USC vs Iowa winners and losers: Trojans get physical on defense

The USC Trojans secured a massive conference home win, rallying from two separate 14-point deficits to defeat No. 21 Iowa, 26–21. USC’s defense delivered a second-half shutout that would’ve made Yoshinobu Yamamoto proud, locking down the Hawkeyes and sealing the comeback. Now ranked No. 17, the Trojans are poised to climb even higher as they turn their attention to their biggest test of the season in a pivotal road matchup against Oregon.

Winners

Lincoln Riley, Head Coach

There has been plenty of conversation surrounding Lincoln Riley throughout his tenure especially this season, with coaching rumors running rampant. But when the final whistle sounded on Saturday, USC’s head coach showed genuine emotion as his team delivered a program-defining victory.

It wasn’t just that the Trojans won, it was how they won by out-physicaling a very physical Iowa team. Riley has been building this program brick by brick for four seasons, and the results are finally beginning to surface. At 8–2, USC has proven it can win and will win hard-fought, Big Ten-style battles.

The standard at USC has never changed. But for the first time since Pete Carroll patrolled the Coliseum sidelines, it feels as though that standard is truly being met again. Perhaps even more importantly, the chance to exceed it is very much alive. And that has people in Troy excited about USC football again.

Second Half Defense

The Trojans’ offense has been elite this season, and while that may not come as a surprise, it’s certainly worth celebrating. But USC’s second-half dominance starts on the defensive side of the ball.

Let’s get the most absurd stat out of the way first. USC’s defense has allowed six total second-half points across their last three games. The offense has been terrific, but the defense after halftime has been operating at an even higher level.

Down 21–10 at the break, the Trojans looked overwhelmed by a one-dimensional Iowa offense that seemed poised to control the game. And with defensive injuries piling up, things could’ve unraveled quickly. Instead, Desman Stephens II and Christian Pierce rallied the unit, each finishing with a team-high seven tackles, while the defense came up with a once-in-a-lifetime ricochet interception that fell into the hands of standout freshman Jahkeem Stewart.

Iowa had four possessions in the second half and only one crossed midfield and that was on the final drive, which USC ended with a turnover on downs.

This defense continues to shine after halftime, and on Saturday they allowed just 21 points overall. More often than not, that will be enough for USC to win regardless of opponent.

Losers

Rainy Conditions

What was expected to be a festive Homecoming weekend in Los Angeles was instead shaped by steady rain, which had a noticeable impact on both the game and the surrounding atmosphere. While the Trojans handled their business on the field and the student section brought plenty of energy, the Coliseum as a whole appeared to suffer in attendance.

The rain persisted throughout the evening, and on television the environment seemed to dip as a result. It’s rare for a USC home game to feel subdued, but the thinning crowd once the weather turned could have had a significantly negative effect on the outcome. Fortunately for the Trojans, it didn’t.