Each remaining game for USC football carries ultimate importance. Knocking off the Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 9 was not the finish line for USC. The Trojans will have another giant to slay this week, and if their top players play as well as they did in Week 9, they will get the same result against Indiana.
Here are the USC Trojans who need to step up for USC to take down the Indiana Hoosiers:
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The Trojans will not win this game unless their quarterback is at his best. Jayden Maiava will need to keep the football out of harm’s way, get the ball to his playmakers, and just outplay whoever is the quarterback for the Hoosiers. This game very well could be an ugly battle, but Maiava will be in control of how ugly things get for the Trojans on offense. This could be a huge moment for him to improve his draft stock as well. If Maiava delivers a top performance, USC will pull off the upset.
The Trojans’ offense is most dangerous when the run game is a factor. King Miller fights for extra yards, and he has home run-hitting ability with the ball in his hands. Milldf is having a great season, and he has massively improved his game. This is a game where all that needs to come together. Miller needs to give the Trojans 80 yards on the ground at least. If the Trojans’ offense is effective in both the pass game and run game, they have a better shot at success against a stellar Hoosiers defense. The Hoosiers’ run defense has taken almost every opposing rushing attack out of the game. King Miller and the Trojans’ run game might be the most important factor of this game.
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Trent Mosley showed against Ohio State that he is not afraid of the big stage or the big games. He has consistently been one of the best players on the field this season. Against the Hoosiers, he will need to have another explosive 100-yard receiving game and make something happen in the return game. He is more than capable of having an elite performance, so it would be safe to say he will be a big reason for things going the Trojans’ way Saturday.
The Trojans will need another elite performance from their defense. I think that will start in the trenches. Jahkeem Stewart has already flashed since returning from his injury. If he can dominate a good Hoosiers offensive line and make a big impact by stopping the run, that will uplift the Trojans’ chances.
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Jontez Williams is coming off a great performance against the Ohio State Buckeyes. When he was lined up against the best player in the country, Jeremiah Smith, he won. Jeremiah Smith still had 10 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown, but he did not dominate in that game by any means. That is the same impact that Williams needs to limit the Hoosiers’ talented receivers to. Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh are both high-caliber weapons. Becker has shown to be a reliable target for either quarterback who starts for Indiana. I think Williams has a chance to be a key reason USC wins this game. It is games like this that Jonteze Williams was brought in for.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: 5 players USC will need to step up for Trojans to win at Indiana
