A trip to Los Angeles usually comes with a lot of noise, but USC’s split personality at home and on the road may be the loudest thing in this matchup with Ohio State.
That’s the part worth watching after last Saturday night, when the Trojans went to Wisconsin and dropped a 24-7 game that did little to calm the nerves around their offense. Before that result, plenty of Buckeye fans were already uneasy about this one after Julian Sayin's injury changed the feel of the season.
Then USC looked flat against the Badgers, and the reaction shifted. But the numbers say not to get too comfortable either way.
Since USC entered the Big Ten in 2024, the Trojans have been a very different team depending on the setting. At the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, they are 15-3.
Away from home, they’re 5-8. The offense has been far more productive in L.A., putting up 39.1 points per game there compared with 25.1 on the road.
The defense has followed a similar pattern, allowing 21.4 points per game at home and 26.5 on the road. That works out to a +318 point differential at home and -19 away from it.
So yes, the Trojans have been shaky on the road. But that doesn’t erase what they look like when they’re back in their own building, with their own crowd and, likely, a decent number of Ohio State fans mixed in too. USC is also in a spot where every game matters as it tries to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Ohio State has handled the West Coast well enough to trust its own track record here. In 2024, the Buckeyes lost by one point at Oregon, and that result feels like a normal road battle more than anything tied to travel. Last year in Seattle, they took away a strong Washington offense.
Now they get another chance to show they can do it again. Saturday night gives Ohio State a chance to back up its No. 2 ranking and possibly make a push to No. 1 if the win is convincing enough. Of course, that would also require Miami to lose, and this college football season has already shown how unpredictable that kind of jump can be.
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Luke Fahey Is Forcing Ohio State Fans To Rethink The Hype
Luke Fahey arrived in Columbus with the kind of recruiting profile that usually invites patience, not immediate expectations. The Mission Viejo, Calif., quarterback was ranked lower than some of the bigger-name passers in his class and did not fit the prototype in terms of measurables, but he still drew offers from top programs before committing to Ohio State in 2025. His performance against a highly ranked opponent only sharpened the conversation around him, especially as he has moved into position to be the Buckeyes likely starting quarterback.
For Ohio State fans, the intrigue is less about the ranking labels than the way Fahey has continued to push past them. Ryan Day has praised his work ethic and competitiveness, two traits that tend to matter a lot more once the pads are on and the depth chart gets real. Even with the hype around more decorated prospects, Fahey has forced a rethink of what his ceiling might be, and the Buckeyes are left watching to see how far that edge can carry him. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads To USC With One Huge Offensive Problem
Ohio State heads into Week 9 at USC with its offense carrying more uncertainty than it has all season, and it starts with Julian Sayins injury leaving the quarterback situation unsettled. The Buckeyes are weighing different ways to attack the Trojans depending on who takes the first snap, while there is at least one stabilizing piece on the front line with Austin Siereveld back in the mix to give the offensive line a more settled look.
The ripple effects could be felt everywhere else in the huddle, especially in the backfield, where Ja'Kobi Jacksons absence opens the door for a different rotation. Bo Jackson, Legend Bey and Isaiah West are all expected to share carries, which means Ohio State may need to lean on depth and flexibility as it tries to piece together an offense that can keep pace in a road game against a ranked opponent. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesota Gets A Huge Big Ten Test With Plenty On The Line
Halloween weekend brings a loaded Big Ten slate, and Ohio States meeting with USC stands out as one of the games with the most immediate coaching implications. Lincoln Riley enters under a bright spotlight after recent losses have turned up the heat around his tenure, while Ryan Days Buckeyes are dealing with a different kind of uncertainty after the absence of star quarterback Julian Sayin left the offense in a less settled place than usual.
For Ohio State, the matchup is about more than another conference win. It is a chance to steady the narrative around a team still trying to sort out its quarterback situation while facing a USC program that badly needs a response. In a week packed with Big Ten intrigue, this one has enough pressure on both sidelines to feel bigger than a midseason test. [Read more 🡒]