The USC Trojans showed what kind of team they can be when everything is going right. Not much went wrong for USC football in Week 9 as the Trojans dominated the Ohio State Buckeyes for four quarters. There is still enough of the season left for the Trojans to get back into the playoff hunt; however, they need everything from the Ohio State game to remain evident and intact in three more games.

Here is what we learned about the USC Trojans in Week 9:

The freshmen are changing the identity of the football team

The USC Trojans walked away from this past game with a victory, and the main takeaway was how good the freshmen were. That has been a repeating story this season, but this game felt different. The young guys did not shy away from being on the big stage; they welcomed it. They took this game as an opportunity to show the whole college football world how good they are. Trent Mosley, Mark Bowman, and Luke Wafle were the best players on the field. The success and identity for this team are forming around the freshmen. This program should remain successful for the next few years as their young guns keep shining.

Trojans' offensive line responded perfectly

The Wisconsin Badgers' defensive line had their way with the Trojans' offensive line in Week 8. Jayden Maiava was sacked 5 times, and the constant pressure forced him to have his worst game of the season. Against Ohio State, it was a night-and-day difference. The Trojans' offensive line only allowed 1 sack, and players like Elijah Paige were fantastic. The Trojans won this game in the trenches. Jayden Maiava had time, and his play improved. The Trojans also had success on the ground. A ton of credit has to go to the guys upfront.

Trojans' defense may have found their key to success

The Ohio State Buckeyes had some success offensively, especially on the ground. However, they could not punch it in the end zone. The Buckeyes settled for four field goals in this game, and that was a huge difference. On offense, the Trojans were coming down with touchdowns. If Gary Patterson and the defense can keep that resistance in the red zone, the Trojans can continue to win games like this.

Lincoln Riley may have extended his tenure at USC

Winning against Ohio State, even though they did not have their starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, is still the biggest win in the Lincoln Riley USC era. The Trojans in previous seasons still would have lost this game every time. This victory holds a ton of weight, especially given how the Trojans played against the Wisconsin Badgers. This win loses a ton of value if the Trojans lose the next 2 games. However, Lincoln Riley showed he can win with the #1 recruiting class he brought in this past season. All the top performers were from this last class. If he can get a win like this this season, with those freshmen being in their first year, there is hope he can achieve much more as those guys continue their careers. At bare minimum, Lincoln Riley restored some hope again.

Trojans can be a high-quality Big Ten team when they want to be

It came out of nowhere, and it felt too good to be true, but the Trojans showed they are capable of being a top Big Ten team when things are clicking. How they played against Ohio State is the kind of game the fans want to see every week. The talent is obviously there, and there is no excuse for them not to show up and play that level for the rest of the season. This win should not be just a flash or a hint; it should be this team becoming who they are. They got 2 more great opportunities to be that team coming up, and if they do, they will earn a date in the Big Ten title game.