Ohio State heads into Saturday night’s matchup with No. 25 USC carrying a handful of moving parts on offense, and the questions start at the most important spot on the field.
With Julian Sayin out injured, Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair have spent the last two weeks splitting reps in practice.
The Buckeyes are expected to have a plan for both quarterbacks, and Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith have already said there are multiple game-plan paths they could take during the night. One possibility is even using both quarterbacks.
That puts the spotlight on how Ohio State wants to shape the offense around whoever ends up under center. The Buckeyes have leaned heavily on the passing game and the connection between Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, but that approach may have to change. A more run-heavy plan could ease the pressure on a young quarterback, or Ohio State may try to get him comfortable early with quick throws to the wide receivers.
The offensive line is another major factor, and this week it finally has a chance to settle in. Austin Siereveld is set to return after missing the past two games, giving the Buckeyes a veteran presence back in the mix.
A Second-Team All-Big Ten selection last year with 26 career starts, Siereveld will line up with Gabe VanSickle and Phillip Daniels on the right side. That trio has been on the field together only twice this season.
Siereveld’s return matters beyond just stability. He brings leadership, versatility and the kind of experience that can help reshape the rest of the line if Ohio State needs to move pieces around. For a young quarterback and a run game still searching for consistency, that sort of help is essential.
There’s also the backfield, where Ohio State is again working without Ja'Kobi Jackson. That means the Buckeyes are dealing with a different setup at running back for the second straight game, and Bo Jackson now stands as the clear lead option. The real question is how the carries get divided behind him.
Isaiah West gave Ohio State a useful lift against Indiana, finishing with six carries for 45 yards while handling the role behind Jackson. The Buckeyes need that kind of efficiency again, especially with the offense adjusting at quarterback and along the line.
Legend Bey, meanwhile, has yet to crack the rotation in a meaningful way. Whether he can earn a bigger role this week remains one of the unknowns.
That depth matters because Bo Jackson has not yet proven he can carry the load every week by himself. If Ohio State wants the offense to keep moving against USC, it needs more than one answer in the backfield and more than one way to attack.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
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 🡒]
Ohio State Gets A Huge Opening In Its USC Test
USCs first Big Ten season has followed a familiar split, with the Trojans looking much more comfortable at home than away from Los Angeles. That makes Ohio States trip west a meaningful early test, especially with the Buckeyes arriving after a run of competitive recent outings on the West Coast and trying to avoid the kind of road slip that can linger in the national conversation.
The setting adds plenty of weight here. Ohio State is heading into Los Angeles with its ranking in the balance, and USCs home-field edge is part of what makes this one stand out on the schedule. For a Buckeyes team looking to stay in the national mix, a sharp showing on the road would say plenty about how real this group is away from home. [Read more 🡒]