USC's Ohio State Stage Could Swing Two Huge Recruiting Battles

As the USC Trojans prepare for their high-profile matchup against Ohio State, all eyes are on the star-studded lineup of recruits visiting, including a potential new addition to the Mosley legacy.

USC’s Halloween showdown with Ohio State is pulling in more than just the Buckeyes’ biggest star.

When the Trojans host No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 31 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith may be the headliner on the field, but USC will also be working a loaded recruiting stage around him. Among the most notable visitors is Grant Mosley, the younger brother of USC receiver Trent Mosley.

National recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong reported that Mosley is one of two key receiver targets set to be in attendance for the game.

"Two top receiver targets will be in for this one in Graham (Wash.) Kapowsin Rivals300 athlete Jayce Halasz and Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Catholic’s Grant Mosley," Wiltfong shared.

That gives Lincoln Riley and his staff a real chance to make a splash with Mosley, especially with the family connection already in place through Trent’s role in the offense. Wiltfong also noted USC’s current position with the prospect.

"The Trojans are the heavy Rivals Prediction Machine favorite for him," Wiltfong said, while also adding that "they’re looking to make a move on Oregon and Alabama for Halasz."

So Riley, wide receivers coach Chad Savage, Dennis Simmons and the rest of the staff will be aiming for a strong night on the recruiting front - with both Mosley and Halasz on campus.

Mosley is not being viewed exactly like Trent, though. The younger brother brings a different profile as a receiver.

His game is built more around being a deep threat, using long strides and acceleration once the ball is in the air. He also shows some slipperiness when working past cornerbacks, helped by his footwork and his plant-and-release ability.

For a younger prospect, those releases already look advanced.

The family background matters, too. Mosley has trained with Trent, and older brother Emmett, now at Texas, has also helped set the standard with his route work. That kind of environment has clearly shaped the younger Mosley’s development.

A 2028 prospect, Mosley has often seen one-on-one coverage at Rancho Santa Margarita, and he has used those opportunities to build his own recruiting profile. USC still has competition to deal with, including Stanford, Oregon and UCLA.

Another Trojan audience member for the Ohio State game will be four-star cornerback Ca’Ron Williams. He has been a long-term USC target, with cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed leading the pursuit.

This trip gives USC a chance to try to close the deal early, especially if the Trojans can keep Smith under wraps on the field. Rancho Santa Margarita High also has another prominent tie to USC in legendary quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, who leads the Eagles.

In Other News...

Quarterback Who Just Burned USC Could Shake Up The Big Ten Again

The Big Ten slate in Week 9 is loaded with quarterbacks coming off eye-catching showings, and USC fans know firsthand how quickly one hot hand can tilt a conference race. Among the names drawing attention are Colton Joseph of Wisconsin, Michael Clayton of Illinois, Ty Dieffenbach of UCLA, Aidan Chiles of Northwestern and Antwan Raymond of Rutgers, a group that has been singled out for the kind of recent play that can change how a matchup looks before kickoff.

For USC, the takeaway is less about any single opponent and more about the wider league picture, where one strong quarterback performance can ripple into the standings and the playoff conversation. The Trojans already saw how disruptive an efficient passing game can be, and if one of these Big Ten passers keeps rolling, the conference could get reshaped again before the week is over. [Read more 🡒]

Arch Manning Just Became Texas Biggest Quarterback Watch

Arch Mannings name is already doing the rounds far beyond Austin, and the speculation is only going to grow as the quarterback picture at Texas keeps drawing attention. For USC fans, the appeal is obvious enough: the Trojans have already spent recent years trying to stay relevant in the national quarterback conversation, and any discussion of Manning inevitably pulls them into the mix alongside a handful of other heavyweight programs.

USC is one of the schools mentioned by analysts and insiders as a possible fit if Manning ever does explore a transfer path for the 2027 season, with family history, coaching ties and roster need all surfacing in the conversation. For now, though, it remains exactly that, conversation. Manning has not said anything publicly to suggest he is looking elsewhere, which leaves the sport in its favorite holding pattern - everyone watching, nobody quite sure what comes next. [Read more 🡒]

USC Has One Huge Recruiting Stage Left This Fall

With one marquee night still on the fall recruiting calendar, USC will get a chance to show off the Coliseum on Oct. 31 when Ohio State comes to town. The Trojans are set to host a sizable group of prospects, including committed players from the 2027 and 2028 classes along with several notable high school recruits who either are coming for the first time or making another trip back to campus.

It is the kind of stage USC wants as it tries to keep building momentum through a critical season and an uncertain coaching situation. A matchup with Ohio State brings the biggest spotlight the Trojans can offer, and the visit list suggests the staff is treating it as more than just another home game, even if the real impact of the night may not be known until much later. [Read more 🡒]