No. 2 Ohio State is heading into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this Saturday night for their first-ever Big Ten clash against USC, and it’s looking like a whole new ball game after both teams took some hits. USC is unranked for the first time this season coming off a rough 17-7 loss at Wisconsin, but the Buckeyes aren’t exactly rolling in either, with starting quarterback Julian Sayin knocked out of their tight 19-15 win over Indiana.
A Rookie QB Steps Into the Fire
This Saturday marks Luke Fahey’s first career start at quarterback for Ohio State, and what a debut it’s set to be: on the road against a wounded USC squad. It’s a tough ask, right? Throwing your QB into his first career start on the road, against a team backed into a corner? You’d think so, but Ohio State’s got a playbook for this. They’ve actually had success with first-time QBs making their debut away from home before. We saw it in 2001 when Craig Krenzel led them to a 26-20 victory at Michigan. Kenny Guiton pulled it off at Cal in 2013, and CJ Stroud got his first win at Minnesota in 2021. So, the history books say it’s possible, but man, this is a whole different level of pressure.
Heisman Hopes and Home Field Struggles
Speaking of pressure, how does this impact Jeremiah Smith? The dude is an absolute machine, the best receiver in the country, already an Ohio State legend for career receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He’s the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, no doubt. But with Fahey under center for the first time, can Smith maintain that insane production, and what does that mean for his Heisman chances? All eyes are going to be on that connection.
Now, let’s talk about USC’s home field. They’re 9-2 at the Coliseum in Big Ten games since joining the league, which sounds pretty good on paper. But dig a little deeper: they’re only 1-2 at home against ranked Big Ten opponents. Ouch. Lincoln Riley’s crew is 5-14 overall against ranked teams, and their starting quarterback Jayden Maiava is 1-5 as a starter in those matchups, with that lone win coming last season at home against Michigan. This is a team that’s struggling against top competition, especially when it matters most.
So, what are we looking at for Saturday night’s 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC? This one feels like a minefield. Betting folks are shying away from the spread, and honestly, with Fahey making his debut, it’s smart to expect Ohio State’s offense to maybe struggle a bit. Get ready, because this is going to be a fascinating watch to see if the Buckeyes can navigate this road trap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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