University Southern California Trojans
USC
Ohio State
October 27, 2026 | Football
FOOLISH MORTALS…
* The candles are lit, the spirits are stirring and the ghosts of the Coliseum are rising from their eternal slumber and preparing for Halloween night.
* On Saturday, Oct. 31, All Hallows Eve, Ohio State crosses into Trojan territory for a Big Ten showdown with the Trojans.
* The Buckeyes may bring tricks, but USC will be looking to serve up a Halloween treat for the home crowd.
* The haunting begins at 4:30 p.m. PT, when USC and Ohio State meet at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on NBC as the Trojans prepare to send the Buckeyes back into the night. Enter if you dare.
A STORIED SERIES
* USC holds a 13-10-1 series edge over Ohio State.
* The Trojans have won 8 of the last 10 meetings.
* Seven of the 24 USC-OSU games have been decided by a TD or less and there have been 7 shutouts in the series (5 by Ohio State).
* At least one of the teams has been ranked in 18 of the previous meetings (including 14 times when both were ranked), with 11 of the games featuring an AP Top 5 team (and 4 with an AP No. 1 squad).
* Seven of the meetings have been on New Year's Day in the Rose Bowl, where Troy owns a 4-3 mark. Five of those Rose Bowl meetings carried national championship implications for one of the teams (USC won the 1972 and 1974 national crowns after Rose Bowl wins over Ohio State, while the Buckeyes won the 1954 and 1968 titles after beating Troy in Pasadena; and a USC Rose Bowl win knocked Ohio State out of the 1979 top ranking).
GRIDIRON POWERS
* USC and Ohio State are among the nation's traditional college football powerhouses.
* USC has won 11 national championships, Ohio State 8.
* Both teams rank among the nation's Top 10 in career wins (Ohio State is second with 996, USC is tenth with 897).
* Troy has produced 8 Heisman Trophy winners and OSU has 7.
* The Buckeyes claim 228 All-American first teamers, while the Trojans have 179.
* USC has won 37 league titles and Ohio State has 41.
* USC had 57 postseason appearances (in the CFP era, postseason includes bowls and playoff games that are not bowl-affiliated such as first round and the national championship) and 36 victories. Ohio State has 60 post season appearances and 30 victories.
* The schools have been guided previously by legendary coaches, USC's Howard Jones, John McKay, John Robinson and Pete Carroll and Ohio State's Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce and Jim Tressel.
* Both programs have nationally-recognized marching bands, famous mascots (Traveler with Tommy Trojan, Brutus Buckeye) and distinctive colors (USC's cardinal and gold, OSU's scarlet and gray).
* USC has 536 NFL draft picks, Ohio State has 515.
* USC's 87 first round NFL draft picks are second most behind Ohio State's 99.
* USC has the most No. 1 overall NFL Draft selections with 6. Ohio State has 3.
USC HEAD COACHES WITH OHIO ROOTS
* Five former USC football head coaches have Ohio roots. Howard Jones, who guided the Trojans to 4 national championships, was born in Excello, Ohio, and coached the Buckeyes in 1910 to a 6-1-3 record. Pete Carroll, who led USC to a pair of national titles, was the secondary coach under Earle Bruce at Ohio State in 1979 (that top-ranked Buckeye squad lost to No. 3 USC in the 1980 Rose Bowl, 17-16). Larry Smith spent much of his early career in Ohio, playing at Van Wert High and then Bowling Green, then coaching at Lima Shawnee High and Miami of Ohio (he met his wife at a Woody Hayes coaching clinic at Ohio State). Elmer "Gloomy Gus" Henderson, who won 86.5% of his games at USC, graduated from Oberlin. Paul Hackett was an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns for 2 seasons (1981-82).
DRAMATIC FINISHES
* USC and Ohio State have played in a multitude of games with thrilling finishes…
* 1974--USC 18, Ohio State 17 (1975 Rose Bowl). Johnny McKay caught a 38-yard TD pass from Pat Haden with 2:03 remaining to pull USC to within a point of Ohio State. Then Shelton Diggs grabbed the subsequent 2-point conversion pass from Haden for the victory, which wrapped up a national championship for USC.
