Ohio State Buckeyes vs USC Trojans Preview & Odds — October 31, 2026
OSUOffense2026 regular season to dateUSC
OSUDefenseUSCOSURecent formUSCOSUHome and roadseason to dateUSCOSULast 10 gamesUSCRest & travelrest and travel
OSURest & travelUSCAbout these numbers
2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (138 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.
Last five results this season, oldest to newest. Records are season to date, with home and road splits. Against-the-spread (ATS) and over–under records use the consensus closing line.
Margin of each of the last 8 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
Matchup preview
Ohio State (6-1) visits USC (6-2) on Saturday, October 31 at 7:30 PM ET.
Ohio State has the 21st-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 37th-ranked defense (ranks among the 138 teams with play-by-play data). Meanwhile, USC has the 32nd-ranked offense and the 82nd-ranked defense. When Ohio State has the ball, a 21st-ranked offense (+0.213 EPA per play) meets a 82nd-ranked defense (+0.106 allowed); when USC has it, a 32nd-ranked offense (+0.171) meets a 37th-ranked defense (−0.028 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the Ohio State offense is at 51.8% (17th) and the USC offense at 48.7% (49th). Ohio State scores 39.3 points per game (6th) and allows 13.4 (3rd); USC scores 32.8 (30th) and allows 25.0 (64th).
Ohio State is 6-1 and 5-2 against the spread; its last game was a 19-15 win over Indiana. USC is 6-2 and 2-6 against the spread; its last game was a 24-7 loss to Wisconsin.
Ohio State is a 6.5-point road favorite, with USC getting the points at home. The spread opened at Ohio State -7. The total is 51.5, down from 52.5 at the open. After removing the vig, the moneyline (Ohio State -250, USC +205) prices Ohio State at 69% and USC at 31%.
Built from public team and player data; ranks are league-wide and update daily until kickoff.
Market
Odds and line movement
Ohio State -7 (-105)
Ohio State -6.5 (-115)
USC +202 32%
USC +205 31%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. The Now column updates from our odds board. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Best available prices on Oct 28
- Ohio State -6.5-111Novig
- USC +6.5+108Novig
- Over 51.5-104Novig
- Under 51.5+100Novig
- Ohio State-233Novig
- USC+220theScore Bet
Members
G&W Line
G&W’s own number for this game, next to the market. Analytics
Matchup
Players to watch
- Attempts192
- Completion %68.2%31st
- Passing yards2,00732nd
- Yards per attempt10.44th
- TD–INT19–4
- Rushing yards51654th
- Season line107 carries, 516 yds, 4 TD
- Receiving yards9842nd
- Season line52 catches, 984 yds, 12 TD
- Tackles38326th
- Attempts274
- Completion %66.8%47th
- Passing yards2,3036th
- Yards per attempt8.451st
- TD–INT19–5
- Rushing yards60238th
- Season line125 carries, 602 yds, 4 TD
- Receiving yards44379th
- Season line32 catches, 443 yds, 4 TD
- Tackles44214th
Season passing totals from public box scores, captured before kickoff. Ranks among the 264 quarterbacks with at least 60 attempts. Rushing, receiving and tackle leaders: season totals captured October 28, 5:34 a.m. ET; ranks among FBS players.
Success by situation
| Situation | Ohio State | USC |
|---|---|---|
| Early-down success rateOhio State offense vs USC defense | 48.6%11th | 43.4%74th |
| Early-down success rateUSC offense vs Ohio State defense | 35.6%5th | 43.6%66th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateOhio State offense vs USC defense | 48.0%23rd | 35.1%29th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateUSC offense vs Ohio State defense | 40.7%73rd | 50.0%17th |
| Explosive play rateOhio State offense vs USC defense | 7.9%35th | 5.5%32nd |
| Explosive play rateUSC offense vs Ohio State defense | 3.9%6th | 7.5%41st |
| Pass rateshare of plays that are passes or sacks | 48.6%89th-highest | 54.7%26th-highest |
On 3rd down Ohio State converts 48.0% (23rd) against a USC defense allowing 35.1% (29th).
On 3rd down USC converts 50.0% (17th) against a Ohio State defense allowing 40.7% (73rd).
2026 regular season before kickoff, from play-by-play with garbage time removed; ranks among the 138 teams in the play-by-play data (defense: 1st = allows the least). Success = a play that gains expected points.
Coaching staff
| Staff | Ohio State | USC |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Ryan Day | Lincoln Riley |
| Tenureat this school | 8th season | 5th season |
| Record at schoolthis season included, as of the date below | 88–13 | 42–19 |
| Career recordas an FBS head coach | 88–13 | 97–29 |
| Offensive coordinator | Keenan Bailey / Arthur Smith | Luke Huard |
| Defensive coordinator | Matt Patricia / Tim Walton | Gary Patterson |
Staff list as of October 27, 6:50 a.m. ET.
Result
After the final: score vs the closing line, Drive X-Ray and the graded official play, if there was one, appear here on this same page.
Teams
Ohio State Buckeyes
- Ohio State Buckeyes team stats
- Ohio State Buckeyes 19, Indiana Hoosiers 15 (Oct 17)
- Maryland Terrapins 16, Ohio State Buckeyes 45 (Oct 10)
- Ohio State Buckeyes 31, Iowa Hawkeyes 14 (Oct 3)
USC Trojans
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