No. 18 USC completed a dramatic comeback against Washington on Saturday night, overcoming a 21-10 second-half deficit to beat the Huskies 25-21 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Washington vs USC matchup delivered a late defensive turnaround, with Jahkeem Stewart returning a fumble 48 yards for the go-ahead touchdown as the Trojans scored the game’s final 15 points.
USC vs Washington Score
The final USC vs Washington score was:
USC 25, Washington 21
The victory improved the Trojans to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play, while Washington fell to 3-2 and 0-2 in conference action.
USC trailed 21-10 before its defense took over. The Trojans stopped Washington from scoring during the final 28:30 and made several crucial plays to secure the win.
Washington Football Takes Early Control
Washington football started strongly and appeared poised to pull off an upset on the road.
Demond Williams Jr. threw for 198 yards, his lowest passing total of the season, but he helped the Huskies build a double-digit advantage. Washington took the lead shortly before halftime when Kade Eldridge scored on a touchdown dive.
Decker DeGraaf then delivered another huge play, taking a short pass and turning it into a 42-yard touchdown after USC defenders failed to force him out of bounds.
Washington’s offense, however, struggled to maintain that momentum after halftime.
USC Football Completes the Comeback
USC football responded with its best stretch of the night.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava finished with 245 passing yards and connected with Tanook Hines for a second-half touchdown. Hines made a spectacular 10-yard grab, taking the ball away from a Washington defender for the score.
The biggest play came late in the third quarter.
Washington quarterback Demond Williams lost the football while attempting to escape pressure. USC defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart recovered the fumble and raced 48 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
That play changed the game completely.
USC’s defense prevented Washington from scoring again and protected the narrow lead through the final quarter.
Demond Williams Gets One Last Chance
Despite a difficult second half, Demond Williams Jr. nearly engineered a dramatic Washington comeback.
Williams led a late drive that started at Washington’s own 5-yard line and moved all the way to the USC 12. The Huskies converted two fourth downs and a third-and-11 during the drive.
With 39 seconds remaining, USC’s Kameryn Crawford sacked Williams on third down.
Washington then faced a final opportunity, but Williams’ pass into double coverage in the end zone fell incomplete, ending the comeback attempt.
Williams acknowledged the costly fumble after the game, saying he needed to put the Huskies in a better position to win.
USC Washington Rivalry Produces Another Thriller
The USC Washington rivalry added another close chapter, with USC earning its first victory over the Huskies since 2016.
Washington has now lost two consecutive games by a combined seven points, leaving Jedd Fisch’s team searching for answers as the offense struggles on third downs.
For USC, the win provides an important confidence boost following last week’s disappointing loss to Oregon.
The Trojans still committed nine penalties for 94 yards, showing there is plenty to improve. However, their defense produced the critical plays when the game was on the line.
UW vs USC: Key Takeaways
The UW vs USC game highlighted two very different stories.
For Washington, the Huskies showed they can compete with a ranked opponent but couldn’t finish after building a 21-10 advantage. Their inability to convert key third downs and the late Williams fumble proved costly.
For USC, the comeback demonstrated resilience. The Trojans allowed Washington to control much of the game but shut down the Huskies late and produced two crucial defensive plays to secure the victory.
Lincoln Riley also faced pressure from the USC crowd during the comeback attempt, with chants of “Fire Lincoln!” heard from the student section when the Trojans were trailing.
The eventual victory should ease some of that pressure, although USC’s nine penalties remain a major concern.
What’s Next for Washington and USC?
Washington will return home to face Iowa on Friday night, looking to end its two-game losing streak.
USC faces another major challenge next Saturday, Oct. 10, when the Trojans travel to face Penn State.
The USC score against Washington ultimately reflected a game that changed dramatically in the second half, with USC’s defense turning a 21-10 deficit into a 25-21 victory.
Final Stats Snapshot
| Team | Score | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Huskies | 21 | 3-2 |
| No. 18 USC Trojans | 25 | 5-1 |
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