BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana beat USC by a final score of 27-13 Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Below are three quick reasons why the Hoosiers won, along with highlights and final stats.
Indiana (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) hits the road next week to take on Washington.
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Three quick reasons why Indiana beat USC
1. Defense stood tall when it mattered most: Indiana has relied on its defense so often this season, and the unit has delivered. This game played out the same way. USC put pressure on the Hoosiers with some uptempo offense and some chunk plays down the field. But IU got the job done when it counted, allowing only one touchdown in USC’s five red-zone trips. Bryant Haines’ unit held the Trojans to two field goals, a missed kick, and a turnover in the other appearances.
2. Isaiah Jones makes a huge play: Isaiah “Bones” Jones has made a lot of big plays throughout his Indiana football career. He may never recapture the high of his touchdown in the national championship game off a blocked punt. But he added another moment to his list Saturday. USC’s last red-zone trip, midway through the fourth quarter, stretched inside the IU 10-yard-line. The Trojans attempted a quick slant pass that could’ve become a game-tying touchdown. But Jones jumped the route and intercepted USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, in a massive momentum shift back towards the Hoosiers. IU turned that takeaway into a touchdown three minutes later on a 42-yard pass to Charlie Becker.
3. Good enough Grant: Curt Cignetti left uncertainty during the week as to whether Josh Hoover or Grant Wilson would start at quarterback. Wilson ended up getting the nod, and the sixth-year had plenty of ups and downs on Saturday. He threw an interception late in the first half, a back-breaking error that allowed the Trojans to tie the game going into halftime. And he had a few other throws that nearly turned into interceptions as well — Nick Marsh made a big play in the fourth quarter to break up a catch by a USC defender. But overall, Wilson was good enough to get the job done for IU. He finished 17 for 27 for 305 yards, with two touchdowns and the pick. He completed four passes for at least 20 yards.
HIGHLIGHTS
This story will be updated.
FINAL STATS
