USC · Big TenJahkeem Stewart sparks USC’s comeback against Washington
No. 18 USC overcame a double-digit second-half deficit with Stewart’s 48-yard fumble return before a late defensive stop set up an Oct. 10 trip to Penn State.
OCT 4, 2026
Stewart’s go-ahead fumble-return touchdown
USC’s narrow final margin
USC’s record entering the game
01 · The NewsStewart sparks USC comeback
On Saturday, Oct. 3, No. 18 USC erased a double-digit second-half deficit, beat Washington 25-21 and held on after Jahkeem Stewart returned a fumble 48 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
The victory came one week after USC’s 41-27 loss to Oregon, its first defeat of the season. The Trojans entered the game with a 5-1 record in 2026; Washington entered at 3-1 after losing 27-24 to Minnesota on Sept. 26.
Washington’s lead had reached double digits in the second half before the game turned on Stewart’s return. The 48-yard touchdown gave USC the lead, and the Trojans’ defense then made the late stop needed to preserve it. USC’s defense produced the decisive points and finished the job at the other end of the field.
That response matters more than the final margin. USC did not simply trade scores with Washington after falling behind; it needed a defensive touchdown to move in front and another defensive stand to stay there. But it also leaves a clear question for the trip to Penn State: can USC play a cleaner game before another deficit demands a rescue?
The game was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at USC, where the Trojans turned a four-point finish into a reset after Oregon. Stewart changed the score; the defense made sure Washington could not change it back.
02 · The StakesThe stakes
USC avoided a second straight loss and kept its season moving toward a road test at Penn State on Oct. 10. That game will put this comeback in sharper focus: USC either recovered from the Oregon loss or escaped a second consecutive setback by the narrowest of margins.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The comeback hides how sharply USC’s margin profile has changed. The Trojans’ first three victories came by 16, 39 and 19 points, a combined 74. The next three games — Rutgers, Oregon and Washington — produced a seven-point win, a 14-point loss and a four-point win, leaving USC three points underwater across that run. Washington therefore fits a pattern that began before the Oregon loss rather than standing alone as a response to it. For a program coming off a 9-4 season and a 7-2 Big Ten record, three straight games now lack the separation shown in August and early September.
“Stewart changed the score; the defense made sure Washington could not change it back.”
From the story04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Can USC win at Penn State without needing its defense to score?
Penn State was No. 7 in Josh Pate’s preseason bracket, and the Oct. 10 game is USC’s only contest before an open date and the Oct. 24 trip to Wisconsin. The scoring sequence will supply the tell: an early USC lead would change the pattern, while another second-half chase would carry the same issue into the schedule break.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Can USC avoid another early hole?
Watch whether the Trojans play a cleaner game before another deficit demands a rescue.
Can the defense finish again?
The tell is whether USC produces another late stop after needing a defensive touchdown and a defensive stand against Washington.