Darnold guides Southern Cal to upset of No. 4 Washington

SEATTLE — Adoree’ Jackson sprinted into the purple end zone, planted his feet and flipped backward, perfectly sticking the landing.

Southern California celebrated its biggest victory of the season with style and flash Saturday.

Sam Darnold passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns, and USC upset No. 4 Washington 26-13, snapping the Huskies’ 12-game winning streak and damaging their College Football Playoff hopes.

Darnold was outstanding against one of the top defenses in the Pac-12, showing why USC has surged since he became the starter. Darnold’s lofted pass over linebacker D.J. Beavers and into the arms of tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe for an 8-yard touchdown in the early moments of the fourth quarter gave USC an 11-point lead that Washington (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12, No. 4 CFP) couldn’t overcome.

“To play that game, at this age, in that atmosphere? Unbelievable,” USC coach Clay Helton said.

Ronald Jones II added 93 yards rushing and a touchdown. USC (7-3, 6-2, No. 20 CFP) won its sixth straight and should get back into the Top 25 while keeping alive its hopes of winning the Pac-12 South.

Washington coach Chris Petersen cautioned all week that USC was back to looking like the most talented team in the Pac-12 and he was proved correct. Darnold flustered Washington’s defense by keeping plays alive with his feet and found gaps in the Huskies’ secondary that have been difficult for others to find.

“If guys are looking down the horizon, you’re going to get hit right between the eyes,” Petersen said. “There’s too many good players and coaches in this league. … I think we played a good team tonight.”

Darreus Rogers had six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, while Imatorbhebhe added five catches for 78 yards. Washington lost middle linebacker and leading tackler Azeem Victor in the second quarter to a lower right leg injury that required an air cast and a cart to take him off the field. His absence was felt in the pass game where USC exploited the middle.

Washington quarterback Jake Browning was 17 of 36 for 259 yards, including a 70-yard TD pass to John Ross where he shook Jackson at the line of scrimmage. Ross finished with eight catches for 154 yards, but the Huskies were held to 17 yards rushing after coming into the week as the Pac-12 leader averaging 231 yards per game.