USC pitches a second-half shutout in comeback win over Iowa

The Trojans keep their playoff hopes alive with a 26-21 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes after finding themselves down 21-7 late in the first half. USC moves to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in Big Ten play this season. This sets up a gigantic meeting between the Trojans and No. 8 Oregon in Eugene next weekend.

USC won’t have to gain a first down as an Iowa assistant coach is flagged for unsporstmanlike conduct following a second-down snap. The Trojans will kneel on the ball in victory formation and get out of the rain-soaked Coliseum with another win.

Iowa had a chance to hit a big pass play on 4th and 6 but USC safety Kennedy Urlacher did just enough in the air to make sure Hawkeye receiver Kaden Wetjen came down with the catch and his toe landed just an inch out of bounds.

USC takes over at its own 29-yard line with 1:59 remaining, leading 26-21.

It looked like Anthony Lucas had forced a fumble on a sack that USC recovered but there’s a flag against the Trojans for holding on the play. Iowa keeps the ball deep in its own end.

The Hawkeyes sack Jayden Maiava on second down and a fumble rolls out of bounds for a six-yard loss. USC can’t convern on the longer third down and the Trojans punt it back.

Sam Johnson hits a good one and Iowa is forced to start from its own 10-yard line with 8:33 remaining, trailing 26-21.

The Trojans force another three-and-out and that makes three second-half drives in a row Iowa has failed to score or really move the ball. USC will take over at its own 26-yard line with 11:26 remaining and a 26-21 lead.

USC running back Bryan Jackson gets his second short-yardage touchdown of the game and the Trojans go ahead 26-21 with 13:36 remaining in the game.

USC outscored Iowa 9-0 and outgained the Hawkeyes 180-44 during the third quarter. The Trojans will open the fourth quarter facing a second-and-three from the Iowa 7-yard line.

An Iowa third-down pass bounces off a Hawkeye receiver and right into the waiting arms of true freshman defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart. The Trojans take over at the Iowa 40-yard line with 1:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Makai Lemon goes up against coverage and brings in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Maiava, but the two-point conversion attempt is fired through Lemon’s hands. Lemon now has eight receptions for 139 yards and USC has cut the Iowa lead to 21-19 with 3:33 remaining in the third quarter.

Iowa can’t convert on a 3rd and 3 as Gronowski is stopped short on a quarterback draw. The Hawkeyes punt from midfield and the Trojans will start their drive at the 18-yard line. It’s 21-13 Iowa with 7:47 remaining in the third quarter.

USC takes the opening drive 70 yards in nine plays but has to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Ryon Sayeri. It’s 21-13 Iowa with 11:11 left. USC didn’t give up a second-half touchdown in either of its past two games. We’ll see if the Trojans can keep that streak alive.

USC has yet another impactful play this season called back due to an ineligible lineman downfield. That’s two touchdowns and a huge third-down conversion erased on what would have been a great catch by Ja’Kobi Lane. USC has to settle for a 40-yard field goal by Ryon Sayeri. It’s 21-10 Iowa with 39 seconds remaining and the Trojans have to hold up here and will receive the opening kick of the second half.

Iowa runs the Philly special from the 5-yard line and wide receiver Reece Vander Zee connects with quarterback Mark Gronowski in the endzone. It’s the second time this season USC has allowed a receiving touchdown to an opposing quarterback after Illinois hit the Trojans on the same play. Iowa pushed its led to 21-7 with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter. The Hawkeyes are undefeated this season when scoring more than 16 points.

USC runnning back Bryan Jackson gets into the endzone from 1 yard out on a Wildcat snap and the Trojans are on the board with 9:15 remaining in the second quarter. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava had a key 20-yard run on a third-and-one play to keep the drive alive. It’s 14-7 Iowa.

USC starting left tackle Elijah Paige went down on a run play and had to be helped off the field. Looks like he was favoring his left leg as he came off.

Iowa goes up 14-0 with 14:12 remaining in the first half. The Hawkeyes have outgained the Trojans 102-34 through 16 minutes of game action. Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski is 6-of-9 passign for 65 yards and a touchdown. USC has rushed four times for -2 yards.

USC can’t pick up a fourth-and-short with a King Miller run as the Iowa defense stiffens. The Hawkeyes take over at the USC 45-yard line and now has two of their three possessions starting in plus-territory. It’s still Iowa leading 7-0, now with 4:59 remaining in the first quarter.

Ramsey looked to come down awkwardly after knocking a pass away and has been with trainers on the sideline since then. He went into the tunnel and is now out riding a bike.

The Trojans force a three-and-out of their own and Iowa punts it back to USC. Trojans take over at their own 13-yard line with 9:05 remaining in the first quarter.

A Jayden Maiava pass is behind Ja’Kobi Lane on third down and Lane can’t make the catch as he’s sliding to the ground. That’s a reception Lane absolutely has to make in a game like this. The punt is shanked by Sam Johnson and Iowa will start at the USC 46-yard line and 10:09 remaining in the first quarter.

The USC defense gives up an opening-drive touchdown for the fourth game in a row as the Hawkeyes convern on 4th and 1 near the goal line. Quarterback Mark Gronowski completes a pass to Dayton Howard and it’s 7-0 Iowa with 11:26 remaining in the first quarter.

Iowa won the coin toss and elects to receive the ball. Hawkeyes will go on offense first.

USC has six game captains today, inclduing a number of repeat selections. Quarterback Jayden Maiava, linebacker Eric Gentry, long snapper Hank Pepper, defensive tackle Devan Thompkins, offensive lineman Tobias Raymond and wide receiver Asante Das. All have been captains for previous games this season.

The Trojans are back to their opening-day starting offensive line for the first time since Week 4 against Michigan State. USC lost Elijah Paige to injury that day and then center Kilian O’Connor to injury the following week at Illinois.

O’Connor is back in the starting lineup today. Left to right, the line is Paige, Tobias Raymond, O’Connor, Alani Noa and Justin Tauanuu.

Running back Waymond Jordan is not in uniform warming up for the game. Freshman Harry Dalton is in uniform. Both were listed as questionable for the game.

True freshman James Johnson is with the running backs wearing No. 10. He’d been playing defensive back all season, but was a two-way player in high school.

It hasn’t stopped raining since we arrived 3 hours before kickoff and the field is feeling it. It’s going to be worth monitoring footing during the game and won’t be surprising if we see some slips if wide receivers and cornerbacks are asked to cut hard on the edges of the field.

USC moved running back Waymond Jordan from “out” last week to “questionable” this week against Iowa on the availability report. Here are the other notes and takeaways.