Top-ranked USC looked the part on Saturday night, routing fifth-ranked Ohio State, 35-3, before a capacity crowd of 93,607 at the Coliseum.
Junior quarterback Mark Sanchez passed for four touchdowns and linebacker Rey Maualuga scored on an electrifying interception return to lead the Trojans (2-0), who remained in the driver’s seat on the road to the Bowl Championship Series title game.
“If we can keep this momentum going and we can keep our playmakers showing up, we’re going to be really tough,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “This game is a nice win, but it doesn’t mean more than another game. Our players understand that. I think that’s why they prepare properly.”
USC overcame an early 3-0 deficit to take a 21-3 halftime lead, then turned the game into a rout on two touchdown passes from Sanchez to receiver Damian Williams in the third quarter. It was the second straight outstanding game for Sanchez, who was aided by another stellar defensive effort by the Trojans.
Sanchez connected with fullback Stanley Havili and tight-end Blake Ayles on first-half touchdown passes then added the pair to Williams on consecutive possessions in the third quarter to give USC a 35-3 lead.
Sanchez finished 17 of 28 for 172 yards and one interception.
USC forced three turnovers against an Ohio State team that was playing without star running back Chris “Beanie” Wells.
Ohio State (2-1), coming off an unimpressive victory over Ohio, alternated quarterbacks Todd Boeckman and Terrelle Pryor throughout most of the first three quarters, but all the Buckeyes could manage was Ryan Pretorius’ 29-yard field goal.
But that was one of the lone highlights for Ohio State.
Sanchez answered with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Havili for a 7-3 lead that was not threatened.
“We ran the play about 12 times in two weeks,” Sanchez said. “It was perfect. It was kind of like we had done it a million times already.”
On the Trojans’ next possession, Sanchez drove the Trojans 63 yards in seven plays, capping the drive with a one-yard scoring pass to Ayles with 11 minutes left in the first half.
Maualuga increased the lead to 18 points about eight minutes later when he stepped in front of a Boeckman pass intended for receiver Brian Hartline and rumbled down the right sideline for a 48-yard touchdown.
“I turned around, saw the ball, took it,” Maualuga said. “I was hoping the receiver wouldn’t catch me.”
The Trojans were threatening again at the end of the second quarter after Clay Matthews sacked Boeckman and forced a fumble that was recovered by Kyle Moore.
But Ohio State cornerback Chimdi Chekwa intercepted a Sanchez pass intended for Williams in the end zone.