* 1979--USC 17, Ohio State 16 (1980 Rose Bowl). Charles White scored on a 1-yard run with 1:32 remaining. USC drove 83 yards in 8 plays on the winning drive, with White carrying 6 times for 71 yards.
* 1990--USC 35, Ohio State 26. The second half was played in heavy rain with thunder and lightning, getting so bad that officials suspended the game with 2:36 to play after USC recovered an onside kick.
* 2009--USC 18, Ohio State 15. Stafon Johnson's 2-yard run with 1:05 to play capped an 86-yard drive that gave USC the win in front of a deafening Ohio Stadium record crowd of 106,033.
* Fun Fact: The largest USC post-season bowl game crowd was 106,869 at the 1973 Rose Bowl in Pasadena (USC versus Ohio State), which is an NCAA bowl game record.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE USC OFFENSE
* Brock Vereen, 97.1 The Fan - "USC has more depth offensively than anyone else in the country."
MAIAVA MAGIC
* The USC quarterback is a position unlike any other.
* This young man becomes a household name, an annual Heisman contender and is under the brightest spotlight. They are in a league of their own and comprise a historic fraternity of some of the best collegiate players in history.
* USC returns one of the nation's best quarterbacks in redshirt senior Jayden Maiava.
* Maiava completed 31 of 50 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown and 2 INTs, connecting with 10 different receivers.
* Maiava is No. 3 in the nation and leads the Big Ten in passing yards (2,303).
* He also leads the Big Ten in passing TDs (19), passing yards per game (287.9), completions per game (22.88) and points responsible for (128).
* Maiava has accounted for 21 TDs through 7 games, throwing 19 and rushing for 2.
* Combining his stats from his record-breaking season at UNLV, Maiava has recorded 10,299 passing yards and 71 TDs throughout the entirety of his collegiate career.
* Per PFF, Jayden is No. 2 in the Big Ten in overall offense grade (90.3) and passing grade (90.3).
* Maiava's opening eight-game stretch compares favorably with the greatest quarterbacks in USC history. Through eight games, Maiava's 66.8 completion percentage is the best among the group, while his 19 passing TDs are 5 fewer than Williams and 1 more than Leinart and Palmer recorded during their respective eight-game starts.
| Quarterback | Season | Record | Comp.-Att. | Pct. | Pass Yards | YPA | Pass TD | INT | Efficiency |
| Jayden Maiava | 2026 | 6-2 | 183-274 | 66.8 | 2,303 | 8.4 | 19 | 5 | 156.6 |
| Caleb Williams | 2022 | 7-1 | 178-275 | 64.7 | 2,382 | 8.7 | 24 | 1 | 165.6 |
| Matt Leinart | 2004 | 8-0 | 159-243 | 65.4 | 1,863 | 7.7 | 18 | 4 | 151.0 |
| Carson Palmer | 2002 | 6-2 | 195-314 | 62.1 | 2,429 | 7.7 | 18 | 8 | 140.9 |
* Maiava makes his throws count. He is tied for third among USC career leaders in yards per attempt with 8.5 (min. 500 attempts at USC). He's in good company in the stat – Caleb Williams sits at No. 1 with 9.2 yards per attempt, Matt Leinart is second with 8.6 and Sam Darnold holds the No. 3 spot with Maiava with 8.5 yards per attempt.
* He is currently 10th on USC's career total offense leader board with 7,355 total yards of offense as a Trojan.
* Maiava also ranks 13th on USC's single season passing leader board with 265 completions in the 2025 season.
* He has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List and he was one of 12 total players from the Big Ten Conference to be named to the 2026 Big Ten Football Preseason Honors list.
* Maiava was also recently named a nominee for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, the Allstate AFCA Goodworks Team and to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.
* With another year under offensive coordinator Luke Huard and Riley, who is the only head coach to tutor three Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks, have 3 quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft and has the most No. 1 overall draft selections in the common draft era, Maiava is expected to continue to make large strides.
