It is no longer a secret who the USC Trojans' offense should run through. It's also no secret who the best players on that unit actually are. This was a complete game across the board for the Trojans, as both the defense and offense stepped up big time against Ohio State. That was due to the best players on the team having their best games.
Here are the biggest studs and duds from the USC Trojans' seventh game of the season:
King Miller
The run game as a whole was a huge reason for the Trojans' success offensively. On just 13 carries, King Miller ran for 78 yards and a touchdown. He had a 6.0 yards-per-carry average, and his physicality set the tone. He picked up 4 first downs on the ground. It was not just his impact with the ball in his hands; he also made
a touchdown-sealing block for his running mate, Waymond Jordan, to find the end zone.
Waymond Jordan
Waymond Jordan did not play the previous week against the Wisconsin Badgers. He came into this game and delivered in his snaps. Jordan had 12 carries for 48 yards, but his touchdown put an exclamation point on what kind of game it was going to be. Jordan will continue to have an impact moving forward, and that is great for the Trojans' offense.
Trent Mosley
Jeremiah Smith, who? Trent Mosley was the best receiver in this game. Mosley kicked off the game with a 69-yard screen pass for a touchdown. Mosley finished the game with 5 catches for 101 yards. Mosley also had a 44-yard punt return to put the icing on the cake for his dominant game.
Mark Bowman
Mark Bowman's return for the USC Trojans took their offense to the next level. Bowman had just 3 catches for 79 yards. He had the play of the game and maybe the best play in recent memory for USC. His athleticism was on full display as he hurdled a Buckeyes defender and plowed through many defenders for a 70-yard gain. When that play happened, it was clear USC was going to win this game.
Entire offensive line
Last week against the Badgers. This week it was a completely different story. Elijah Paige was dominant, and every other player on this unit showed up. The Trojans do not run the football as effectively as they did without the big 5 guys up front playing at an elite level. Their play made the biggest difference in this game.
Alex VanSumeren
Alex VanSumeren was a key performer upfront. He had 3 tackles and joined in with Kameryn Crawford for a sack. Games like this are what VanSumeren was brought in for, and it was encouraging to see him perform at a high level.
Deven Bryant
Deven Bryant was flying all over the football field. Bryant had 11 tackles, and he led the Trojans' defense to their best performance of the season. The Trojans will need this again for their next two games as the season continues to heat up.
Here are some duds from Game 9:
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt was held in check and finished the game against the Buckeyes with zero catches. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is just as exciting as freshmen Mark Bowman and Trent Mosley. This performance does not hinder the excitement around him, and he has stepped up big time all season long while his counterparts were hurt. I would not be surprised to see him bounce back against the Indiana Hoosiers and have an elite performance.
Tanook Hines
On the other hand, in the biggest game of the season for USC, and a game that USC was able to win, Tanook Hines was a non-factor. He has been a player who has underachieved, but this is a game where you would at least expect him to get a target. There are some other big games for the Trojans coming up, and he has a shot to make an impact there, but it has never been clearer who Jayden Maiava trusts the most and who his best weapons are.
USC Trojans' run defense
The USC Trojans' defensive line had an impressive goal-line stand. The Trojans' defense made key stops against the run in important moments in the game. However, USC gave up more than they would have liked on the ground. That was the area where the Buckeyes were the most successful. Bo Jackson ran for 121 yards, and Isaiah West ran for 65 yards. Both backs had at least a 5.0-yard-per-carry average. That spells trouble in the future for USC against the UCLA Bruins.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football's biggest studs and duds from Week 9 vs Ohio State
