USC rallies to beat Iowa 26-21, keeps College Football Playoff hopes alive
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Makai Lemon made 10 catches for 153 yards and a second-half touchdown, powering No. 17 Southern California to a 26-21 victory over Iowa on Saturday. The Trojans scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to overcome their largest deficit of the season and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Jayden Maiava passed for 254 yards, while Bryan Jackson rushed for two touchdowns as USC improved to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Pac-12. Trailing Iowa 21-7 late in the second quarter at a rain-soaked Coliseum, the Trojans mounted five consecutive scoring drives, capped by Jackson’s go-ahead touchdown run with 13:36 left in the game.
Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski threw a touchdown pass, made a TD run, and caught a scoring pass during an impressive first half. However, the Hawkeyes were shut out in the second half in what became another heartbreaking loss to a ranked opponent. The Hawkeyes fell to 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten.
The Hawkeyes finally mounted a strong drive late in the game but turned the ball over on downs at the USC 29-yard line with just under two minutes remaining. Following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against an Iowa assistant coach with 1:25 left, USC was able to run out the clock and secure the victory.
Rain-soaked battle at the Coliseum
Steady rain had been falling on Los Angeles for more than 24 hours before kickoff and continued throughout the game, making it the wettest USC home game in recent memory. Iowa seemed to handle the conditions better early on. Receiver Reece Vander Zee’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Gronowski—a perfect execution of the Philly Special trick play—highlighted Iowa’s strong first half.
USC persevered thanks to standout performances from star receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. Lane contributed seven catches for 65 yards, complementing Lemon’s dominant receiving display despite the weather challenges.
Key moments and plays
Despite being a run-first team, Iowa surprisingly threw the ball five times on its opening drive, culminating in Dayton Howard’s 2-yard touchdown reception from a scrambling Gronowski on fourth down. USC failed to score in the first quarter for the first time this season at home, but Gronowski rushed for a touchdown early in the second quarter to put Iowa ahead.
USC’s Jackson responded with a 1-yard touchdown on a direct snap to get the Trojans on the board, but Iowa answered with another strong drive, capped by a TD catch from Gronowski. Notably, Gronowski has caught a pass in all five seasons of his college football career, which began at South Dakota State.
After Lemon’s 12-yard touchdown catch tied the game, USC’s Jahkeem Stewart intercepted a deflected pass deep in Iowa territory, leading to Jackson’s second touchdown run and the Trojan comeback.
Takeaways
- Iowa: The Hawkeyes are a very good team but continue to fall just short of greatness. This loss marked their second heartbreaking defeat against ranked opponents this season, with Iowa having been edged by a combined 15 points in four such games. Saturday’s result was especially painful, coming in their first trip to the Coliseum since 1976.
- USC: Under head coach Lincoln Riley, the Trojans have a legitimate title-contending team midway through November, a feat not seen since his 2022 debut season. Demonstrating resilience and effective defensive adjustments, USC remains undefeated at home this season (6-0) and is set for a crucial matchup next weekend at No. 7 Oregon.
Up next
- Iowa: Hosts Michigan State on November 22.
- USC: Travels to No. 7 Oregon on November 22.
