SEATTLE_Jake Browning and the Washington Huskies finally met their match.
USC's young quarterback, Sam Darnold, outshined Washington's Heisman Trophy candidate to carry the Trojans to a 26-13 upset of No. 4 Washington on Saturday night, spoiling the Huskies' perfect season.
The Huskies' first loss of the season puts a serious damper on their national playoff chances with just two games left in the regular season. The Huskies (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) do still control their Rose Bowl destiny.
Darnold, a redshirt freshman, was hardly fazed by the sellout crowd of 72,362 at Husky Stadium. He threw a perfect touch pass to tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe for an 8-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push the Trojans' lead to 24-13.
Washington trailing at halftime for the first time all season, got within 17-13 on Browning's 70-yard touchdown pass to John Ross III midway through the third quarter.
UW freshman safety Taylor Rapp then intercepted Darnold for the second time, giving the Huskies prime field position at the USC 33-yard line. But the Huskies couldn't capitalize, as USC's Jack Jones blocked a Cameron Van Winkle field-goal attempt late in the third quarter.
From the start, USC was the faster, more physical team. The Trojans (7-3, 6-2), ranked No. 20 in the College Football Playoff rankings, have won six in a row.
Despite their 1-3 start to the season, the Trojans still have a chance to win the Pac-12 South, which could set up a potential rematch between UW and USC if the Huskies win the Apple Cup in Pullman in two weeks.
Browning threw two interceptions for the first time this season_picked off both times by USC's Adoree' Jackson. The second one came with 4:09 left in the game at the UW 35-yard line, setting off a wild celebration for Jackson and the smattering of USC fans in the east end zone stands.
The USC defense shut down Myles Gaskin (15 carries, 51 yards) and the Pac-12's most prolific rushing attack. Coupled with their three sacks of Browning, the Trojans held the Huskies to 43 yards rushing on 25 carries, by far a season low for UW.
Worse, the Huskies took a serious hit when they lost star linebacker Azeem Victor early in the second quarter. Victor was carted off the field with his right leg in an air cast.
After Victor left the game, USC scored both of its first-half touchdowns. Darnold threw a 13-yard pass Darreus Rogers to give the Trojans a 10-3 lead.
Late in the second quarter, Darnold led USC on a nine-play, 82-yard drive in just 1:59, resulting in a 4-yard touchdown run from Ronald Jones II to extend the Trojans' lead to 17-6 with 28 seconds left in the half.
The Huskies' offense, ranked second in the nation in scoring 48.3 points per game, managed just two Cameron Van Winkle field goals in the first half.
It was the first time the Huskies trailed at halftime since Nov. 7, 2015 against Utah.
The Huskies, fourth in the College Football Playoff rankings, missed out on a prime opportunity to improve their playoff position after No. 2 Clemson lost to Pitt earlier Saturday.
