With Ohio State coming to town on Oct. 31, USC is carrying plenty of pressure into Week 9, and the Trojans don’t have much margin for error.
At 6-2, they’re trying to keep playoff hopes alive while also dealing with the noise around Lincoln Riley, a long injury list and a matchup with the No. 2 Buckeyes.
In a game like this, every snap matters, and the players who can carve out bigger roles now may be the ones who help steady the season.
The running back room is the first place to watch. Freshman Shahn Alston gave USC a lift against Wisconsin with seven carries for 28 yards, but he is listed as “questionable” on the latest injury report. With fellow freshman Deshonne Redeaux seeing limited work, the door is open for redshirt-freshman Riley Wormley to get back on the field in a meaningful way.
Wormley has already flashed enough to make an impression. He was missing against Wisconsin, but his burst and his value as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield could have helped an offense that needed juice.
He showed what he can do at Rutgers, where he had 52 rushing yards on three touches and scored two total touchdowns, and he also posted 39 receiving yards against Washington. USC has already seen what can happen when a former Trojan back gets going somewhere else, with Bryan Jackson II turning seven carries into 38 yards and a score against his old team.
If Wormley keeps getting squeezed out, that’s the kind of path that becomes harder to ignore.
Tight end is another spot where USC could use more production. Redshirt-freshman Taniela Tupou was one of the bright spots against Wisconsin, leading all pass catchers with six receptions for 46 yards and scoring the Trojans’ only touchdown. That kind of output stands out even more with freshman Mark Bowman sidelined for three straight games and listed as “questionable.”
Bowman’s absence has pushed veterans Carson Tabaracci and Tucker Ashcraft into bigger blocking roles, and both have handled that part of the job well. What they have not done is make much of an imprint in the passing game.
Tupou, a former three-star recruit, offers something different. At 6-3 and 225 pounds, he gives Jayden Maiava a big target, and his athleticism lets USC move him around - split wide, in motion, or into quick-game concepts.
His blocking still hasn’t really been tested, but that opportunity could come against Ohio State’s defensive front. If Bowman is cleared, he will probably be used more as an extra blocker, the way he was earlier in the season while working back from an undisclosed injury.
If not, Tabaracci and Ashcraft can handle the blocking work while Tupou becomes a safety valve for Maiava.
Up front, USC’s defensive line did enough to hang around for three quarters in the 24-7 loss to Wisconsin. The Trojans recorded two sacks, seven tackles for loss and a quarterback hit, but the offense never gave that unit enough support by sustaining drives or putting points on the board. With Jide Abasiri and Jahkeem Stewart back to full health, USC should have a better chance to compete in the trenches and slow down Ohio State’s run game.
That puts a spotlight on the secondary, especially at cornerback. College Fantasy Football noted that Jeremiah Smith has accounted for more than 40 percent of Ohio State’s catches over the past three games, which makes him the first name USC has to track.
The Buckeyes also have Devin McCuin, who has emerged as their No. 2 option with 19 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Chris Henry Jr. has also been dangerous downfield with six catches for 202 yards and two scores, while veteran Brandon Inniss can work all three levels of the route tree and slide into a bigger role if needed.
USC’s corner rotation has already seen some shuffling. Redshirt-sophomore Chasen Johnson did not play in Week 8 after starting the first seven games, a drop that appears tied to both coverage and run support.
At 6-1 and 195 pounds, though, he has the size to match up with Smith if he gets back on the field. Freshman Elbert “Rock” Hill IV is expected to make his second straight start, and while his quickness, ball skills and edge stand out, he has had his own consistency issues.
Behind him, redshirt-sophomore Marcelles Williams has been a useful rotational piece, logging six total tackles and taking 18 percent of the cornerback reps through seven games. Even so, that is a long way from his 2025 production of 41 total tackles and four pass breakups.
Redshirt-freshman RJ Sermons brings the tools - 6-1, 190 pounds, a 10.30 in the 100 meters in high school and plenty of athletic upside - but those traits still have not turned into steady on-field production. He remains in the mix for rotational snaps.
All of that is why the arrival of four-star corners Danny Lang and Aaryn Washington matters. Both are on the way and have already shown enough talent to be day-one players.
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 🡒]
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 🡒]