USC vs. Washington score, takeaways: No. 5 Huskies run wild as defense fails No. 20 Trojans yet again

Washington running back Dillon Johnson had a career day to help keep his team in the hunt for a Pac-12 title

No. 5 Washington secured a 52-42 win at No. 20 USC on Saturday to inch one step closer towards earning its first Pac-12 Championship Game appearance since 2018. The Huskies relied on their ground attack instead of star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the first time all season and racked up 316 yards rushing. Dillon Johnson had a career high in attempts (26), yards (256) and touchdowns (four), and his 1-yard score with 2:23 remaining ultimately put the game away. Washington controlled the time of possession in the second half to limit USC's offense, led by reining Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.

• Washington came into Saturday ranked No. 117 in the FBS in rushing yards per game (102.2) but had its best team rushing performance of the season. Nearly 200 of Johnson's 256 yards came before contact.
• Washington extends its winning streak to 16 games, which dates back to the 2022 season. That run ranks No. 2 nationally behind two-time reigning national champion Georgia, which has won 26 consecutive games.
• USC no longer controls its own destiny in reaching the Pac-12 title game. With two conference losses ahead of a showdown with Oregon in Week 11, the Trojans will have to run the table and get some help to reach the conference title game for the second consecutive season under coach Lincoln Riley. USC, Utah, Arizona, UCLA and Oregon State all have two conference losses, and the Utes own the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Trojans. 

Read on below for takeaways from Washington's key win over USC on Saturday. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 11:51 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Even with top offensive talent, Riley can't take advantage 

At his postgame press conference, Lincoln Riley said he would not be talking about the big picture. Maybe he should.

Riley has an all-world quarterback in Williams, plenty of wide receivers that would be WR1 on other rosters in college football, and the leading rusher in the conference (MarShawn Lloyd). Yet Riley still hasn't found a way win at the levels expected of him despite the plethora of offensive talent on the roster. Riley had never lost three games in the regular season ... until this year. 

The defense has been absymal, and that can be traced back to Riley because he brought defensive coordinator Alex Grinch over from Oklahoma. USC came into the season with national championship aspirations, but now it will likely be unranked come Tuesday when the new College Football Playoff Rankings are released. With Williams and other top contributors likely departing for the NFL after this season, Riley will have to do some soul searching if he's to raise the ceiling of this program. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 11:31 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

It's time for USC to part ways with Alex Grinch

USC's defense has been a topic all season. Far too often, the takeaway is USC would be better off with a different person calling the plays. Grinch's style within the program is to bend but don't break by creating takeaways and hope the offense bails you out. When you have an all-world quarterback like Caleb Williams, that can be the case sometimes. 

Not this season. USC allowed Washington running back Dillon Johnson to have the best game of his career. It's one thing if this was a one-off occurrence, but if you go back to the Utah game just two weeks ago, USC allowed the Utes to have their best rushing performance of the season in a last-second loss. This style of defense just isn't sustainable in the long term -- especially when the Trojans join the Big Ten next season. Riley handpicked Grinch to call the defense when they departed Norman, Oklahoma, to Southern California. The sample size is large enough to show that this marriage isn't working. It needs to end as soon as possible for the benefit of both parties.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 11:21 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Washington has a clear path to the CFP

In the weeks after Washington knocked off Oregon in one of the best finishes of the college football season on Oct. 14, the Huskies have struggled. They squeaked by Arizona State and survived a slugfest with Stanford last weekend before pulling off their second marquee win of the season. But this was a nice bounce-back win that helps cement Washington as a favorite to make the Pac-12 Championship Gam. A path to the College Football Playoff -- which would be the conference's first appearance since the Huskies made the field in 2016 -- is also clear. 

The Huskies came into this weekend with one of the worst ground attacks in the country, but they proved with the win over the Trojans there's more than one way to skin a cat. Penix hasn't quite been at his apex lately and it still didn't matter. The Huskies found a way to win -- something they've done a lot of recently. If Washington can get past Utah, Oregon State and Washington State in the remaining weeks of the regular season, it will have the bona fides to be considered one of the best teams in the country. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 11:07 pm ET · Dean Straka]

Washington delivers likely dagger

Late 4Q: No. 5 Washington 52, No. 20 USC 42

That may very well be enough for the Huskies to leave Los Angeles on a victorious note as Dillon Johnson records his fourth rushing touchdown of the night. Washington's offense has completely flipped the script compared to some of the struggles it endured over the last two games, though offenses typically figure things out when facing a USC defense that continues to underwhelm. The Trojans have now allowed 101 points over their past two games. 