MAIAVA MAKES A DIFFERENCE
* As USC's quarterback and a household name under one of football's most prominent spotlights, Maiava remains deeply grounded in service, humility and community.
* Originally from Honolulu's Pālolo Valley, Maiava never forgot where he came from or the struggles he overcame growing up. His experiences shaped an incredible servant's heart and a genuine passion for mentoring children and uplifting underserved communities, especially his deep commitment to giving back to the community that helped shape him.
* Maiava consistently uses his platform to inspire hope, connection and opportunity for others. He embodies the spirit of 'ohana: the value of family, connection and community.
* In June of 2026, he returned to Honolulu's Pālolo Valley where he hosted a free youth football clinic for more than 350 local children ages 6 to 14, transforming a day of football instruction into a meaningful event centered on mentorship, inspiration and opportunity.
* Throughout the clinic, Maiava taught football fundamentals while emphasizing teamwork, perseverance and the importance of believing in yourself despite adversity, drawing from his own journey from the Pālolo Valley to the highest levels of the sport.
* Extending his impact beyond the field, proceeds from event t-shirt sales were donated to Aloha 1st Athletics, a local nonprofit dedicated to leadership, character development and mental health support through sports, reinforcing his commitment to investing in the next generation and strengthening the community that shaped him.
* Above all, Maiava encouraged attendees to lead with integrity, make a positive impact on those around them and pursue excellence in football, academics, faith and everyday life.
* On this same trip, Maiava continued his commitment to giving back by returning to his former high school, Kaimukī High, where he spoke to students not only as the USC quarterback but as someone who once walked the same halls with the same aspirations.
* Reflecting on his journey from serving as a Bulldogs ball boy and water boy to achieving his dream of wearing the Kaimukī jersey and competing at the highest level, Maiava shared an honest message about overcoming adversity, embracing opportunity and trusting God's plan.
* He encouraged students to approach life with a "Fight On" mentality, emphasizing resilience, discipline, faith, accountability and the importance of supporting others through difficult times.
* Crediting his mother as his greatest inspiration, he also stressed the value of education and the life lessons football has taught him about leadership, perseverance and character.
* Maiava's outreach continued at Jarrett Middle School, where he inspired more than 400 students through an interactive discussion focused on perseverance, personal responsibility and making positive choices, sharing his own experiences growing up in Pālolo Housing and encouraging students to embrace discipline over regret as they pursue their goals.
* He also visited Pālolo Elementary School, where he read with students, sang songs and created an engaging, uplifting environment that reflected his genuine commitment to mentorship and community.
* Together, these visits underscored Maiava's dedication to empowering Hawaii's youth through education, faith, service and authentic leadership, reinforcing his mission to invest in the communities that helped shape him.
* Beyond his work in Hawaii, Maiava has consistently dedicated his time to serving communities throughout Los Angeles, partnering with organizations focused on food insecurity, youth development and community outreach.
* He has volunteered multiple times with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, helping sort and pack thousands of pounds of fresh produce for families in need, including supporting relief efforts for residents displaced by the January 2025 wildfires.
* Maiava has also demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing food insecurity through his service at the Dream Center and The Midnight Mission.
* Across three volunteer shifts at the Dream Center, he helped prepare and serve more than 1,300 meals for individuals experiencing food insecurity, while at The Midnight Mission he worked alongside staff to prepare and distribute meals to individuals and families seeking support, reflecting his hands-on approach to serving those most in need.
* In addition to his volunteer service, Maiava has invested in mentoring and empowering young people through organizations including the Boys & Girls Club, Angel City Sports' Youth Weekend and The Young Shakespeareans.
* Whether coaching and encouraging local youth, participating in adaptive sports alongside children with physical disabilities or celebrating students' achievements in the arts, he has consistently used his platform to promote inclusion, confidence, education and personal growth while building meaningful connections throughout the community.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MAIAVA
* Ken Niumatalolo, San José State Head Coach - "Jayden [Maiava] is a Heisman Trophy candidate."
