# College Football Week 9: Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1) vs. USC Trojans (6-2) Game Preview and Predictions

Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/news/college-football-week-9-ohio-state-buckeyes-6-1-vs-usc-trojans-6-2-game-preview-and-predic

> Ohio State Buckeyes bring a five-game winning streak to Los Angeles as USC Trojans try to bounce back from a loss to Wisconsin.

By Cole Saturday · Published 2026-10-30 23:33 UTC

_Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._

Ohio State brings a five-game winning streak into the Coliseum as USC tries to snap a one-game skid.

[Ohio State Buckeyes](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/teams/ohio-state-buckeyes) (6-1, W5) travel to face [USC Trojans](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/teams/usc-trojans) (6-2, L1) on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with kickoff at 7:30 PM ET on NBC.

Ohio State has won five straight, while USC enters off a loss that snapped its own momentum.

## Game details

- When | Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
- Where | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- TV | NBC
- Line | Ohio State Buckeyes -6.5 | O/U 51.5 (market view)
- Ohio State Buckeyes record | 6-1
- USC Trojans record | 6-2

## The matchup

Ohio State has not lost since dropping to 6-1, reeling off wins over Kent State Golden Flashes (59-3), Illinois Fighting Illini (42-19), Iowa Hawkeyes (31-14) and Maryland Terrapins (45-16) before grinding out a 19-15 win at Indiana Hoosiers most recently. The margins have tightened as the competition has, but the result column reads the same every week: a W.

USC is coming off a 7-24 loss at Wisconsin Badgers, its only setback in this stretch after wins over Penn State Nittany Lions (31-23) and Washington Huskies (25-21). Before that run, the Trojans lost to Oregon Ducks 27-41 at home and beat Rutgers Scarlet Knights 42-35 on the road. It's been a stop-and-start season for USC, alternating losses with multi-game wins.

## Key matchups

This one comes down to which unit wins the field-position battle. Ohio State's defense has allowed just 94 points all season, and it'll be tested by a USC offense that has put up 262. On the other side, USC's defense has given up 200 points and now has to deal with an Ohio State attack that has scored 275.

If USC's defense can slow down an Ohio State offense that's humming on a five-game winning streak, the Trojans give themselves a chance. If not, Ohio State's defensive numbers suggest this could get away from USC early.

## The pick

The market has Ohio State favored by 6.5 with a market score of 29-23 and a total of 51.5, which lines up with a team that's won five in a row against one coming off a loss.

Ohio State's defense has been the story of its streak, and that edge, paired with USC's uneven form, makes the Buckeyes the play here, for what it's worth to the oddsmakers.

## Recent results

- Team | Last games
- Ohio State Buckeyes | Wk7 W 19-15 vs Indiana Hoosiers, Wk6 W 45-16 vs Maryland Terrapins, Wk5 W 31-14 vs Iowa Hawkeyes
- USC Trojans | Wk8 L 7-24 vs Wisconsin Badgers, Wk6 W 31-23 vs Penn State Nittany Lions, Wk5 W 25-21 vs Washington Huskies

[**Game page**](https://profootballnewshub.com/ncaa/game/3084)

*Written by Cole Saturday, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores and box scores), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our [editorial standards](https://profootballnewshub.com/editorial-standards).*

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