[Nov 4, 2023 at 10:47 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW gets stop

Mid 4Q: No. 5 Washington 45, No. 20 USC 42

After USC made a crucial defensive stand that forced a field goal attempt, UW answered with its own. Washington DL Voi Tunuufi sacked Williams for a 12-yard loss on third-and-13 to force a punt. The Huskies now get the ball back inside their own 10-yard line with a chance to extend the lead even further with less than eight minutes to go.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 10:36 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

USC defense steps up

Early 4Q: No. 5 Washington 45, No. 20 USC 42

After Washington moved the ball inside the USC red zone, the Huskies couldn't end the drive with six. USC linebacker Eric Gentry sacked Penix for a 7-yard loss on third-and-9 to end the drive. The Trojans now get the ball back with a chance to take the lead.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 10:22 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

USC responds

Late 3Q: No. 5 Washington 42, No. 20 USC 42

Stop me if you have heard this before: USC answered with a touchdown drive. The Trojans used a seven-play, 83-yard drive to knot things up at 42 in the final minutes of the third quarter. Williams' third touchdown pass of the night was a 20-yard strike to Mario Williams to tie the game again. This Pac-12 showdown has had everything: Big plays, long touchdowns, star power. It may just come down to who has the football last.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 10:07 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW answers

Mid 3Q: No. 5 Washington 42, No. 20 USC 35

After USC scored a touchdown on its first drive of the second half, Washington responded. The Huskies capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Penix. Washington has 448 yards on offense and is averaging 8.5 yards per play. On the flip side, the Trojans are also averaging 8.5 yards per play, but have 100 fewer total yards.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 9:57 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

USC takes advantage of turnover

Early 3Q: No. 5 Washington 35, No. 20 USC 35

What a response by the USC offense after fumbling in the final minutes of the first half. After the Trojans defense forced its first turnover of the game, Caleb Williams led an eight-play, 80-yard drive that was capped with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Brenden Rice. Williams is 16 of 20 for 190 yards with three total touchdowns.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 9:51 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

USC forces takeaway

Early 3Q: No. 5 Washington 35, No. 20 USC 28

On the first offensive possession of the second half, Washington marched down the field before USC defensive back Christian Roland-Wallace picked off Michael Penix Jr. in the end zone. This is the first takeaway from the Trojans defense tonight and only the seventh interception Penix has thrown this season. This is certain to be a turning point if USC can put up points on this drive.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 9:22 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Halftime: No. 5 Washington 35, No. 20 USC 28

Over 600 yards of offense have been gained and 63 points scored in a wild one as Washington holds a 35-28 lead over USC at the half. Many expected an offensive shootout coming in, and this game has lived up to the hype and then some thus far. 

The Trojans provided one of the highlights of the year in the final minutes of the second quarter. USC ran a sweep to WR Zachariah Branch, and it looked like he was going to be brought down for a loss before he tossed it back to Caleb Williams, who found a wide open Tahj Washington for a 41-yard touchdown. After Washington tied the game at 28, the Huskies forced a turnover which resulted in a short touchdown run by Dillon Johnson in the final minute of the half. With so much on the line, the second half is shaping up to be one for the ages.

[Nov 4, 2023 at 9:10 pm ET · Dean Straka]

USC pulls off spectacular TD

The offenses have stolen the show tonight at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and no single play thus far arguably stands taller than a trick play USC used to take a 28-21 lead late in the second quarter. Trojans star quarterback Caleb Williams initially handed the ball off to star freshman Zachariah Branch, only for Branch to reverse and flip the ball back to Williams before the reigning Heisman winner found Tahj Washington wide open for the 41-yard strike. It looks like coach Lincoln Riley is ready to call everything he has in the bag tonight as USC looks to knock off the undefeated Huskies.