USC Trojans face No. 2 Ohio State in Saturday showdown
With quarterback Julian Sayin injured, the Buckeyes will rely on star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and an untested backup signal caller.
By Julia Novak ·
The unranked USC Trojans (6-2) will host No. 2 Ohio State (6-1) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The game is scheduled for a sold-out crowd and will air on NBC. USC head coach Lincoln Riley views the matchup as a major test for his team, particularly because Ohio State is coming off a bye week and its star quarterback, Julian Sayin, is out for the season.
The Buckeyes' offensive firepower remains high despite the absence of Sayin. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy and is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Smith leads the Big Ten Conference with 984 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He averages 140.6 receiving yards per game and 7.4 yards per catch.
Riley compared Smith to Michael Crabtree, a former Texas Tech star who was selected 10th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Riley stated that Crabtree is the most dominant player he has coached, but he sees Smith as the closest recent comparison at the college level. The Trojans hope to replicate their performance from the previous weekend to keep the game competitive.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has not announced a starting quarterback for Saturday. He will choose between freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair. Fahey has completed 9 of 13 passes for 203 yards and two interceptions in four games. St. Clair has completed 5 of 7 passes for 52 yards and one interception in two games. Riley noted that the new quarterback will make the opponent unpredictable, similar to the first game of a season.
The Buckeyes may lean on their running game to protect the inexperienced quarterback. Bo Jackson has 107 carries for 542 yards, while Ja’Kobi Jackson has 59 carries for 356 yards. Ja’Kobi Jackson will miss the game due to a Lisfranc injury surgery. Isaiah West, who has 133 yards on 28 rushes, is expected to fill in.
USC’s defense allows 8.1 yards per reception and 216.4 receiving yards per game. Defensive tackle Jide Abasiri said the team is making estimates based on limited film of the new quarterbacks. He emphasized that dealing with the Ohio State offensive line will be the primary challenge. Freshman Luke Wafle, who has three sacks in his last three games, will play on the edge.
The Trojans' passing offense is second in the conference. Quarterback Jayden Maiava has time to throw thanks to an offensive line that performed well outside of the Wisconsin game. Leading receivers Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Trent Mosley are key targets. Ohio State’s pass defense, coached by Matt Patricia, allows 171.4 passing yards per game. Riley expects his team may need to throw shorter passes to avoid pressure.
USC’s running game has struggled to produce explosive plays. King Miller leads the rushing attack. Senior Waymond Jordan, the second-leading rusher, is not on the availability report after missing the Wisconsin game. Riley said Jordan is recovering from an ankle injury and is still building his speed. Safety Prophet Brown said the team must focus on its own execution rather than viewing itself as an underdog.
The game is part of a trend where five unranked teams have beaten Top-25 opponents at home recently. USC needs a strong showing to redeem its performance in Wisconsin. The Trojans will aim to disrupt Ohio State's rhythm while managing their own offensive struggles.