* Matt Entz, Fresno State Head Coach - "You see why their quarterback is a Heisman contender. He's tremendously talented, has great understanding and great awareness of what's going on."
* Matt Leinart, Former USC Heisman Winning Quarterback and CBF Analyst - "He looks like a first round talent. He looks like a Heisman Trophy candidate."
* Jake Butt, Big Ten Network Analyst - "It's time to kinda put some fuel back in the tank for the Maiava Heisman conversations cause he's been outstanding."
* Colin Cowherd, Host of the Herd - "Looks like a first round talent."
* John Frascella, NFL Insider - "I'm a big Jayden Maiava guy. I just think he has natural quarterbacking instincts. Very fluid."
MOSLEY MANIA
* Freshman WR Trent Mosley has been one of the most thrilling players in college football in 2026.
* Mosley has recorded 100+ receiving yards in three of his five appearances and has scored at least 1 TD in four out of five games.
* Through just four games, he has produced 27 catches for 411 yards (152 avg.), a team-leading 5 touchdowns and has 168 yards on 7 punt returns (24.0 avg.), including an 86-yard return for a touchdown against Louisiana.
* Against Wisconsin, Mosley caught 4 passes for 44 yards (11.0 avg.), bringing his combined receiving, rushing and punt-return production to 596 yards and 6 scores, averaging 119.2 yards per game.
* He's averaging 82.2 receiving yards per game and has recorded 6 total TDs (including an 86-yard punt return for a score).
* Trent Mosley is No. 9 among all FBS receivers and No. 6 among Big Ten receivers with a minimum of 35 targets with an offense grade of 85.8.
* Mosley was named a Midseason Freshman All-American by The Athletic as an all-purpose player.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT TRENT MOSLEY
* Brock Vereen, 97.1 The Fan – "Hear me very clearly. I have never been more certain in my life that a player is going to win a Heisman one day. He is that impressive, and he has not even sniffed his full potential."
* Ryan Dyrud, LA Football Network - "Trent Mosley is ELECTRIC. What a game-changer"
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times – "Trent Mosley has been absolutely electric so far today. Pretty clear why he's been considered a likely starter for so long"
* Ryan Abraham, USCFootball.com – "Trent Mosley is a dude."
* Benjamin Rover, OC Register – "Trent Mosley is going to be playing on Sundays for a long, long time."
* Chris Trevino, WeAreSC.com – "Trent Mosley is inevitable"
* Kendell Hollowell, USC Trojans on SI – "Trent Mosley is not a star in the making, he is a STAR. The next great USC wide receiver."
* Adam Rittenberg, ESPN – "Trent Mosley is a problem."
* Paolo Uggetti, ESPN – "Trent Mosley is #good"
* Jake Butt, Big Ten Network CFB Analyst – "He's going to be a weapon for years to come."
* Bryan Fischer, Sports Illustrated – "Trent Mosley is the next one in cardinal and gold. Impressive start to the season after a great camp."
* John Fanta, NBC Sports Broadcaster – "If you are not on the Trent Mosley bus, get on it before it's too late. Just an insanely talented player."
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times – "Trent Mosley might actually be superhuman. Will try to confirm."
* Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times – "If Trent Mosley's unbelievable 86-yard punt return for a touchdown doesn't make him a Heisman candidate as a freshman, what else do you want?"
* Su'a Cravens, former USC & NFL Safety and College Football Analyst – "Having Trent Mosley back is so vital to this offense. Looks like a 5th year Senior out there."
* Tim Prangley, LA Football Network – "Trent Mosley showing off ELITE ball skills. This freshman is out of this world good."
CATCHING FIRE
* The USC aerial attack continues to be dominant with a wide variety of players making an impact on the field.
* TE Taniela Tupou had a team-leading 6 receptions for 45 yards (7.5 avg.) and USC's sole TD, the first of his Trojan career. He also converted a fourth-down catch during the third-quarter drive.
* WR Tanook Hines caught 4 passes for 44 yards (11.0 avg.), including a 14-yard reception on a third-down conversion, as well as a 13-yard third-down conversion, both in the third quarter.
* WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt tallied 5 receptions for 43 yards (8.6 avg.).
* Dixon-Wyatt earned Honorable Mention True Freshman All-American recognition from 247Sports. He leads USC with 32 receptions for 443 yards, averaging 13.8 yards per catch, with 4 touchdowns, production that has quickly established him as one of the Trojans' most dynamic playmakers.
* WR Tron Baker added a 13-yard catch during USC's third-quarter drive.
* Although he did not see action against Wisconsin, TE Mark Bowman, the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder, leads all FBS freshman tight ends in targets (28) and receptions (21), despite missing the last three games.
* Before his absence, he averaged 4.2 receptions per game, tied for 12th among all FBS tight ends, and 40.8 receiving yards per game, which ranked 25th.
* The former five-star recruit had an electric game against Louisiana, catching 6 passes for 83 yards (13.8 avg.) and 2 scores, including a 35-yard reception on which he hurdled two defenders.
* He was named a Midseason True Freshman All-American by On3/Rivals, 247Sports and The Athletic.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT KAYDEN DIXON-WYATT
* Travis May, Editor of A to Z Sports NFL – "Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is a true freshman WR playing like a pro already"
* Kendell Hollowell, USC on SI – "Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is a STAR. He's no ordinary freshman."
* John Frascella, NFL Insider – "Meet Kayden Dixon-Wyatt… new USC stud wide receiver. Simply… electric"
* Bussin' With The Boys – "Kayden Dixon-Wyatt is UNREAL"
* Kendell Hollowell, USC on SI – "When in doubt look for Kayden Dixon-Wyatt. The freshman receiver has been a reliable target for Jayden Maiava all season."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT TANOOK HINES
* Brandon Walker, Barstool Sports - "Tanook Hines is a GROWN MAN"
* Andy Staples, On3 - "Tanook Hines said 'Gimme that' and turned an interception into a touchdown."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MARK BOWMAN
* David Pollack, College Football Analyst - "Had an SEC coach tell me he is the closest thing to Brock Bowers he has seen in recruiting. Mark Bowman. Get to know that name America!"
* Max Chadwick, College Football Analyst - "If Mark Bowman can block like this, he can be SPECIAL. His route-running ability is some of the best I've seen for a true freshman."
* Ted Nguyen, The Athletic Senior Writer - "This Mark Bowman is a freak."
BACKS IN BUSINESS
* RB Shahn Alston led USC with 28 rushing yards on 7 carries (4.0 avg.) and added 2 receptions for 12 yards (6.0 avg.). He totaled 40 yards from scrimmage.
* RB King Miller contributed as a receiver, catching all 3 of his targets for 13 yards.
FRONT FIVE FORCE
* USC's offensive line was named to the 2026 Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll.
* In Lincoln Riley's electric offense, the USC offensive line has helped the Trojans average 303.6 passing yards per game, while averaging 131.1 yards on the ground.
* The Trojans are averaging 32.8 points per game, and USC leads the Big Ten in first downs offense (199).
* The offensive line's pass blocking has allowed QB Jayden Maiava to go 183-for-274 (.667) for 2,303 yards and 19 TDs.
* The line's run blocking has allowed six different Trojans to score a total of 12 rushing touchdowns so far this season.
* The Trojan offensive line's versatility and depth have been showcased in 2026. Prior to the first game, center Kilian O'Connor suffered a season-ending injury, and Tobias Raymond stepped into his place as the new starter.
* Throughout his collegiate career, Raymond has started in every position on the offensive line except right guard.
* Per PFF, OL Elijah Paige is No. 6 among all Power Four offensive linemen and No. 1 in the Big Ten with a minimum of 320 block snaps with an 83.4 offensive grade, No. 15 in the Power Four and No. 6 in the Big Ten with an 87.0 pass block grade and No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 20 in the Power Four with a 78.9 run block grade.
DEFENSE BY THE NUMBERS
* USC held Wisconsin to 200 total yards and 58 passing yards.
* The front helped limit Wisconsin to 3.3 yards per rush as a team.
