No. 2 Ohio State and USC will meet on Saturday, October 31, 2026, for their 24th game in history, marking their first as conference mates. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and will be televised on NBC, with live streaming options available through Fubo and Peacock.
Ohio State Leads Betting Odds Against USC
Ohio State enters the game with a 6-1 record, boasting the 16th-ranked pass defense in college football. USC is 6-2 overall and features the 10th-ranked pass attack. Ohio State is favored by 6.5 points, with a moneyline of -245 compared to USC’s +200. The over/under for total points is set at 51.5. Ohio State has a 5-2-0 record against the spread this season. USC has won twice against the spread this year.
Buckeyes Pass Attack Faces Trojans Defense
Ohio State averages 323.1 passing yards per game (fifth in the FBS) while USC allows 216.4 (79th). The Buckeyes also average 39.3 points per game, while the Trojans allow 25.0. USC averages 303.6 passing yards per game (10th) and 131.1 rushing yards (105th). Ohio State’s defense allows 92.9 rushing yards (12th). The Buckeyes average 10.7 yards per pass attempt, the best in college football, while the Trojans allow 8.1 (118th).
Luke Fahey Starts First Game for Ohio State
Luke Fahey is slated to make his first career start at quarterback for Ohio State. This game will be USC’s third as a Big Ten member, and they hold a 9-2 record in Big Ten home games since joining the league, though they are 1-2 at home against ranked opponents within the conference. The game takes place in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where they have played eight of their 24 all-time meetings with Ohio State. USC is 5-1 at home as a moneyline favorite this season.
Analysts Recommend Betting on the Under
Analysts suggest avoiding the spread, given Fahey’s first start, and instead recommend betting on the under, predicting a total score below 51.5 points. The Trojans’ past three games have averaged 54.8 points, 3.3 points higher than the current over/under. Ohio State has covered the spread in two of their last three games, winning all three straight-up. USC’s past three games have averaged 54.8 points, 3.3 more than the over/under, but they have not hit the over in any of those contests.
Team Statistics
Ohio State averages 53.2 points per game overall, 56.5 at home, and 48.8 on the road. USC averages 56.9 points overall, 58.1 at home, and 54.8 on the road. Ohio State’s implied total is 39.6 at home and 27.7 on the road. USC’s implied total is 36.6 at home and 32.0 on the road.
Historical Context
The teams have played 24 times prior to this contest, with seven meetings at the Rose Bowl and eight at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This is their first meeting as conference opponents. Previous matchups include a 2017 Cotton Bowl game and games in 2009 and earlier. In 2001, Craig Krenzel made his first start on the road against Michigan, and Ohio State won.
Who will emerge victorious when Luke Fahey takes the field for his first start against a USC team hoping to improve its record in Big Ten home games against ranked opponents?
