USC vs. Ohio State results: Buckeyes shut down Trojans in the Cotton Bowl

E.Jay Zarett

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USC vs. Ohio State results: Buckeyes shut down Trojans in the Cotton Bowl image

No. 5 Ohio State took control early and cruised to a 24-7 victory over No. 8 USC at the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.

The Buckeyes scored the game’s first 24 points to pull away in the first half. Ohio State forced four turnovers and sacked USC quarterback Sam Darnold eight times en route to the win. 

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Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett threw for 114 yards, added another 66 on the ground and rushed for two touchdowns in the win. Sam Hubbard recorded 2.5 sacks and Nick Bosa brought down Darnold twice to lead Ohio State’s defense.

Darnold threw for 356 yards but he turned the ball over three times. Deontay Burnett and Tyler Vaughns each tallied over 115 receiving yards, while Ronald Jones II rushed for a touchdown for USC in the losing effort. 

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Sporting News provided live updates throughout Friday’s game. Here’s how Ohio State came away with the victory (all times Eastern).

USC vs. Ohio State: Score, results, highlights

Final score: Ohio State 24, USC 7

12:14 p.m.: Darnold throws an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal and USC turns it over on downs. Ohio State takes a knee and secures the win.

12:04 p.m.: Darnold scrambles for a short gain on a second-and-15 and is forced out of bounds. Following the play, the teams exchange shoves and a skirmish ensues. USC defensive back Jamel Cook is ejected after the altercation.

11:58 p.m.: Darnold completes a 7-yard pass to Deontay Burnett to keep USC’s drive alive.

11:56 p.m.: Ohio State registers a quick three-and-out following Darnold’s turnover.

11:48 p.m.: Turnover, USC. Ohio State forces another Darnold turnover. Ohio State defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes comes around the edge and knocks the ball out of Darnold’s hand. The Buckeyes have it at their 17 with 8:19 to play.

11:43 p.m.: Barrett is brought down on third down and Ohio State punts. USC gets the ball back at its 17 with 9:49 remaining.

11:33 p.m.: USC comes away with no points despite a seven-play, 66-yard drive. Darnold’s pass to Tyler Vaughns on third down comes up just short of the marker and Chase McGrath enters to attempt a 28-yard field goal. His kick, however, hits off the right upright and the score remains 24-7 with 13:03 to play.

11:30 p.m.: Darnold connects with Tyler Vaughns down the sideline for a 37-yard gain, moving USC to the Ohio State 16.

End of third quarter: Ohio State 24, USC 7

11:20 p.m.: Ohio State moves the chains once but Barrett throws an incomplete pass on third down and the Buckeyes punt. USC takes over at its 24 with 1:46 to play in the quarter.

11:12 p.m.: Darnold completes an 18-yard pass to Burnett and Jones follows with a 17-yard run to move USC into Ohio State territory. Darnold, however, throws an incomplete pass to the end zone and is sacked on third down as the Trojans punt.

11:02 p.m.: Barrett runs for 16-yards to pick up a first down for Ohio State but its drive stalls there. The Buckeyes punt and USC will take over on its 25.

10:57 p.m.: Darnold throws two incompletions and the Trojans go three-and-out. Ohio State will regain possession at its 25.

10:53 p.m.: The ruling on the field has been confirmed. USC has the football at its 42.

10:52 p.m.: The spot on Barrett’s fourth-down run is now under review. 

10:50 p.m.: The Buckeyes go for it on fourth-and-1 from the USC 42. Barrett keeps it himself on the play and comes up just short of the marker as Ohio State turns it over on downs.

10:46 p.m.: We’re back for the second half at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State will start the period’s opening possession at its 25.

Halftime: Ohio State 24, USC 7

10:18 p.m.: Barrett is sacked on third down and Ohio State punts. USC gets the ball back on its 6 with 59 seconds left in the half.

10:12 p.m.: Touchdown, USC. Ronald Jones II runs it into the end zone from 1-yard out two plays after the Ohio State fumbled punt. The Trojans trail 24-7.

10:07 p.m.: Ohio State brings pressure on third down and sacks Darnold. But K.J. Hill muffs the ensuing punt and the Trojans recover at the OSU 15, where they’ll have a fresh set of downs with 2:55 to play in the half.

10:04 p.m.: Michael Pittman Jr. reaches out and makes a one-handed catch for a 32-yard gain on third down, moving the Trojans to their 42. 

9:59 p.m.: Touchdown, Ohio State. Make it 24-0, Buckeyes. J.T. Barrett fakes a handoff, keeps it himself and breaks off a 28-yard touchdown run. Barrett has 53 rushing yards and two scores on the ground in the game.

9:51 p.m.: Turnover, USC. Darnold turns it over again. This time he fumbles at the Ohio State 23 and the ball is recovered by Buckeyes linebacker Jerome Baker. Ohio State will take over at its 41. 

9:46 p.m.: Darnold completes a 5-yard pass on third down to Deontay Burnett, who is originally ruled short of the marker. The play is reviewed and overturned, keeping USC’s drive alive.

9:41 p.m.: Ohio State goes three-and-out and USC will take over at its 12.

9:35 p.m.: Darnold throws an incomplete pass on third down and the Trojans punt. Ohio State will start its possession at its 26.

9:27 p.m.: Touchdown, Ohio State. Darnold’s pass on the first play of the drive is picked off by Ohio State safety Damon Webb, who returns it 24 yards for a touchdown. The Buckeyes lead grows to 17-0 with 14:42 to play in the half.

9:25 p.m.: Field goal, Ohio State. Barrett’s run comes up just short of the marker and the Buckeyes settle for a 26-yard field goal. The Buckeyes lead 10-0.

End of first quarter: Ohio State 7, USC 0

9:19 p.m.: After a Barrett run on third down makes it a fourth-and-2 from the USC 32, Ohio State elects to go for it. Barrett keeps it himself and gains 16 yards on the play to extend the Buckeyes drive. 

9:08 p.m.: The Trojans move the chains once but Deontay Burnett fails to hold on to a third-down pass and USC punts. Ohio State will start its drive at its 7.

9:01 p.m.: USC’s Uchenna Nwosu sacks Barrett on third down and Ohio State punts. The Trojans will take over at their 38 with 6:33 to play in the quarter.

8:55 p.m.: The Trojans pick up one first down when Tyler Vaughns makes an impressive one-handed catch for a 27-yard gain. Darnold, however, is sacked and throws an incomplete pass one play later as USC punts.

8:46 p.m.: Touchdown, Ohio State. J.T. Barrett moves the chains with a 9-yard completion on third down to Marcus Baugh. He follows with a 1-yard touchdown run two plays later to give Ohio State a 7-0 lead. 

8:43 p.m.: Turnover, USC. Sam Darnold hits Deontay Burnett on a 17-yard pass to pick up a first down. But Burnett loses the football at the end of the play and Ohio State safety Damon Webb recovers. The Buckeyes will take over at their 15.

8:40 p.m.: We’re underway at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State wins the toss and defers. USC will start the game’s opening drive at its 14.

8:36 p.m.: Denzel Ward announces on his Twitter that he will not play tonight.

8:23 p.m.: USC announces its starting lineup.

7:54 p.m.: Reports indicate that cornerback Denzel Ward may not play for Ohio State tonight. Ward has 37 total tackles, 15 pass deflections and two interceptions this season. He did not participate in warmups.

7:35 p.m.: Here’s how USC arrived at AT&T Stadium earlier.

7:30 p.m.: The Cotton Bowl will kickoff in about an hour.

E.Jay Zarett