# Mistake-prone USC football falters in big moments of devastating setback

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/mistake-prone-usc-football-falters-in-big-moments-of-devastating-setback/
- Published: 2026-11-15T00:08:40+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T01:23:50+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/14/sports/usc-football-indiana-college-football-playoff-hopes/
- Topics: Football, Sport, World

## Key points

- USC lost 27-13 to Indiana.
- The defeat likely ended the Trojans’ playoff hopes.
- Lincoln Riley faces renewed scrutiny.

## Summary

USC’s 27-13 defeat by Indiana dealt a likely fatal blow to the Trojans’ College Football Playoff hopes and renewed questions about coach Lincoln Riley’s future. A late interception by Indiana’s Isaiah Jones stopped USC’s chance to tie the game, and the No. 18 Trojans could not recover against the No. 9 Hoosiers.

USC fell to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten, converting just two of 11 third downs, missing two field goals and making several special-teams errors. Indiana improved to 9-1 and 6-1 as backup quarterback Grant Wilson passed for 305 yards and two touchdowns; his 42-yard touchdown pass with 3:30 remaining sealed the win. USC next hosts Maryland before ending its regular season against UCLA on 28 November.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.