No. 18 USC heads to No. 9 Indiana on Saturday in a Big Ten matchup with real College Football Playoff weight behind it.
The Trojans are 7-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play, while Indiana enters at 8-1 and 5-1. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m.
PT at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana, with CBS carrying the game and 710 AM on the radio. Indiana is an 8.5-point favorite.
Both teams are dealing with injury issues. USC will be without WR Terrell Anderson (knee), WR Corey Simms (knee), S Kendarius Reddick (undisclosed), S Trestin Castro (undisclosed), LB Taylor “Taybo” Johnson (undisclosed), LB Roman Marchetti (undisclosed), OL Kilian O’Connor (knee) and OL Hayden Treter (knee).
TE Walter Matthews is questionable. Indiana lists RB Turbo Richard (shoulder), DL Kellan Wyatt (undisclosed) and OL Joe Brunner (undisclosed) as out, LB Rolijah Hardy (back) as questionable and DB AJ Harris (undisclosed) as probable.
The stakes are obvious. This is the biggest game on the Big Ten schedule this weekend because it could shape both teams’ College Football Playoff hopes.
Indiana checked in at No. 9 in the latest CFP poll, the second-highest ranked Big Ten team behind undefeated UCLA, while USC landed at No. 18.
A win would push the Trojans much closer to the top 12.
On paper, Indiana holds the higher ranking in both the CFP and AP Top 25, but this one has the feel of a tighter game than the numbers suggest. The Hoosiers bring the stronger defense, while USC likely has the more dangerous offense, even with Indiana missing a running back. It sets up as a classic strength-on-strength battle.
The key matchup is Indiana’s run defense against USC’s backs. The Hoosiers own the Big Ten’s best rushing defense, and their plan will be to bottle up the Trojans on the ground and put more on quarterback Jayden Maiava and a group of freshman receivers.
Maiava is especially effective in the short passing game, which could lead USC to lean on that area along with the run. Expect quick throws to King Miller and Waymond Jordan.
For USC to win, its defense has to keep Indiana from hitting deep throws over the middle. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti has not named a starting quarterback, but whether it’s Josh Hoover or Grant Wilson, Indiana will be looking to stretch the field through Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh.
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