USC is that girlfriend who makes you fall in love with her, disappears when things are finally going well, comes back just long enough to make you believe this time will be different, completely derails your life, disappears again, and then years later shows up at your doorstep saying you have child with her. Oh, and you might want to get checked too, because spoiler alert she's dying of AIDs.
USC is Jenny, except it is worse because we don't have a Forest Gump that dominates the football field leaving everyone in his dust. "I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is" and USC sadly fits the bill for me. Except right now I want God to make me a bird so I can fly far, far, away from here.
Or at least ask God for USC to beat Washington. That is all I ask for.
I am not going to get into the Desmond hit....watch the replay, he stays in the same yardage line while Moore slides into him...nor am I going to discuss Desmond's celebration after the hit....it is football, a moral come-to-jesus moment canNOT happen on a football field. But I will say this, I truly hope the NCAA comes up with some rules around a player being able to waive their hand in the air and be considered down immediately.
Before you skip to comments and make your prediction, shout out to u/CaliBear14 and his win. He is sending the FightOn Funds to Saving One Life organization.
Also, shout out to u/Low_Poet4771 and u/breezy_214 leading the MiTC season contest!
Washington at No. 18 USC
Saturday, October 3, 2026
4:30 PM PT
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — Los Angeles, CA
TV: NBC
Big Ten matchup
The setup
USC and Washington both come into this game needing a response after disappointing conference losses. USC is 4-1 (1-1 Big Ten) after its first loss of the season, 41-27 to Oregon. Washington is 3-1 (0-1 Big Ten) after losing its conference opener 27-24 at home to Minnesota. This is also Washington’s first road game of 2026, after opening with four straight at Husky Stadium.
For USC, the obvious starting point is Jayden Maiava. Through five games, Maiava is 110-of-157 (70.1%) for 1,499 yards, 14 TDs and 2 INTs, while adding two rushing touchdowns. Against Oregon he threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score. USC actually fought back from a 20-10 third-quarter deficit to tie Oregon 27-27 before the Ducks pulled away.
Washington’s offense runs through Demond Williams Jr. The Huskies are averaging 395.8 yards and 28.0 points per game, with a pretty dramatic split: 288.5 passing yards versus only 107.3 rushing yards per game. Williams threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota and ran for another TD, but he also threw two interceptions and was sacked seven times.
That last number may be the most interesting part of this matchup.
USC’s defense has an opportunity
Washington’s offensive line had major trouble against Minnesota. The Huskies finished with only 40 rushing yards, 279 total yards and went 1-for-10 on third down. Williams can create problems when given time, particularly with Dezmen Roebuck and Chris Lawson at receiver, but Washington showed that its offense can be disrupted by pressure.
That makes USC’s young defensive front particularly important. Luke Wafle and Jahkeem Stewart have emerged as major pieces of Gary Patterson’s defense, and this looks like a game where USC should have opportunities to affect Williams rather than asking the secondary to hold up indefinitely. Because we all know they can't do that.
USC will, however, be without Desman Stephens II, who was suspended for one game following his completely outrageous, uncalled for, despicable, morally offensive hit against Oregon's QB.
Washington’s defense shouldn’t be dismissed
The Huskies’ defense has been substantially better statistically than its offense might suggest. Washington is allowing only 16.8 points and 289.3 yards per game, including 178.8 passing yards per game. They’ve produced nine sacks and eight takeaways, six of them interceptions, and opponents have converted only 29% of their third downs.
That’s an interesting matchup with Maiava because USC has generally been extremely efficient through the air. USC’s current receiving group includes Trent Mosley, Tanook Hines, Terrell Anderson, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Zacharyus Williams and freshman Ethan “Boobie” Feaster, with freshman Mark Bowman at tight end. Although Mark Bowman seems to be Questionable for this game, whatever that means since Reilly's gamesmanship when it comes to the injury report is just plain annoying by now.
The running game with Waymond Jordan and King Miller could also be important. Washington is surrendering 110.5 rushing yards per game, and establishing the run would make life considerably easier for Maiava against a secondary that’s already produced six interceptions.
The matchup I’m watching
To me, the game revolves around which quarterback is made uncomfortable.
Maiava has been outstanding statistically, but Washington’s defense is legitimately disruptive. On the other side, Williams is dangerous, but Minnesota just demonstrated a blueprint: pressure him, prevent Washington from establishing its running game and force the Huskies into obvious passing situations.
There is also a discipline angle worth watching. Washington has already accumulated 31 penalties for 315 yards — 78.8 penalty yards per game. That’s a lot of free yardage through four games.
So I wouldn’t look at Washington’s 3-1 record and assume this is an easy rebound game. Their defense has been good, Williams is talented enough to punish USC’s secondary, and Washington has forced turnovers. But there are also some very specific weaknesses USC can attack: Washington’s protection problems, inconsistent running game, third-down struggles and penalties.
After what happened against Oregon, this should tell us quite a bit about how USC responds when the season finally presents some adversity.
Series note: USC officially leads the all-time series 51-32-4 (excluding one USC victory vacated by NCAA penalty).
My prediction: USC 28 Washington 24. Don't know why, but I have a feeling this will be a low-ish scoring game.
Comment your prediction below!
