The Hoosiers picked up their first ranked win of the season, forcing three interceptions from USC quarterback Jayden Maiava at Memorial Stadium.
Indiana beat USC 27-13 on Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, handing the Trojans a loss that could shake up both the AP Top-25 and College Football Playoff rankings. USC entered the week ranked No. 15 in the AP poll and No. 18 in the CFP rankings.
The story of the night was Indiana's defense. Jayden Maiava came in having thrown three interceptions all season and never more than two in a single game. He left having matched that total in one afternoon, including a pair of late picks that sealed things for the Hoosiers.
It was not a flawless performance across the board for Indiana. The offense has not operated with the efficiency of last year's national title-winning squad, and there was plenty for fans to dislike even in a winning effort. But the defense looks like it might be even better than that championship unit, and for a program with a long history of disappointment, a win over a ranked opponent is a win worth taking.
The Hoosiers move forward as winners again, with the defense doing the heavy lifting and the offense still a work in progress.