Rutgers Nearly Upsets USC in Thrilling Match

Rutgers came close to a historic upset against No. 12 USC on Saturday. A poorly timed interception in the third quarter and a penalty for illegal substitution might have saved the Trojans from a more intense scrutiny.

Head coach Greg Schiano of Rutgers faced a dramatic moment during the loss. In the midst of the game against Southern California on September 19, 2026, Schiano’s frustration was notable. He was vocal in his disagreement with a call, addressing one of the side judges with intensity.

USC maintained possession, attempting to drive the ball downfield. A play was stopped due to a whistle, setting up a third-down scenario. An illegal substitution by Rutgers advanced USC a few yards, further igniting Schiano’s ire.

On the broadcast, Schiano was seen energetically addressing the officials. Despite his assistants’ efforts to keep him contained, Schiano’s frustration led to a knocked-down field marker.

USC’s quarterback, Jayden Maiava, threw an incomplete pass initially but followed with a 32-yard completion, keeping the drive alive. Although the Trojans turned over the ball, Rutgers struggled to capitalize on the opportunity.

Both teams then exchanged touchdowns, but USC prevailed with a 42-35 final score. The game stood out as one of Rutgers’ strongest performances of the season after previous defeats by UMass and Boston College. Rutgers managed 460 total yards, and quarterback Dylan Lonergan contributed three touchdowns along with two interceptions.

For USC, King Miller achieved 102 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Trojans, now 4-0, need to refine their play to maintain their playoff aspirations later in the year.