Ohio State 2026 opponent breakdown: Week 9, USC
The Buckeyes are playing the Trojans in the regular season for the first time since 2009. Ohio State's last regular-season win over USC was in 1964.
COLUMBUS — Ohio State’s last regular-season win over USC occurred on Oct. 17, 1964, when Woody Hayes and the No. 2 Buckeyes hosted the Trojans in Ohio Stadium and shut them out 17-0.
Since then, the Buckeyes are 3-8 against USC, with the three wins in bowl games. That’s not usually how these things work for the Buckeyes.
Overall, Ohio State is 10-13-1 all-time against the Trojans, their worst record against any opponent they’ve played at least five times.
The only other program the Buckeyes have played at least five times and have a losing record against? Michigan.
That make you a little mad? A little fired up for Ohio State’s trip to Los Angeles on Oct. 31? How about the fact that the last time the Buckeyes visited the Trojans, they got blown off the field 35-3 in 2008?
USC hasn’t finished in the Top 10 of the final AP rankings since 2016. Ohio State has been in the Top 10 every one of those seasons. But if you’d like to get a little ticked off at the Trojans before this one kicks off, there’s enough there for you to do it.
Previous schedule breakdowns
Week 8: Off
USC Trojans
Ohio State opponent No. 8
Oct. 31, time TBA, at Los Angeles Coliseum
2025 stats
• 16 out of 136 teams in final SP+ ratings (No. 9 offense, No. 36 defense)
• 13 in FEI ratings (No. 3 offense, No. 50 defense)
• 5 in adjusted EPA/play (No. 3 offense, No. 63 defense)
• Scored 35.8 ppg (No. 13), allowed 23.0 ppg (51)
History vs. Buckeyes
What would Woody Hayes think?
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