Freshman QB starts for Ohio State at USC

Ohio State quarterback Luke Fahey will make his first career start on Saturday night in Los Angeles. The freshman replaces starter Julian Sayin for the No. 2 Buckeyes' visit to USC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on NBC.

USC enters the game as a 7-point underdog according to DraftKings odds. The Trojans are 6-2 with losses to Wisconsin and Oregon. They fell out of the national rankings following the Wisconsin defeat. Ohio State is 6-1 and remains a national title contender. The Buckeyes lost at Texas in Week 2 and are 2-1 against AP Top 25 opponents.

Fahey has made only 13 pass attempts this season. This limited sample size leaves little evidence for how he will perform in a high-pressure road environment. Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith is a Heisman Trophy contender, but he requires effective play-action from the quarterback. The offense may rely heavily on running back Bo Jackson, though his average drops from 5.9 yards per carry at home to 3.8 on the road.

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava presents a different statistical profile based on location. At home, he completes nearly 70% of his passes for 9.2 yards per attempt. He has thrown 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in those games. On the road, his completion rate falls to 62.6% and his average drops to 7.3 yards per attempt. His most effective throws come on intermediate passes between 10 and 19 yards.

Betting analysts project a lower-scoring affair. The over/under is set at 51.5 points. Ohio State's defense allows successful plays on only 32% of opposing pass attempts. USC's running game may not provide enough balance to sustain drives against that unit. The expectation is that the Trojans must work for every score while Ohio State manages the clock.

Coach Ryan Day holds a 58-1 record against unranked opponents, with the sole loss coming against Michigan in 2024. USC's defense has shown vulnerability to quick scores in past games. However, Ohio State has averaged only 6.3 and 4.3 points in the fourth quarter during road games over the last two seasons. If the contest remains close late, the home crowd and Maiava's intermediate passing give USC a realistic path to victory.