THE USC Trojans lost to the Washington Huskies and lost their fifth game of the season and remains without victory on the road this season. This is the second straight season in which the Trojans have lost five games under coach. Lincoln Riley. To put things in perspective, Riley didn’t lose his fifth game at Oklahoma until year three.

“Were we fortunate enough to win every game, the answer to all of that is definitely yes,” Riley said. “But at the end of the day, whether you split or it comes down to the end. We hope to win and we haven’t done that enough.”

The offense found some momentum in the second quarter. A 12-play, 76-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard dive by Woody Marks put the Trojans on the board, but two touchdowns from Washington running back Jonah Coleman helped the Huskies lead by 20 -7 at halftime.

“I told you before, it’s like – how many weeks do we have to say this?” I understand. But, like, you’re going to change five, six plays this season, and then everyone’s like, ‘Oh my God, they’re really amazing,'” Riley said after the loss.

USC neglected the running game in the first half, calling 29 passing plays against just nine points. Moss finished the night with 50 pass attempts, and it marks the third time this season the redshirt junior has thrown 50 or more pass attempts in a game this season. 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams only had one game where he completed 50 pass attempts in his two seasons under center. Cardinal and Gold.

To start the second half, the Trojans started to lean into the running game and the offense completely changed. Three big runs from running back Woody Marks that all went for at least 13 yards brought the Trojans into Washington territory on their first possession of the second half. The drive stalled, but on fourth and nine, Moss found Lemon Makaiwho got behind the defense for a 37-yard touchdown to make the score 20-14. Lemon finished the night with eight receptions for 80 yards. Marks carried the ball 23 times for 123 yards. It was the fifth time this season that Marks reached the 100-yard mark.

On Washington’s ensuing possession, a fourth-down pass gave the ball right back to USC. After a big 42-yard completion to Zachariah Branch put them in the red zone, two plays later Moss connected with Ford for a 9-yard touchdown to give the Trojans their first lead of the night. Branch was spectacular, hauling in six receptions for 102 yards. The first 100-yard game of his career.

All of a sudden, the momentum shifted to USC until Moss was intercepted by Washington linebacker Carson Bruener – Moss’ third interception of the evening. Washington would regain the lead with a four-yard touchdown run from Keith Reynolds to make the score 26-21 after a failed two-point conversion.

USC’s offense responded with its own momentum. Marks converted three third-down plays, helping the Trojans get down to the one-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, Marks was pinned in the backfield for a three-yard loss.

“A failed mission from the start at the wrong time,” Riley said.

USC got the ball back with 1:36 left in regulation and no timeouts. Moss moved the Trojans down to the Washington 14-yard line, but three consecutive incompletions starting on second down ended the comeback attempt. Moss finished the night completing 30 of 50 passes for 293 yards, two touchdowns and a career-high three interceptions.

When the Trojans hired Riley away from Oklahoma with a lucrative 10-year, $110 million contract in November 2021, it was expected that by year three the Trojans would be competing for the championship of conference and in the College Football Playoff. Instead, the Trojans are fighting for bowl eligibility with three games remaining on the schedule.

USC will have a bye next week before hosting the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 16.