No. 2 Ohio State and USC will meet for the first time as Big Ten conference opponents on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, renewing a rivalry that has produced 24 previous meetings but none since the 2017 Cotton Bowl. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on NBC with a live stream available on Fubo.
Ohio State Turns to First-Time Starter Luke Fahey
Ohio State enters the game without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who was injured in the Buckeyes' 19-15 win over Indiana. Redshirt freshman Luke Fahey will make his first career start on the road. Ohio State has a history of success with first-time starters away from home: Craig Krenzel won at Michigan in 2001, Kenny Guiton won at California in 2013, and C.J. Stroud won at Minnesota in 2021.
Jeremiah Smith's Heisman Campaign Faces Test
Star receiver Jeremiah Smith, the nation's top pass catcher and Ohio State's all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns, will be Fahey's primary target. Smith is the Heisman Trophy favorite, but his production with a new quarterback could influence his award chances.
USC Struggles Against Ranked Opponents at Home
Since joining the Big Ten, USC is 9-2 at home in conference play but only 1-2 at home against ranked teams. Under coach Lincoln Riley, the Trojans are 5-14 overall against ranked opponents. Quarterback Jayden Maiava is 1-5 as a starter against ranked teams, with his lone win coming at home against Michigan last season.
Prediction: Under 51.5 Points
CBS Sports analysts lean toward the under on the 51.5-point total, citing Ohio State's likely offensive adjustment to a run-heavy approach with a new quarterback and USC's offensive struggles against ranked competition. The majority of the network's experts pick Ohio State to win straight up.
