The No. 17 USC Trojans kept their College Football Playoff (CFP) hopes alive with a thrilling 26-21 win over the No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes. Rain poured down at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, soaking the field and raising the stakes. A pivotal interception late in the third quarter set up a go-ahead touchdown drive for USC.
USC’s win, their fifth straight series ending in points, showed off their resilience. They clawed back from a 14-point deficit to secure their eighth win of the season.
Key Moments in the Game
This one was a rollercoaster—both teams had moments of brilliance, even with the weather making everything a bit messier. Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski, a grad transfer from South Dakota State, was the star of the first half, involved in all three of Iowa’s touchdowns.
But USC’s defense and some gutsy calls started to shift things after the break.
First Half Highlights
Iowa’s offense came out swinging. Gronowski hit wide receiver Dayton Howard for a touchdown on a gutsy fourth-and-1 from the USC 2-yard line, putting the Hawkeyes on top early.
Not long after, Gronowski and tight end Hayden Large powered through for a rushing touchdown, stretching the lead to 14-0. USC answered with a touchdown run from Bryan Jackson.
Iowa fired back with a trick play that was honestly pretty fun to watch. Kaden Wetjen took a handoff, flipped the ball to Reece Vander Zee, who then threw a touchdown pass to Gronowski. That put Iowa up 21-7.
USC’s Comeback
USC, though, didn’t fold. Kicker Ryon Sayeri nailed a 40-yard field goal before halftime and tacked on another from 28 yards early in the third, trimming Iowa’s lead to 21-13.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava then put together a crucial drive, connecting with Makai Lemon for 35 yards and Ja’Kobi Lane for 14. Maiava finished it off with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Lemon, who racked up 10 catches for 153 yards in the game.
Game-Changing Interception
The real turning point? Late in the third quarter, facing third-and-4, Gronowski’s pass was tipped by USC cornerback Marcelles Williams and picked off by freshman Jahkeem Stewart—who goes by “Thanos,” which is pretty great. Stewart took it back to the Iowa 40.
USC turned that break into a six-play touchdown drive. Jackson punched in his second score, and suddenly USC led 26-21 early in the fourth quarter.
Iowa’s Final Drive
Iowa tried to rally, driving deep into USC territory. On a critical fourth-and-6, receiver Kaden Wetjen just couldn’t get his right toe down in bounds, turning the ball over.
That defensive stand sealed it for USC. For Iowa, it was their first loss after leading by 14 or more points since Halloween 2020. Ouch.
Implications for the Season
USC’s win keeps their CFP hopes flickering as they head into a tough road trip to No. 8 Oregon. Head coach Lincoln Riley, now in his third year, has the Trojans right back in the playoff conversation. A win against Oregon would be a huge boost to their résumé.
Iowa’s Struggles
For Iowa, this is their second straight gut-punch loss, coming off a last-second defeat to Oregon the week before. They were completely shut out in the second half against USC, a dramatic shift from their strong start.
Gronowski’s play was impressive, but USC’s defense and adjustments proved too much.
Standout Performances
- Jayden Maiava: The USC quarterback went 23-for-32, throwing for 254 yards and a touchdown. He stayed cool under pressure and made it count.
- Makai Lemon: Ten grabs for 153 yards and a score—Lemon delivered his fifth 100-yard game of the season. He’s become that go-to guy for Maiava.
- Jahkeem Stewart: The freshman’s interception changed everything. “Thanos” is a fitting nickname for the impact he had.
- Mark Gronowski: Even in defeat, Gronowski showed his versatility with a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown. The guy’s got grit.
Looking Ahead
USC’s got a massive challenge coming up against Oregon. They’ll need to keep up this momentum and stay focused if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Iowa, meanwhile, has some regrouping to do. If they want to finish strong, figuring out those second-half woes is going to be key.
The USC Trojans pulled off a gritty win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. Honestly, it was a wild finish and showed just how tough this team can be.
USC’s College Football Playoff hopes are still hanging on. Their next matchup with Oregon? That’s going to be a big one, no doubt.
Iowa, on the other hand, has to regroup. Those narrow losses sting, but maybe they’ll find a way to turn things around.
Want more details or curious about what this means for both teams? Check out the full article on Yahoo Sports.
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