Ohio State Buckeyes at USC Trojans

Injuries noted

Ohio State Buckeyes: Brandon Inniss (questionable) — WR #0 listed Questionable on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Leroy Roker III (out) — S #10 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Julian Sayin (out) — QB #10 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Brock Boyd (out) — WR #11 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Brenten "Inky" Jones (out) — S #21 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Ja'Kobi Jackson (out) — RB #24 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Jay Timmons (doubtful) — CB #25 listed Doubtful on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Deshawn Stewart (out) — S #29 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Amari Valerio-Hudson (out) — WR #30 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Eli Lee (out) — LB #33 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Jaxon Powell (out) — OL #60 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Maxence LeBlanc (out) — TE #88 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report

USC Trojans: Jahkeem Stewart (questionable) — DT #4 listed Questionable on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Terrell Anderson (out) — WR #9 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Corey Simms (out) — WR #10 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Mark Bowman (questionable) — TE #19 listed Questionable on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Shahn Alston (questionable) — RB #22 listed Questionable on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Kendarius Reddick (out) — S #23 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Taylor "Taybo" Johnson (out) — LB #50 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Roman Marchetti (out) — LB #57 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Kilian O'Connor (out) — OL #67 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Hayden Treter (out) — OL #68 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Jamaal Jarrett (questionable) — DT #99 listed Questionable on the Big Ten Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• Luke Fahey is OSU's projected starter

  PROJECTED

  Luke Fahey is OSU's projected starting quarterback. Julian Sayin (throwing shoulder/arm, hurt Oct 17 at Indiana) is OUT on the official availability report. Ryan Day had not officially named a starter. Matt Zenitz (CBS Sports) reported true freshman Fahey is expected to start over sophomore Tavien St. Clair. Day said it's 'definitely possible' both play and that 'both guys had a good week of practice, and I think both will be ready to play.' Fahey relieved Sayin at Indiana and went 0-for-2. No source reports an injury to Fahey in that game or any limited practice this week; Ohio State had a bye week after Indiana. No verified passing sample is available yet.

• Jayden Maiava is USC's projected starter

  8.41 Y/A

  Jayden Maiava is USC's projected starting quarterback. Eleven Warriors' Oct 30 preview lists Maiava as USC's projected starter. The California Post (Oct 30) describes him as the Trojans' quarterback after the 24-7 loss at Wisconsin: 31-of-50 passing, two interceptions, sacked five times. No team announcement confirming him as starter was found. The checked sources report no injury to Maiava from the Wisconsin game or limited practice this week, which is unverified, not a statement that he is healthy. 2026 line: 2303 passing yards, 66.8% completions, 8.41 yards per attempt, 19-5 TD-INT over 8 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• OSU: 13.4 points allowed per game to USC's 25

  11.6 PPG

  Ohio State allows about 13 a game and USC about 25, so the visiting defense is the stronger unit by a wide margin. Ohio State gave up just 9.3 last season, so this year is a slight step up but still elite over seven games. USC moved from 23 to 25 over eight games. The question for USC is scoring enough against a defense this good, more than slowing Ohio State down.

MISMATCH

• OSU: 13.4 points allowed a game to USC's 25

  13.4 VS 25

  Ohio State has allowed about 13 points a game over 7 games, USC 25 over 8. Ohio State gave up only 9.3 a game last season, so this year's defense is a bit softer, while USC is close to last season's 23. Both marks look like they will hold roughly where they are. USC's offense has to find points against one of the stingier defenses it will see, and its own defense will need stops to stay in it at home.

REPLACEMENT

• Brenten "Inky" Jones (S) is out for OSU

  OUT

  S #21 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Deshawn Stewart (S) is out for OSU

  OUT

  S #29 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Amari Valerio-Hudson (WR) is out for OSU

  OUT

  WR #30 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Eli Lee (LB) is out for OSU

  OUT

  LB #33 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Jaxon Powell (OL) is out for OSU

  OUT

  OL #60 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Maxence LeBlanc (TE) is out for OSU

  OUT

  TE #88 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Terrell Anderson (WR) is out for USC

  OUT

  WR #9 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Corey Simms (WR) is out for USC

  OUT

  WR #10 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Kendarius Reddick (S) is out for USC

  OUT

  S #23 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Taylor "Taybo" Johnson (LB) is out for USC

  OUT

  LB #50 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Roman Marchetti (LB) is out for USC

  OUT

  LB #57 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Kilian O'Connor (OL) is out for USC

  OUT

  OL #67 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Hayden Treter (OL) is out for USC

  OUT

  OL #68 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Leroy Roker III (S) is out for OSU

  OUT

  S #10 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Julian Sayin (QB) is out for OSU

  OUT

  QB #10 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Brock Boyd (WR) is out for OSU

  OUT

  WR #11 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Ja'Kobi Jackson (RB) is out for OSU

  OUT

  RB #24 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

SITUATIONAL

• OSU has 7 more days of rest

  14d vs 7d

  Ohio State travels to USC with 14 days of rest, while USC plays on a standard 7. Two weeks is enough to absorb a cross-country trip and still get a full week of focused preparation. USC keeps home field, but the road team owns the calendar here, which takes some of the usual sting out of a long flight.

TEAM RECORD

• Big Ten game: OSU 4-0, USC 3-2 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big Ten. OSU is 4-0 against it, USC is 3-2. 2026 standings through 2026-10-31.