Washington and USC met Saturday night in the first Big Ten game between the former Pac-12 programs. After the Huskies carried a lead into halftime, USC would respond to make things tight in the second half.

The two sides traded some blows before Washington grabbed a 26-21 lead early in the fourth quarter. That is where the score would stand at the final buzzer, but how we got there included some drama.

USC would get a chance for a go-ahead touchdown in the middle of the fourth quarter but came up short at the goal line. Then, the Trojans had one final chance in the red zone with the game on the line, but Washington stood tall each time.

It’s a solid win for Jedd Fisch with the Huskies now on the cusp of a bowl game. Meanwhile, it’s back to the drawing board for Lincoln Riley.

Here are the key takeaways from Saturday’s game:

USC controls clock with improved ground game

It’s not often that you attribute Lincoln Riley with a team focused on slowing down the tempo, but there was a definite focus on controlling time of possession.

In fact, USC had 3 separate drives of 5+ minutes, including one that stretched across 8 and a half minutes and 15 plays. There’s just one problem.

USC didn’t capitalize on 2 of those drives. One ended with a turnover on downs with Washington mounting a goal line stand while the other ended with a punt on the plus side of the field (while facing a 4th-and-18).

To be clear, the mindset of USC was sound with the Trojans controlling the ground game (USC led Washington in rushing 166 yards to 113) while setting Woody Marks’s season high with 22 carries. The Trojans also held the ball for more than 33 minutes, keeping Washington from stretching a big lead.

However, empty drives still proved to be a major problem for USC.

Turnover battle looms large

When it comes to one-score games, you can count on the turnover battle to have an impact. That’s the case in this one with Miller Moss throwing 3 interceptions in a game that was decided by 5 points.

Carson Bruener was the leader for the Huskies with 2 interceptions while the other went to Kamren Fabiculanan. Those interceptions allowed Washington to go +3 in the turnover department.

One of Moss’s interceptions did come at the very end of the first half. But the Huskies registered 9 points off the other turnovers, including a go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Lincoln Riley’s road woes continue

USC falls back below .500 at 4-5 overall, and 4 of those losses have come on the road. The Trojans are winless in true road games this season after being favored in every single game.

And, once again, concerns of being able to finish a game are at the forefront of the conversation. USC figured out how to grab a slim second-half lead and was in position to re-take the lead with a 1st-and-goal from the 3-yard line and 6 minutes left.

Instead, it goes down as another heartbreaker for Riley’s group. All 4 road losses this season have come by a total of 16 points.

The good news for USC? There is just one more road game on the schedule, and it comes Nov. 23 against UCLA.