Oct 31, 2026 · pixiplume.com
Halloween in the Coliseum: Ohio State’s scariest test yet?
No. 2 Ohio State heads to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tonight with a lot riding on a player who has never started a college game. Starting quarterback Julian Sayin got hurt in last week’s win over Indiana, so the Buckeyes will likely turn to a true freshman under the lights in LA.
USC, meanwhile, needs this one badly. One more loss and the Trojans’ playoff hopes are all but gone.
Ohio State so far: 6-1 and built on defense
The Buckeyes’ only loss was a one-point heartbreaker at Texas in September. Since then they’ve won five straight, though last week’s 19-15 escape at Indiana was much closer than anyone expected.
The defense is the reason they’re here. Ohio State allows just 13.4 points per game, fourth-best in the country. On offense, receiver Jeremiah Smith has 52 catches, 984 yards and 12 touchdowns.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 17 | at Indiana | W 19-15 |
| Oct 10 | Maryland | W 45-16 |
| Oct 3 | at Iowa | W 31-14 |
| Sep 26 | Illinois | W 42-19 |
| Sep 19 | Kent State | W 59-3 |
| Sep 12 | at Texas | L 23-24 |
| Sep 5 | Ball State | W 56-3 |
USC: dangerous, but wobbling
The Trojans are 6-2, with wins at Penn State and Rutgers, but they’re coming off a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin that knocked them out of the rankings. Their other loss came at home to Oregon.
They can still score. Quarterback Jayden Maiava has thrown for 2,303 yards with 19 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. Running back King Miller has 603 rushing yards, and receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt has 32 catches and 5 touchdowns.
The problem is big games. Maiava is 1-5 as a starter against ranked teams, and Lincoln Riley’s USC teams are 5-14 against ranked opponents.
Keys to the game
- The new quarterback. True freshman Luke Fahey is the likely starter, though coach Ryan Day hasn’t named one. Fahey has thrown just 13 passes all season. Expect Ohio State to lean on the run game to take pressure off him.
- Get the ball to Jeremiah Smith. The best receiver in the country can make a young quarterback look great. Simple throws to Smith could settle Fahey down early.
- Ohio State’s defense vs. Maiava. If the Buckeyes’ top-five defense keeps USC under 20 points, a first-time starter shouldn’t need to do much.
How to watch: 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Ohio State is about a 7-point favorite.
My prediction
Ohio State 27, USC 20. The Buckeyes’ defense and Jeremiah Smith carry a nervous freshman through a tough night on the road, but it’s closer than the Buckeyes would like. Then comes the real test: Oregon visits Columbus next Saturday.
So tell me in the comments: can a first-time starter win in the Coliseum, or is this the night USC saves its season?