The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will aim to remain unbeaten in Big Ten Conference play when they face the USC Trojans on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Team Records and Recent Form
Ohio State enters the matchup with a 6-1 overall record and a 4-0 mark in Big Ten play, having won five consecutive games. The Buckeyes are coming off a 19-15 victory at Indiana on October 17 and are 2-1 on the road this season. USC holds a 6-2 overall record and a 3-2 conference record, placing seventh in the Big Ten. The Trojans lost 24-7 at Wisconsin in Week 8 but are 4-1 at home in 2026.
Odds and Betting Lines
Ohio State is a 6.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 51.5 points. The money line lists Ohio State at -250 and USC at +205.
Model Projections
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates each FBS game 10,000 times, projects the total points to exceed 51.5. The model forecasts Ohio State quarterback Luke Fahey to throw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, while USC quarterback Jayden Maiava is expected to pass for over 235 yards and one touchdown. The computer projects a combined 52 points, with the over hitting in 51% of simulations. The model also indicates one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. SportsLine's model entered Week 9 on a 68-59 run on top-rated college football picks.
Series History
USC leads the all-time series 13-10-1, though Ohio State won the most recent meeting, a 24-7 victory in the 2017 Cotton Bowl.
