No.17 Trojans still in playoff picture after 26-21 victory over No.21 Iowa

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LOS ANGELES — Despite the rainy conditions, it did not faze the USC Trojans as they pulled off a muddy win against the No.21 Iowa Hawkeyes by scoring the final 19 points of the game and coming away with the 26-21 victory at the Coliseum. Led by the freak-of-nature-like catches of Makai Lemon and two rushing touchdowns by Bryan Jackson, the Trojans keep their College Football Playoffs hope alive for another week. 

"A culture win," Trojans Head Coach Lincoln Riley said in his opening statement to the media in the postgame press conference. This game was a pure showcase of yet another dominant second-half performance on both ends of the ball. With that being said, this game almost got away quickly from the Trojans as they were playing beneath the wings of the Hawkeyes the entirety of the first half. 

Iowa senior quarterback Mark Gronowski was in control of both the pass and run game in the first half, and the Hawkeyes had one goal in mind coming into the Coliseum: Score fast and efficiently. 

They did it in the way that many thought they wouldn't throughout the duration of the game, and that was by beginning their first drive with five straight passes, which resulted in sophomore wide receiver Dayton Howard scoring the first points for either side. For the first time all season, the Trojans would be held scoreless in the first quarter, and by this point, tension started running throughout the Coliseum. 

The Hawkeyes took advantage of the late start Trojans' offense as Gronowski would score the next two Iowa touchdowns, one being a one-yard rush early in the second quarter and a successful Philly special pass that was caught by the senior quarterback. 

In the blink of an eye, Iowa had a commanding lead over a ranked team, heading into the tunnel with a 21-10 lead. 

Coming out of the half, the Trojans on both sides of the ball looked like a completely different team. Jayden Maiava became the focal point in maintaining the Trojans' offensive output, sewing tight throws in coverage to both Lemon and Lane, plus it helps that, for another week, the defense played excellently, shutting out the Hawkeyes for a whole half. 

The Trojans would score the final 19 points of the game in the second half, with Lemon leading all receivers with 153 yards and one touchdown on 10 receptions. Lane followed suit right behind him with 65 yards on 7 receptions. King Miller once again had himself a solid game on the ground, even in the rain, as he rushed for 83 yards on 19 rushing attempts. 

With this win, the Trojans' College Football Playoff picture becomes just a bit clearer than a week ago, but they have their true test next weekend, as they will travel to Eugene to play the No.8 Oregon. 

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