The Ohio State vs USC Preview is finally here.
College football fans will be treated to a top-notch Halloween night football game as No. 2 Ohio State travels to Los Angeles to face USC in Big Ten action with huge implications for the College Football Playoff.
Both Ohio State (6-1) and USC (6-2) have a lot to prove Friday night, but none of the storylines entering the game will matter more than the Buckeyes’ quarterback situation entering the Trojans’ stadium.
With starting quarterback Julian Sayin out due to injury, either true freshman Luke Fahey or sophomore Tavien St Clair is expected to lead the Buckeyes into historic Los Angeles.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans are looking to get back on track after a lackluster 24-7 performance against Wisconsin last week. The Trojans possess plenty of talent on offense, but they will be faced with the task of trying to keep pace against one of the nation’s top defensive units in the Buckeyes.
This game has it all: historic programs, explosive playmakers, QB questions and College Football Playoff implications.
Let’s break it down.
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
Television: NBC
Records: Ohio State (6-1) | USC (6-2)
Ohio State vs USC Preview: Lincoln Riley vs Arthur Smith
When discussing two of the most successful offensive coaches in college football today, the topic of conversation quickly turns to Arthur Smith of Ohio State and Lincoln Riley of USC.
Both Arthur Smith and Lincoln Riley are renowned for establishing quarterbacks and scoring a lot of points via their pass-happy offenses while playing in top-notch games all over the country.
However, Saturday’s matchup presents two completely different challenges for this Ohio State vs USC Preview.
For Smith, this game presents the challenge of maintaining an extremely efficient offense when they won’t have starting QB Cardale Jones under center for the contest.
Will he simplify things for his offense or continue to push the swagger of USC’s secondary.
Lincoln Riley, on the other hand, has experienced quarterback Jayden Maiava, who paces the Big Ten in passing yards (2,303) and touchdowns (19) for USC.
In contrast to Ohio State’s attack, USC cannot afford to become a one-dimensional offense against Riley and Maiava.
This may be a game of second half adjustments by the two coaches.
Farley vs Gary Patterson Defense
It is obvious that Julian Sayin’s absence from the Ohio State offense is not going to be easily filled.
True freshman quarterback Luke Fahey has completed 9 of his 13 pass attempts for 203 yards, including 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions this season.
His passing numbers show great potential for Julian Fahey’s first big test but also unknown.
Note: The setting of this game (on the road vs. a very difficult opponent) is far different from that of Sayin’s normal games. Which makes this Ohio State vs USC Preview very unique.
The Trojans must disrupt both QBs early and make their lives difficult by disguising coverage, rushing the passer and forcing tough decisions.
USC freshman defensive end Luke Wafle is a defensive player to watch.
Wafle has been one of the most impactful players on the USC defense this season. In games leading up to Saturday, the freshman defensive end brought 18 quarterback rushes and 7.5 tackles for loss.
This will be a key matchup for Ohio State to protect their freshman quarterback, possibly with a running game that has struggled to establish itself consistently.
For Ohio State, protecting Fahey is job number one.
We expect Ohio State to attempt to complete quick throws, hit at manageable third down numbers and allow their skill position players to run with the football after catching it.
OSU needs to avoid mistakes with the ball and maintain a rhythm of offensive production to emerge with a favorable record.
However, the Buckeyes can be put into a precarious situation on offense and forced into many pass plays where the freshman QB is looked at to complete passes in obvious passing situations.
Jeremiah Smith vs. USC Secondary: The Ultimate Difference Maker
Even with a new quarterback, Ohio State will still have one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
That player is Jeremiah Smith.
Through seven games, Jeremiah Smith has hauled in 52 passes for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He is 6-3, an accomplished route runner, physical for his size, and explosive. He is a nightmare for defensive coordinators.
The Ohio State wide receiver can be very dominant for games without having to get a lot of looks.
Against USC, his role becomes even more important.
With Fahey now at the helm for the Buckeyes, the freshman will look to get Smith the ball early and often to create big plays down the field against the Trojans.
The USC defense faces a difficult decision as to whether to give Jeremiah Smith even more attention or trust their individual defensive backs in one-on-one situations.
Neither option guarantees success.
Adding more coverage on Smith could uncover other big plays for the Buckeyes and create opportunities for others to step up and make big plays, while allowing him to be isolated could result in a game changing play.
For the Ohio State vs USC Preview, the goal should be to get Smith on the ball as early as possible with as many opportunities as possible.
As Smith begins to pile up big plays, USC will struggle to contain the rest of the Ohio State offense.
