Grant Wilson Throws for 305 Yards as No. 6 Indiana Beats No. 15 USC 27-13
Grant Wilson Throws for 305 Yards as No. 6 Indiana Beats No. 15 USC 27-13
Backup quarterback Grant Wilson threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns in his first start since 2024, leading No. 6 Indiana to a 27-13 victory over No. 15 USC on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
The win, Indiana’s first ever over USC, improved the Hoosiers to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten. It was also their first victory over a ranked opponent this season, a result that strengthens their case with the College Football Playoff selection committee after they fell five spots in the rankings during their bye week.
Wilson delivers after surprise start
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti made the call at game time. Josh Hoover, who had started Indiana’s first nine games, was cleared to play, but Cignetti went with Wilson anyway. The 25-year-old veteran responded with the best performance of his Indiana career.
Wilson finished 17 of 27 passing for 305 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He started fast, hitting Shazz Preston for a 47-yard completion on Indiana’s third play before finding tight end Brock Schott for a 13-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Wilson’s day was not flawless. He put the ball in danger several times, and USC dropped at least four potential interceptions. But when the game was on the line, he delivered. Starting at his own 7-yard line, Wilson directed a seven-play, 93-yard drive and hit Charlie Becker for a 42-yard touchdown on third-and-three with 3:30 remaining, sealing the 27-13 lead.
It was the second straight week Wilson and Becker connected for a decisive score. Against Minnesota, Wilson came off the bench and found Becker for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime.
“It’s awesome, this brotherhood that we have right here, it’s second to none,” Wilson said after the game, adding a word for the man he replaced. “I just want to give a shoutout to Josh, he’s been through so much with his shoulder, he’s worked so hard to come back, this is still his team.”
Khobie Martin added a 1-yard touchdown run for Indiana, which scored 27 points, its most since a Week 5 win over Rutgers.
Indiana’s defense shuts down USC in the red zone
Indiana’s defense did the rest. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 311 yards on 26 of 42 passing, but the Trojans managed only one touchdown on five trips inside the red zone, and Maiava was intercepted three times, twice in the fourth quarter.
Jacob Savage led Indiana with 13 tackles. The Hoosiers’ defense held firm late, with two fourth-quarter interceptions slamming the door on a USC team that had beaten Ohio State a week earlier.
USC fell to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play. The loss damages the Trojans’ own playoff hopes after their statement win over the Buckeyes.
Why this matters
Indiana entered Saturday at 8-1 but without a win over a ranked opponent, a deficiency that sent the Hoosiers from No. 4 to No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings during their bye week. The committee had made clear that Indiana needed a quality win, and the Hoosiers delivered one, at home, against a USC team coming off the biggest win of its season.
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The victory keeps Indiana in strong position to reach the College Football Playoff for a third straight season. The Hoosiers have now won three straight since losing to then-No. 2 Ohio State, and they did it with a backup quarterback and a defense that refused to let USC back into the game.
It also raises a question Cignetti will have to answer this week: Wilson, not Hoover, is now the quarterback who just beat a ranked opponent. Cignetti spent part of the bye week wondering whether bad losses still count in college football. On Saturday, his team gave the committee a good win to consider, and he may have found his quarterback in the process.
Latest developments
Indiana has two regular-season games remaining: at Washington next week, followed by the regular-season finale against Purdue. USC will look to regroup after a defeat that ended its momentum following the Ohio State upset.
The new College Football Playoff rankings, released Tuesday, will show how much the committee rewards Indiana’s first ranked win of the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who started at quarterback for Indiana against USC?
Backup Grant Wilson started in place of Josh Hoover. Hoover was cleared to play, but coach Curt Cignetti chose Wilson, who threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns in his first start since 2024.
What is Indiana’s record after beating USC?
Indiana improved to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers are ranked No. 6 in the AP poll and No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Has Indiana ever beaten USC before?
No. The 27-13 victory was the first win over USC in Indiana program history, and the Hoosiers’ first win over a ranked opponent this season.
What does the win mean for Indiana’s playoff hopes?
It strengthens Indiana’s resume considerably. The Hoosiers had dropped from No. 4 to No. 9 in the CFP rankings during their bye week because they lacked a ranked win. Beating USC gives the committee the quality victory it was waiting for.
Indiana’s season is no longer defined by what it has not done. The Hoosiers beat a ranked opponent with a backup quarterback, and they did it comfortably. The playoff picture now runs through Bloomington.
Related coverage: Wales Stuns New Zealand 35-28 for First Win Over the All Blacks in 73 Years | No. 1 Georgia Routs No. 22 Missouri 48-21 Behind Nate Frazier’s Three Touchdowns | No. 16 Oregon Routs Michigan 31-7 as Dylan Raiola Throws Four Touchdowns
Sources: NBC Sports; theScore; 247Sports; WDRB; Crimson Quarry; Sportradar.