* The defense kept Wisconsin's passing game to 58 yards and 12 completions.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT RILEY & PATTERSON
* Ken Niumatalolo, San José State Head Coach - "Gary's one of the best defensive minds in all of college football. I'm good friends with him. We worked together in 1995 at the Naval Academy, so I'm very familiar with Gary. I was on the AFCA board with him for over a decade, so I know Gary Patterson very well. Smart call by Lincoln to hire him. They're going to get people in trouble in the Big Ten, and that's just their first game. And as they grow, they're going to get better with Gary leading their defense. But Gary's a phenomenal football coach. He's a phenomenal culture builder, and a credit to Lincoln. To have the humility as a head coach, and the foresight to hire a Hall-of-Famer. A lot of coaches wouldn't do that. They're like, 'No, I'm not going to hire a guy that caliber in my chair.' But to his credit, Lincoln hired a guy that's one of the best defensive minds of all time. The 4-2-5, he's basically the pioneer and creator of that. A very phenomenal coach."
WAFLE HOUSE
* Few defensive freshmen have been as disruptive as DE Luke Wafle, On3/Rivals' No. 1 overall prospect from the 2026 class.
* Wafle recorded six tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
* He is tied for the most quarterback pressures among FBS freshmen with 18 and leads the Trojans in that category as well.
* Wafle has recorded a sack in each of the past three games. He has an 11.4% pressure rate and 33 total tackles, including 7.5 TFLs.
* Wafle is a strong run defender with the most stops (20) among true freshman edges and defensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus.
* Among all Big Ten defensive ends, Wafle is No. 4 with a 79.8 run defense grade according to PFF.
* He was named a Midseason True Freshman All-American by On3/Rivals, 247Sports and The Athletic.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT LUKE WAFLE
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times - "Luke Wafle. Star."
* Ryan Dyrud, LA Football Network - "The Trojans have not had an EDGE player like Luke Wafle in, I don't know, how long. Even the way he sets the edge and sheds blocks to take down the RB is just DIFFERENT"
* Aaron Taylor, College Football Analyst - "DL97 Jide Abasiri and DE94 Luke Wafle are gonna be a problem for people this year."
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times - "I know Luke Wafle is a true freshman. And every game I re-remind myself this, and it still doesn't seem true."
PRESSURE UP FRONT
* DT Jide Abasiri recorded five tackles, while DE Kameryn Crawford made four tackles, including two tackles for loss.
* Abasiri has been named as a Quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
* Abasiri, a junior, has emerged as a leader of the Trojan defense, earning team captain honors and representing USC at Big Ten Media Days.
* His leadership is matched by his versatility up front.
* Abasiri can play multiple spots along the defensive line, and his ability to disrupt the pocket and draw extra attention creates opportunities for his teammates.
* So far in 2026, he has tallied 21 tackles, including 3.5 for loss of 14 yards (with 1 sack for minus 10 yards) and 2 quarterback hurries.
* Abasiri is No. 3 among all Big Ten defensive tackles with a 83.6 run defense grade and No. 4 with a 78.5 defense grade.
* DE Braylan Shelby added a sack, while DT Jahkeem Stewart made two tackles.
BIG THANOS ENERGY
* Even though he's missed four games, DT Jahkeem Stewart continues to make his presence known.
* He also impacts the team with his big personality that is hard to miss and easy to feel.
* After the Washington win, Stewart met with the media and shared his excitement and his craving for some home-cooked gumbo. His charisma quickly brought smiles to the room of journalists as well as Coach Riley and his teammates.
* Lincoln Riley said: "As you guys saw in the post-game [against] Washington, he's a big personality. He's extremely competitive. He's a loud but boisterous guy. You got to have some guys like that in your program, and so he brings a lot of competitiveness and a lot of juice to our defense and to our program. You feel it when he's there, and you feel a little bit of the gap sometimes, honestly, when he's not there. So, no question. You feel it. He's one of the unique players that you feel it from his on-the-field play, and you feel it from his personality and competitive juice, both. And they're both obviously super valuable."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT JAHKEEM STEWART
* Chris Trevino, WeAreSC.com - "THANOS IS INEVITABLE"
* Jeffrey Toobin, Opinion Writer & Author, New York Times - "Thanos -- Jahkeem Stewart -- is going to be a superstar in the NFL. Bookmark it."
