When USC meets Ohio State this season, one of the cleanest storylines sits right in the middle of the offense: Lincoln Riley on one sideline, Arthur Smith on the other, and two quarterbacks they’re trying to shape into difference-makers.
For Ohio State, Julian Sayin is the centerpiece of the conversation. College Sports Wire noted that Sayin is being challenged by Smith, his new coordinator in Columbus, and Ryan Day made clear at Big Ten Media Days that the work has already been noticeable.
"I think he's liked the challenge of some of the things that Arthur is bringing to the table," Day said at Big Ten Media Days. "When you go from coaching Aaron Rodgers to a college quarterback, you can certainly imagine what that has been like for Arthur.
Man, Julian keeps up. It's been fun to watch.
Combine that with a quarterback who has the experience now. I mean, this is only the third time since I've been at Ohio State that we've had the same quarterback come back for a second year (as a starter).
That's a big deal."
That NFL influence matters here because Smith arrives with that background, and Ohio State is asking him to help guide Sayin toward a season that could put the Buckeyes in the national-title picture.
USC’s side of the matchup brings a different kind of quarterback reputation. Riley has built a modern résumé as a developer of NFL passers, having produced Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray.
So when USC and Ohio State line up, the game carries more than just the usual heavyweight feel. It becomes a direct test of quarterback coaching - Riley versus Smith, Jayden Maiava versus Julian Sayin, and which offensive mind gets more out of his guy.
In Other News...
Lincoln Riley Just Offered USC Fans Their First Real 2026 Clue
USCs 2026 media day doubled as the opening bell for fall camp, with roughly 40 players and assistant coaches making the rounds as the Trojans started to take shape for the season. The conversations naturally leaned into the familiar August themes: team camaraderie, better recovery work, and the mental growth Rileys staff wants to see as camp gets underway.
Lincoln Riley also gave Trojans fans a long-view glimpse they can file away for later, even as the present still feels very much under construction. The day covered the usual camp checkpoints, but the bigger takeaway was that USC is entering the season with a lot still to be answered, from how the roster fits together to which jobs are going to settle in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Just Framed USCs Toughest Roster Decision Yet
Lincoln Riley spent part of his latest media availability dealing with a roster problem that is becoming the new normal across college football, and it is one USC now has to manage carefully. The Trojans are over the 105-player limit established after the House v. NCAA settlement, which means the staff is navigating not just depth chart decisions but the broader challenge of fitting an expanded roster model into a tighter framework.
Riley also pointed to the new NCAA five-for-five redshirt rule as a useful tool for handling that squeeze, since it gives programs more flexibility in keeping players engaged while protecting eligibility. On the field, he singled out running backs Waymond Jordan and King Miller as a duo with real upside, a reminder that even amid the paperwork and roster math, USC is still trying to sort out which players can give the offense its clearest edge. [Read more 🡒]
King Miller Gives USC A Run Game Fans Can Believe In
King Miller went from former walk-on to one of the more reliable pieces in USCs offense last season, and the Trojans are now banking on his growth becoming a bigger part of what they do on the ground. Thrust into the lineup because of injuries, Miller answered with 972 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025, then earned a scholarship and spent the offseason adding 15 pounds to help him hold up to a bigger load.
The challenge now is turning one breakout year into something more sustainable, especially with Waymond Jordan back healthy and ready to share the backfield. USC should have a real foundation up front, too, with all five starters back on an experienced offensive line, which gives the Trojans a chance to run the ball with more consistency than they have in a while. [Read more 🡒]