Washington dropped a 25-21 decision to No. 18 USC at Memorial Coliseum, blowing a second-half lead after a fumble was returned 48 yards for a touchdown. The defeat marks the Huskies’ second consecutive Big Ten loss and unofficially knocks them out of the College Football Playoff race.
Demond Williams Jr. Falters Late as USC Overcomes Washington
Demond Williams Jr. directed an offense that went three-and-out on four of its first five drives, gaining just 13 total yards early on. The Huskies failed to convert a single third down until late in the fourth quarter, finishing a dismal 1-for-12 in that category. By all standard metrics, Washington had no reason to expect to beat No. 18 USC on a scorching Saturday evening at Memorial Coliseum. Yet Washington clawed back into contention using a handful of trick plays and built a two-score lead early in the third quarter.
That momentum vanished when Williams fumbled and USC defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart returned the loose ball 48 yards to the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown.
Down four points with 5:16 remaining, Williams got the ball back at the UW 5-yard line and engineered a late-game surge. He converted two fourth-down attempts, including a 43-yard pass to wide receiver Chris Lawson and a 5-yard toss to wideout Dezmen Roebuck that pushed the Huskies into the red zone.
On fourth-and-10 from the USC 18-yard line with 1:22 left, Williams threw into double coverage toward Roebuck in the corner of the end zone. The pass sailed long and out of bounds, sealing the 25-21 defeat against No. 18 USC. Williams finished the night with 198 yards on 15-of-26 passing, absorbed four sacks, and surrendered the costly fumble.
Jedd Fisch Mixes Up Offensive Line and Uses Trick Plays
Roebuck tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Baron Naone in the back of the end zone, and tight end Kade Eldridge took a direct snap for a 1-yard touchdown plunge. Fisch emptied the playbook to keep the Trojans off balance, deploying a double pass and a flea-flicker. Seventh-year lineman Geirean Hatchett shifted to left guard, while sophomore Champ Taulealea stepped in at right guard.
Earlier in the contest, the Trojan offense drove 75 yards seemingly at ease before some red zone resilience and an important third-down tackle by UW cornerback Dylan Robinson forced USC to settle for a 26-yard field goal by kicker Caden Chittenden. Punter Hunter Greene contributed a 63-yard effort that was muffed by returner Terrell Anderson. Despite such special teams efforts, the Trojan offense later responded on its second drive of the half when quarterback Jayden Maiava punctuated a seven-minute, 75-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Tanook Hines.
Washington committed 10 penalties totaling 74 yards, pushing its season total to 41 penalties and 389 penalty yards.
First-year running back Brian Bonner Jr. provided a bright spot on the ground, tallying career highs with 89 rushing yards on 19 carries. Even with Bonner’s production, the short-handed Huskies finished with just 117 rushing yards.
Jayden Maiava Sparks Trojan Second-Half Response
Washington’s defense held the Trojans to 19 offensive points—well below their season average of 39.8 points per game—backed by nickel Rashawn Clark’s game-high-tying nine tackles and an early interception by safety Rylon Dillard-Allen off a pressure from defensive tackle Darin Conley. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava engineered the comeback, finishing with 245 yards on 21-of-34 passing with one touchdown and one interception.
The Trojans capitalized on Washington’s defensive lapses in the second half, however. Maiava orchestrated a seven-minute, 75-yard drive punctuated by a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tanook Hines midway through the third quarter, setting the stage for Stewart’s defensive scoop-and-score moments later.
Huskies Fall in Big Ten Standings
The loss drops Washington to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play, unofficially eliminating the Huskies from the College Football Playoff race. It also snaps a three-game winning streak that Washington held against USC, handing the Trojans their first victory in the head-to-head series since 2016.
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