Indiana Tops USC 27-13 Behind Defensive Performance and Big Plays

Behind a bend-but-don’t-break defensive performance and timely explosive plays on offense, Indiana football defeated USC 27-13 on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium to improve to 9-1 on the season.

USC moved the ball throughout the game, finishing with over 400 total yards. However, the Trojans repeatedly stalled when the field shrank, reaching the red zone five times and coming away with just one touchdown, two field goals, and two empty possessions.

Indiana’s red zone defense tightened when it mattered most. The Trojans missed a short field goal early in the fourth quarter, and Isaiah Jones later intercepted Jayden Maiava in the red zone to halt another scoring opportunity.

With the game hanging in the balance late in the fourth quarter, Jamari Sharpe added another interception to help seal the victory for the Hoosiers. Indiana entered the matchup allowing just 259 total yards per game, and Bryant Haines oversaw a unit that limited USC to 13 points despite the yardage disparity.

Making his first start of the season in place of Josh Hoover, Grant Wilson provided an immediate vertical spark for the Indiana passing attack. On the opening offensive possession, Wilson connected with Shazz Preston for 47 yards before finding Brock Schott for a touchdown.

Wilson later hit Nick Marsh for a 65-yard gain, continuing to take shots downfield. Despite the big plays, the Hoosiers struggled to sustain drives consistently, as the rushing attack remained largely ineffective for stretches and placed the offense in difficult third-down situations.

Wilson also threw an interception late in the first half that allowed USC to erase a potential two-score deficit and tie the game at 10-10 before halftime. For much of the night, Curt Cignetti’s team hovered near another nail-biter amid uncharacteristic self-inflicted mistakes.

Indiana finally put the game away in the final quarter. Leading by seven, the Hoosiers orchestrated a seven-play, 93-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 42-yard catch-and-run by Charlie Becker on third-and-3.

Sharpe’s subsequent interception off Maiava effectively ended any comeback hopes for the Trojans. Indiana secured the 27-13 win, moving to 9-1 as the season heads toward its final stretch.