LINEBACKERS - TACKLING THE TASK
* LB Desman Stephens II led USC with 8 tackles, added 1.5 tackles for loss and broke up a pass.
* LB Deven Bryant added 5 tackles.
DBs HAVE IT COVERED
* S Christian Pierce made 4 tackles, while CB Jontez Williams recorded 2.
* S Kennedy Urlacher also tallied a TFL.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ALEX GRAHAM
* Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times – "Alex Graham is clearly essential to USC's secondary...There's no player more valuable on the back end of USC's defense."
* Kendell Hollowell, USC Trojans on SI – "Having Alex Graham in the lineup makes a big difference."
* Chris Trevino, WeAreSC.com – "Alex Graham is the best tackler on the defense."
THE AUSSIE ADVANTAGE
* P Lachlan Carrigan averaged 46 yards on his lone punt.
* Carrigan is averaging 49.46 yards on 13 punts this season, a mark that would rank third nationally among the listed leaders, though he does not meet the leaderboard's minimum 3.6 punts-per-game requirement.
* Carrigan's 49.4 yards per attempt is first among all Big Ten punters and his net of 44.0 is second.
* More than half of Carrigan's punts (7) have traveled at least 50 yards, and 5 have pinned opponents inside their own 20.
BOUNCEBACK
* USC head coach Lincoln Riley knows how to right the ship. He is 16-7 after a loss (a loss at the end of the season is not counted as there are no more games).
TRICK OR TREAT
* USC has played on Halloween just 13 times, and 7-6 in games played on All Hallows Eve.
RANKINGS
* USC is not ranked in the AP Poll, but is No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
* Ohio State is No. 2 in both the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll.
IN OCTOBER
* USC has a 322-132-19 (.701) all-time record while playing in the month of October (not including 5 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; revised record: 327-132-19, .704).
OHIO STATE CONNECTIONS
* USC has 2 players from the state of Ohio (CB Elbert "Rock" Hill IV and RB Shahn Alston), while Ohio State has 7 players from the state of California.
* USC WR Zacharyus Williams, USC OL Travis Leonard and Ohio State DE Khary Wilder all prepped at Junipero Serra HS in San Mateo, Calif.
* USC WR Zacharyus Williams, USC QB Sam Huard, USC TE Carson Tabaracci and Ohio State CB Cam Calhoun all previously played at Utah.
* USC CB Elbert "Rock" Hill IV, Ohio State LB Cincere Johnson, Ohio State RB Bo Jackson, Ohio State LB Ty Howard, Ohio State TE Brody Lennon and Ohio State DT Jamir Perez are all from Cleveland, Ohio.
* USC CB Elbert "Rock" Hill IV, Ohio State LB Eli Lee and Ohio State OL Sam Greer all prepped at Archbishop Hoban HS in Akron, Ohio.
* USC WR Waymond Jordan and Ohio State RB Ja'Kobi Jackson are both from Pensacola, Fla.
* USC WR Trent Mosley, USC QB Jonas Williams, USC DT Braeden Jones and Ohio State WR Nolan Baudo are all from Chicago, Ill.
* USC QB Sam Huard, USC LB Deven Bryant, Ohio State S Terry Moore and Ohio State TE Nate Roberts all previously played at Washington.
* USC S Kennedy Urlacher and Ohio State CB Miles Lockhart are both from Chandler, Ariz.
* USC S Kennedy Urlacher and Ohio State K Marcello Diomede both previously played at Notre Dame.
* USC WR Tanook Hines, USC DE Jadyn Ramos and Ohio State CB Devin Sanchez are all from Houston, Texas.
