USC head coach Lincoln Riley clearly outlined what the difference was for the Trojans in a 30-18 win over Ohio State on Saturday night, one that might've proven that Julian Sayin's loss may be too much to overcome this fall.
Riley believes his offense executed when it mattered in the red zone, and USC defensive coordinator Gary Patterson was able to outscheme Arthur Smith and Ryan Day during the important moments when Luke Fahey had the Buckeyes in the red zone.
"The red zone was obviously maybe the biggest differential in the game, how well we played defensively in the red zone," Riley said postgame. "I thought Gary called a really good game. I thought our guys executed their best in those moments."
The stats prove Riley's point.
Fahey and Co. scored one touchdown in the red zone and settled for a 23-yard field goal. Jayden Maiava and Co. went 2/2 with two touchdowns and otherwise scored on chunk plays and longer field goals.
In particular, Riley believes the Trojans' run game helped make a difference. Riley shouted out the return of Waymond Jordan after he missed the Wisconsin game last week.
"I thought the backs ran harder. We stayed more patient with it. Having Waymo back and a little bit healthier, I thought that provided a real spark. I thought the line stepped up and did some really good things," Riley said.
Certainly, Ohio State's defensive line didn't generate enough pressure to slow down any component of USC's offense.
There were bigger issues than any specific Buckeyes position group on Saturday, though.
Ohio State's offense may have lost one of two pieces it couldn't afford to
Ohio State's defense has been a hit-or-miss group this fall. Against Texas, the Buckeyes were a hit in the first three quarters and a complete whiff in the fourth quarter. Matt Patricia's group can't win games on their own. The closest they got to that was against Indiana a few weeks ago.
Perhaps that fateful day in Bloomington was the turning point of the season. Without Sayin, this offense simply might not be able to keep up and maintain a championship pace.
It's not Fahey's fault. He didn't get the chance to establish the kind of rapport necessary all offseason and through the first month and a half of the regular season with Jeremiah Smith to keep his historic pace going. The other receivers stepped up against the Trojans in Fahey's QB1 debut, as did tight end Mason Williams, and the run game really showed up.
Still, Bo Jackson, who had 121 yards and a season-high 28-yard run against an FBS team in the third quarter, is going to need to have a massive finish to the season to right this ship. Isaiah West will need to be the complement he was promised to be in the offseason.
Everything would have to work out for this offense. Against its caliber of competition over the next two weeks, asking for the planets to align may be too unfair an ask. It's not impossible, but it's improbable. Can the defense keep Oregon and Northwestern from putting up points to compensate?
It may be time to accept the fact that the 2026 season is off the rails. It's a sad state of affairs in Columbus, given how much promise this season had not long ago.
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