13 to Close in on College Football Playoff Berth
Ninth-ranked Indiana improved to 9-1 with a 27-13 victory over No. 18 USC, positioning themselves firmly in the College Football Playoff picture.
🎓College SportsPhoto: The Athletic
Key points
- Indiana moves to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten.
- Grant Wilson threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns for the Hoosiers.
- USC dropped to 7-3 after quarterback Jayden Maiava threw three interceptions.
Ninth-ranked Indiana secured a 27-13 victory over No. 18 USC at Memorial Stadium, lifting the Hoosiers to a 9-1 overall record and 6-1 in the Big Ten. According to projections from The Athletic, the win gives Indiana a 98 percent probability of securing a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers close out their regular season with matchups against Washington and Purdue.
Seventh-year senior quarterback Grant Wilson started for Indiana despite Josh Hoover returning to availability following an arm injury. Wilson mixed spectacular throws with costly miscues, finishing with 305 passing yards and two touchdowns, including a decisive 42-yard scoring pass to Charlie Becker with 3:30 remaining. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava threw three interceptions, highlighted by a crucial fourth-quarter pick by Isaiah Jones at the 1-yard line that squashed a potential tying drive.
USC dropped to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in conference play, extending a long-standing road drought against ranked opponents outside of Southern California. Lincoln Riley’s squad struggled on the line of scrimmage and committed key errors in the red zone, leaving their postseason ambitions severely damaged.
- Key Stat: Indiana's defense held firm in the red zone, while USC quarterback Jayden Maiava was intercepted three times.
- Standout Play: Grant Wilson connected with Charlie Becker for a 42-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
- Standings Impact: The Hoosiers stand at 6-1 in Big Ten play with games against Washington and Purdue remaining.
Source The Athletic — nytimes.com/athletic/7782092/2026/11/14/usc-indiana-score-results-t… ↗
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