Indiana seizes CFP lifeline vs USC, pushes Lincoln Riley toward unwanted history
BLOOMINGTON, IN – The defending champs will get a chance to defend their College Football Playoff championship, after all. Curt Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers broke a 13-all second-half tie against visiting USC with 14 unanswered points in a season-defining moment for both teams. No. 5 Indiana 27, No. 14 USC 13 , in front of 54,336 fans inside sold-out Memorial Stadium. Brice: Curt Cignetti has built what Lincoln Riley can’t at USC: a team that knows how to win CFP rankings live predictions: How will Week 11 games shake up bracket? The Hoosiers, No. 9 in CFP rankings and winners of 25 of their past 26 games, notched the must-have quality win that could send them back to the Big Ten Championship Game, as well as the CFP. They intercepted Trojans senior quarterback Jayden Maiava three times, twice in the final 10 minutes. The first of those late picks thwarted what could have been USC’s game-tying touchdown when Isaiah Jones baited Maiava into an ill-advised throw at the goal line. Jones easily picked it off, raced a few yards, fumbled and recovered to give Indiana possession. The Hoosiers (9-1, 6-1) then delivered the knockout, as quarterback Grant Wilson hit all-everything playmaker
