No. 9 Indiana Beats No. 18 USC 27-13 as Wilson Throws for 305 Yards

Wilson, a seventh-year player who had not started since 2024 with Old Dominion, finished with 305 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Indiana averaged 17.9 yards per pass. Nine of his 17 completions went for 12 yards or longer.

Cignetti said the offense had been too cautious. "We've been kind of playing in the tent, so to speak, the last two weeks, conservative," he said. "We all hated it, and we wanted to attack this team."

How the game turned

Wilson found tight end Brock Schott for the opening touchdown. Both teams missed a field goal in the first half, and Indiana led 10-7 late in the second quarter. USC's Deven Bryant then intercepted Wilson. Jayden Maiava hit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for 51 yards and found Zacharyus Williams for a 7-yard touchdown to tie it.

Khobie Martin put Indiana back in front with a touchdown at the end of a five-play, 75-yard drive. USC kicker Caden Chittenden missed a field goal early in the fourth quarter. Maiava later threw an interception in the red zone.

Indiana then covered 93 yards. Wilson sealed the win with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Becker with 3:30 to play. Defensive back Jamari Sharpe intercepted Maiava's desperation throw on fourth-and-13 to end it.

The Hoosiers won the situational battles. They allowed two conversions on 11 third-down tries and converted seven of 13 themselves. USC scored one touchdown on five trips to the red zone, and Indiana intercepted Maiava three times.

Next up

Indiana had slipped five spots in the latest College Football Playoff rankings despite not playing last week. Cignetti said the movement "really doesn't matter." Cignetti would not commit to a starter for the next game. He said the position will be evaluated next week, with Josh Hoover dealing with a shoulder injury since Oct. 17.

The Hoosiers travel to Washington next week. USC plays Maryland.

Martin said the ranking drop had fired up the team. "We proved today that whatever the committee says doesn't matter to us," he said. "We're just going to go on the field and dominate."