Two of college football’s most iconic teams will clash for the first time as Big Ten rivals on Saturday. The storied programs have trended in polar opposite directions over the last 15 years, and their recent track records couldn’t be more different. 

Winners of eight national championships, most recently in the 2024-25 season, No. 2 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten) is the class of college football. With just 22 losses over the last 15 seasons and no finishes outside the AP Poll top 10 since 2014, the Buckeyes embody steady supremacy and are synonymous with inevitable, unmatched talent. 

USC (6-2, 3-2), meanwhile, despite annual sky-high expectations, has never made the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2014 and hasn’t won a national title in over two decades.

On Oct. 24, in an all-around dispiriting loss to Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1), the Trojans’ playoff hopes were put on life support, reigniting cries for Head Coach Lincoln Riley’s termination.

There is no letup, and the task doesn’t get easier against an Ohio State squad that, even without junior starting quarterback Julian Sayin, boasts one of the most complete rosters in the sport and reemerges from its bye week motivated to remain a postseason threat. 

Yet on Saturday, USC has a chance, in front of a testy home crowd, to prove its calamitous outing in Madison isn’t indicative of who the Trojans are as a group — and save their season in the process.

“Teams that are going to be there in the end are the ones [that] overcome it and move on, whether it’s a big win, whether it’s a tough loss,” Riley said Monday on “Trojans Live.” “Fortunately for us, we’ve got a great opportunity ahead this week here at home versus Ohio State, and our team will be really ready and excited for that.”

Backup quarterback under center for Buckeyes

When the conference schedule was released in late January, this weekend’s matchup was projected to be a battle between two playoff contenders. 

Ohio State has held up its end of the bargain. Since blowing a 20-point fourth-quarter lead to then-No. 4 Texas (5-2, 2-2 SEC) in mid-September, the Buckeyes have responded with a vengeance, rattling off four consecutive blowouts against multiple quality opponents. The run was punctuated by a scrappy 19-15 road victory over defending national champion No. 4 Indiana (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten). 

However, the victory came at high a cost, and Ohio State may contend with an emotional letdown of its own after Sayin suffered a likely season-ending arm injury late in the contest. 

With Sayin at the helm, the Buckeyes offense was as unstoppable as they come, leading the Big Ten with over 475 yards and nearly 40 points per game. 

Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day has been intentionally coy about whether freshman quarterback Luke Fahey or former five-star sophomore quarterback Tavien St. Clair gets the starting nod Saturday. Fahey struggled in his only two possessions against the Hoosiers, but multiple weeks of first-team reps and an offensive game plan tailored to his skill set could ease him into his first college start. 

Without Sayin, the onus is on junior wide receiver and current Heisman Trophy favorite Jeremiah Smith to carry the offense. USC’s defense has its hands full guarding Smith, a matchup nightmare who has 984 yards and 12 touchdowns this season in the latest chapter of his legendary career. 

Coinciding with defensive coordinator Gary Patterson’s move to the booth, the Trojans’ defense has generated more pressure up front and reduced coverage busts. 

USC avoided giving up chunks of yardage last Saturday, as Wisconsin’s passing game was a non-factor. Yet the Badgers shortened the game, limited possessions and wore down the defense with two drives that each lasted over half a quarter.

“We didn’t play good enough to win the game, and we got to remember the reasons why we didn’t, and we got to use those [to] push us to win this game,” redshirt junior offensive tackle Tobias Raymond said at a Wednesday news conference.

Buckeyes defense battles woebegone USC offense

The Trojans’ offense was historically poor against a suffocating Wisconsin defense that bears a striking resemblance to Ohio State’s unit in both caliber and scheme. 

Despite gaining six more first downs than the Badgers, USC’s backs averaged just two yards per carry and totaled 40 yards rushing. With a suddenly shaky offensive line that allowed five sacks, the Trojans couldn’t find rhythm or generate explosive plays. 

As good as the Badgers’ defense is, the Buckeyes’ is even better, allowing 13.4 points per game, second-best among Power Four programs. Junior safety Jaylen McClain and graduate safety Earl Little Jr. lead the standout secondary.

Redshirt senior quarterback Jayden Maiava, after throwing two ill-advised interceptions to the Badgers, must keep the ball out of harm’s way to avoid giving added life to a defense that doesn’t depend on turnovers. 

“Obviously, we [didn’t] put out what we wanted, [not] going 1-0 last week, but it’s time to go 1-0 this week,” redshirt sophomore running back King Miller said at a Tuesday news conference. “It’s time to prepare, get ready and show the world what we can do.”

The Trojans’ do-or-die upset bid commences at 4:30 p.m. Saturday against Ohio State at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.