* USC WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, USC TE Mark Bowman, USC LB Shaun Scott, USC TE Manoah Leiato, USC DT Tomuhini "Tom Tom" Topui Jr., USC TE Josiah Jefferson, Ohio State WR Chris Henry Jr. and Ohio State DB Glorien Gough all prepped at Mater Dei HS in Santa Ana, Calif.
* USC LB Deven Bryant, USC CB Marcelles Williams, USC S Joshua Holland II and Ohio State DE Epi Sitanilei all prepped at St. John Bosco HS in Bellflower, Calif.
* USC WR Romero Ison and Ohio State S Khmari Bing are both from Baltimore, Md.
* USC CB Chasen Johnson, Ohio State LS Dalton Riggs and Ohio State DT John Walker all previously played at UCF.
* USC RB Tyson Park, USC OL Breck Kolojay, USC OL Keenyi Pepe and Ohio State CB Dominick Kelly all prepped at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
* USC P Lachlan Carrigan and Ohio State P Joe McGuire are both from Melbourne, Australia.
* USC DT Tomuhini "Tom Tom" Topui Jr. and Ohio State QB Justyn Martin are both from Inglewood, Calif.
* USC OL Elijah Paige and Ohio State OL Tucker Smith are both from Phoenix, Ariz.
* USC TE Tucker Ashcraft and Ohio State LB Christian Alliegro both previously played at Wisconsin.
* USC DT Jordan Abarca and Ohio State QB Justyn Martin both previously played at UCLA.
* USC Assistant Head Coach for the Defense Rob Ryan was a Graduate Assistant at Ohio State in 1988.
* USC Director of Recruiting Weston Zernechel has held various recruiting and front office roles at Ohio State from 2017-21. Additionally, he was a team manager for Ohio State from 2011-14 before earning his undergraduate degree from them in 2015.
* USC Director of Football Communications Katie Ryan's cousin and fellow Trojan, Bron Heussenstamm, is married to the sister of Ohio State offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
OHIO STATE SCOUTING REPORT
* Ohio State enters the matchup 6-1 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten play after a 19-15 road win over Indiana. The Buckeyes have won five straight since their 24-23 loss at Texas.
* Ohio State led 13-7 at halftime and added two fourth-quarter field goals. QB Julian Sayin threw a 38-yard TD pass to WR Jeremiah Smith before leaving with a throwing-arm injury; he is out indefinitely. Luke Fahey is expected to start in his place, though Tavien St. Clair also took first-team reps during the bye week.
* The Buckeyes are averaging 39.3 points and 476.3 yards of total offense per game, including 323.1 passing yards and 153.1 rushing yards.
* Sayin has completed 131-of-192 passes for 2,007 yards, 19 TDs and 4 interceptions. Fahey has completed 9-of-13 passes for 203 yards, 2 TDs and 2 interceptions; St. Clair is 5-of-7 for 52 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception.
* RB Bo Jackson leads Ohio State with 516 rushing yards on 107 carries and 4 TDs. RB Ja'Kobi Jackson has added 354 yards and a team-high 6 rushing TDs.
* Smith leads the Buckeyes with 52 receptions for 984 yards and 12 TDs. WR Devin McCuin has 19 catches for 268 yards and 2 TDs, while TE Nate Roberts has 11 receptions for 178 yards and 2 TDs.
* Against Indiana, Ohio State totaled 313 yards, including 235 passing yards and 78 rushing yards. The Buckeyes converted 6-of-15 third downs and committed two turnovers on interceptions.
* Ohio State is converting 44% of its third downs (39-of-88) and 75% of its fourth downs (12-of-16).
* Defensively, the Buckeyes are allowing 13.4 points and 264.3 total yards per game. Opponents average 171.4 passing yards and 92.9 rushing yards.
* Ohio State has recorded 10 sacks and intercepted 4 passes this season. S Jaylen McClain leads the team with 2 interceptions.
* The Buckeyes have scored on 29-of-33 red-zone possessions, with 22 trips resulting in touchdowns. Opponents have scored on 11-of-14 red-zone trips and recorded 7 TDs.
* Ohio State has committed 47 penalties for 364 yards, an average of 52.0 penalty yards per game.