Jayden Maiava vs. Ohio State Defense: USC’s Biggest Opportunity
The key to an USC upset will be the play of QB Jayden Maiava.
The Trojans’ signal caller has thrown for 2,303 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year to rank amongst the Big Ten’s top quarterbacks.
However, the Buckeyes present a completely different challenge.
In large part because of his ability to limit explosive plays, Ohio State brings a lot of pressure to the quarterback and can put a quarterback in a number of very uncomfortable situations.
They can’t win simply by throwing it 40-50 times.
USC can not win only by throwing the football 40 or 50 times in the game. USC must establish enough offense to make the Buckeyes defend more than just Maiava.
One of the factors for Ohio State vs USC Preview is wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.
Dixon-Wyatt has 32 receptions for 443 yards and 4 TDs on the season and would give Maiava another great receiver to look at on the outside.
USC will need its receivers to get the better of their individual matchups as well as being supported by the Trojan offensive line.
The Buckeyes could also create problems for USC by forcing them into a multitude of third-and-long situations.
The Buckeyes will look to take USC out of its passing game and have the Trojans have to rely on Maiava to convert third-and-long situations.
The Trojans need Maiava to complete the game without an error, complete 100% of his red-zone possessions for touchdowns, and complete as many “big plays” as possible without taking too many risks.
Ohio State’s Running Game vs. USC Defensive Front
One of the more smaller aspects of the Ohio State vs USC Preview is the Buckeyes’ ability to establish a running game and create situations where their freshman quarterback can thrive in a supportive role.
The Buckeyes average 153 rushing yards per game coming into Saturday.
These numbers are solid for a team with such an inexperienced QB, but do not translate into a powerful ground game which can take a lot of pressure off Fahey.
Against Indiana the Buckeyes managed a mere 78 yards on 37 carries.
That would be a problem against USC.
When Fahey does take the field for the Buckeyes, he’ll be counting on consistency from Ohio State’s offensive line as well as from the team’s running backs.
The Buckeyes cannot afford to have Fahey put in a position to have to make repeated 3rd down passes.
The USC defensive front will need to focus on stopping the run first this Saturday against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
By stopping Ohio State’s run first, USC can put the Buckeyes in predictable passing situations where their somewhat suspect pass rush can create negative plays.
However, Ohio State running successfully in the early going would allow Day to mix in a healthy dose of play-action passes off of the Buckeyes’ Ground D.
This game could end up being a very telling indicator of how the rest of Ohio State’s offense will function the rest of the year.
Turnovers and Third Downs: The Deciding Factors
When evaluating this game, two factors are much more relevant than others: turnovers and third-downs.
The team with the superior roster, Ohio State, will be faced with a tough test as USC has an abundance of talent on the offensive side of the ball.
The Trojans must find a way to capitalize off Fahey’s inexperience without affecting their defensive schemes.
For the Buckeyes, avoiding turnovers will be essential.
I don’t need Fahey to play great. I need him to manage the offense, make good decisions, and then let the other guys on the team play.
USC faces a similar challenge offensively.
Force passing by Maiava can be costly against an Ohio State defense to allow mistakes and hurt by them.
Continue on to sustain a drive rather than getting stalled and converting a field goal for touchdowns.
It is likely that this Ohio State vs USC Preview will be decided by field position and by each team’s execution in key situations.
Prediction
Ohio State: 37
USC: 20
For this Ohio State vs USC Preview, this game has the potential to be much closer than some expect.
Ohio State enters with the stronger overall roster, but the quarterback uncertainty creates legitimate concerns about the Buckeyes’ offensive consistency.
USC should have opportunities to challenge Ohio State’s secondary, especially with Maiava operating within Lincoln Riley’s offensive system.
However, I believe the Buckeyes’ defensive discipline and Jeremiah Smith’s ability to create explosive plays will ultimately separate these teams.
Expect USC to generate momentum early, particularly with the energy of a Halloween night crowd at the Coliseum.
The Trojans could even enter halftime with a lead if their defense forces Ohio State into early mistakes.
But as the game progresses, Ohio State’s defensive front should begin controlling the line of scrimmage.
The biggest difference will be the Buckeyes’ ability to create timely stops and capitalize on favorable field position.
Fahey does not need to outperform Maiava statistically for Ohio State to win this football game.
He simply needs to protect the football and trust the talent around him.
I expect USC to keep things interesting into the fourth quarter, but Ohio State’s defense makes a critical stop late to preserve the victory.
