Ohio State heads into Halloween night in a different place than it expected, and the change starts under center. The Buckeyes will open life after Julian Sayin on the road against USC, with freshman Luke Fahey taking over after Sayin suffered an injury that’s likely season-ending in Week 6. Ohio State had a BYE in Week 7 and now returns in Week 8 still sitting at No. 2 in the country, but the margin for error gets thinner with a new quarterback in the mix.
Fahey’s résumé is small at the college level, but it’s not empty. He has completed 9 of 13 passes for 203 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in limited action this season.
Before arriving in Columbus, he threw for 7,021 yards and 68 touchdowns in high school, came in as a three-star recruit, and beat out Tavien St. Clair for the backup job in training camp.
That uncertainty at quarterback is the reason the play here is the total, with the UNDER as the best bet. Even with Sayin healthy, Ohio State’s offense was not operating at a clean level, and its rushing numbers were already outside the top 50. That matters now, because the Buckeyes don’t have a ground game that can take the pressure off Fahey as he gets thrown into a starting role.
The matchup on the other side points the same way. Ohio State’s defense is still elite, ranking fifth nationally in both opponent-adjusted EPA per play and opponent success rate.
USC has its own offensive issue, too, because the Trojans have also struggled to run the ball effectively. With both offenses carrying real questions on the ground, the setup points toward a lower-scoring game than the market may want to assume.
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JuJu Watkins And USC Hoops Are Giving Trojans Fans Something Football Can't
While USC football was slogging through a loss to Wisconsin that included negative 17 rushing yards, the mood around campus got a much-needed lift from the Galen Center. The womens basketball teams exhibition win over UC Berkeley offered a sharper, brighter preview of what could be ahead, with Saniyah Hall, Jazzy Davidson and JuJu Watkins all drawing attention in front of a strong fan turnout.
For Trojans fans, it was the kind of contrast that stings and soothes at the same time. Football is still searching for answers after one of its roughest offensive nights in years, but the womens program is giving the fan base something different to believe in, and the early signs suggest this group can carry real momentum well into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Suddenly Enters The Lincoln Riley Coaching Carousel Talk
Lincoln Rileys name has barely had time to settle into the USC conversation before the next round of coaching carousel chatter began, and this one reaches well beyond Los Angeles. After the Trojans recent loss and an uneven stretch that has raised questions about the direction of the program, Riley is suddenly being mentioned in connection with Big 12 openings, including Baylor and TCU, even as USC sits at 6-2 and still has plenty left in front of it.
For USC, the timing is what makes the speculation feel especially uneasy. The Trojans still have a demanding finish ahead, including a key matchup with Ohio State, and the outcomes there could shape how the season is remembered and how much noise follows Riley into the winter. Insiders have pointed to prior interest and the possibility of change depending on what happens next, which is enough to keep this story alive even before any real decision is on the table. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Just Raised The Stakes On USCs Brutal Stretch
After a rough run and a growing sense of urgency around the program, Lincoln Riley made it clear he still sees USC moving in the right direction. The Trojans have not had the kind of recent results anyone around the program wanted, and the path to the College Football Playoff has been tougher than expected, but Riley pointed to the foundation being built under his watch, from a top recruiting class to upgraded facilities.
Jen Cohens arrival as athletic director has also given Riley another important layer of support as USC tries to steady itself through a punishing stretch on the schedule. The next run of games will tell a lot about how far the Trojans have come, because it is coming against ranked Big Ten opponents and will test both the roster and the coachs belief that the progress behind the scenes is starting to show up where it matters most. [Read more 🡒]