USC football suffered a second loss this season, putting the Trojans’ playoff aspirations on life support.
Coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans stumbled to a 24-7 loss in Wisconsin, which led to Badgers fans storming the field after the game.
The Trojans were ranked No. 15 in the US LBM Coaches Poll but may fall out entirely as a result of their latest loss, which dropped USC to 6-2.
USC will need to bounce back in a big way in its next game ... against No. 2 Ohio State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Halloween.
Riley stated earlier in the year that this was the most complete roster he’d had at USC. He had some reason to believe that with the country's No. 1 recruiting class and returning a quarterback like Jayden Maiava.
That statement has
lost its luster since, though.
Here are some of the worst moments of USC’s season:
Trojans mocked for attendance at season opener (Aug. 29)
USC took care of business and earned a 42-26 victory in its season opener.
That wasn’t the problem.
The Trojans were criticized for the lack of fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on a 92-degree day.
The visuals made the rounds on social media during the days that followed. That situation is nothing new in Los Angeles. UCLA has also faced similar criticisms of an empty Rose Bowl for sunny early games in recent years.
USC stumbles against Oregon (Sept. 26)
The loss at home to Oregon didn't look good then and doesn't look good now.
The Ducks pulled away for a 41-27 victory after a big second half, which saw Oregon score a pair of touchdowns in each of the final two quarters.
Oregon has lost two of its three games since the big win against the Trojans. The Ducks fell to 4-3 on the season after a loss to Illinois and are likely out of College Football Playoff contention.
It’s a blemish on the USC resume that has only continued to grow with each passing week.
USC player ejected from game vs. Ducks (Sept. 26)
Desman Stephens II probably had the most embarrassing moment for the Trojans this season.
During the game against Oregon, Stephens delivered a big, nasty hit to quarterback Dante Moore. The hit knocked Moore out of the game and sent him to the hospital. He was said to have suffered a concussion and has missed multiple games.
Prayers to Dante Moore who was carted off after a scary hit.
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 27, 2026
Dylan Raiola is now in the game.
📺: NBC pic.twitter.com/r2l8I3zMKG
Stephens' actions that followed didn't help the situation. He was allowed to stay on the sidelines after the ejection and was seen celebrating and smiling after the hit.
Stephens was later suspended for one game by USC.
While Riley did express disappointment in Stephens, the coach did offer the following message: “A young person who made a mistake. And I would ask all the people out there. … If that was your son and he made a mistake, how would you want it handled?”
Stephens also released a statement that included the following: "Seeing a player injured like that is incredibly serious, and my reaction in the moments afterward was completely inappropriate and inexcusable."
USC's offense struggles to score in loss (Oct. 24)
The Trojans’ latest loss feels like an all-time low for Riley.
Maiava and the offense produced just seven points against Wisconsin, the lowest scoring total for a team with Riley at the helm.
Riley's teams have never scored fewer than 14 points in a game, with the previous low happening when Riley’s Oklahoma Sooners lost to the Baylor Bears 27-14 back in 2021.
The USC offense struggled to get anything going, only being able to execute one explosive play of 15 or more yards. USC’s only score of the game came when Maiava found tight end Taniela Tupou for a 4-yard touchdown.
Maiava didn’t help early, throwing two interceptions in the first quarter.
Jayden Maiava with a touchdown saving tackle after his second INT in the 1st Qtr
— Scott Schrader (@SchraderOn3) October 25, 2026
Wisconsin leads 3-0 @On3USC pic.twitter.com/0OXBSxtMli
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USC football timeline: The worst moments of the 2026 season
