Ohio State at USC
Kickoff 10/30/2026, 11:00:00 PM CDT · time unverified · Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Big Ten / Big Ten · Week 9
Article published 10/13/2026, 12:19:25 PM CDT · last material update 10/13/2026, 12:19:25 PM CDT
Ohio State
31.0PROJECTION
USC
30.4Model projections are estimates. Forecast timestamp 10/12/2026, 12:27:21 PM CDT · feature-data cutoff 10/12/2026, 12:27:21 PM CDT. Verified stored season-to-date statistics; descriptive comparisons are separate from the original scoring-model feature window. Comparison snapshot 10/13/2026, 12:19:25 PM CDT.
Official betting selection
Awaiting Odds
The model projection is available, but no eligible verified sportsbook offer has produced a locked official selection.
Team statistics & league rankings
Season-to-date comparison · ranks use covered teams within College Football · #1 is best for each metric.
| Metric | Ohio State | USC |
|---|---|---|
| Points / game | 42.7#7 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 36.4#31 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Points allowed / game | 13.2#8 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 25.1#80 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Total yards / game | 503.5#7 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 462.4#21 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Yards allowed / game | 246.8#5 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 350.0#68 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Passing yards / game | 337.8#4 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 310.1#10 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Rushing yards / game | 165.7#60 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 152.3#77 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Yards / play | 7.33#6 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 6.67#25 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Yards allowed / play | 4.00#1 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 5.95#107 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Third-down conversion | 45.2%#40 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 51.2%#14 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Third-down conversion allowed | 36.1%#62 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 32.1%#30 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Turnovers / game | 1.00#46 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 0.86#45 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Takeaways / game | 1.33#51 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 0.86#105 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Offensive EPA / play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| EPA allowed / play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Offensive success rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Success rate allowed | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Red-zone scoring rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Turnover differential / game | 0.33#45 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 0.00#67 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Defensive sacks / game | 1.50#102 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 2.14#64 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Tackles for loss / game | 4.83#85 of 138 covered teams · 6 games | 4.29#111 of 138 covered teams · 7 games |
| Passing EPA / pass play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Rushing EPA / rush play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Explosive-play rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Sacks suffered / pass play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| QB hits / pass play | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Adjusted strength of schedule | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Statistical advantages
Ohio State has the higher observed scoring average: Ohio State scores 42.7 points per game and USC scores 36.4, a 6.2-point difference. These are unadjusted season averages, not an estimate of this game's winning margin.
Ohio State allows 13.2 points per game, compared with 25.1 for USC. Ohio State has the stronger defensive scoring figure by 12.0 points per game. Opponent quality and game situations can affect this comparison; a better raw rank is not proof of a better adjusted defense.
Ohio State's offense produces 503.5 yards per game; USC's defense has conceded 350.0. The 153.5-yard difference compares two observed averages rather than predicting a yardage total. Ohio State averages 7.33 yards per play, which puts it #6 among 138 covered teams.
Key matchup factors
USC's offense produces 462.4 yards per game; Ohio State's defense has conceded 246.8. The 215.6-yard difference compares two observed averages rather than predicting a yardage total. USC averages 6.67 yards per play, which puts it #25 among 138 covered teams.
Third-down conversion is another measurable difference: Ohio State records 45.2%, while USC records 51.2%. Higher is better for this metric. Compare the sample counts in the table before treating a difference as stable.
Turnover differential / game is another measurable difference: Ohio State records 0.33, while USC records 0.00. Higher is better for this metric. Compare the sample counts in the table before treating a difference as stable.
The stored production forecast is Ohio State 31.0, USC 30.4. Ohio State is projected to win by 0.6 points. SE v3.0 uses recent team and opponent profiles rather than just the full-season averages shown here. The college football model includes home/away context; an independently attributable home-field point adjustment is not exposed for this game, so none is claimed.
Saved sportsbook observations
Spread unavailable
Total unavailable
Observed Not verified. Saved market observations can differ from the original locked betting line.
Final model assessment
Ohio State is the projected winner in the original stored scoring forecast, with a 0.6-point margin and 61.4 combined points. The comparisons above describe the scoring, defensive and efficiency context for this matchup. The official selection, when published, remains the specific wager in the tracker.
Explore this matchup
Game previews · Spreadsheet entry · Tracked betting record · Ohio State statistics · USC statistics · Big Ten previews
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Definitions, coverage & original timestamps
Game ID college-football:401858509. Article creation is not the original prediction timestamp. Original forecast 10/12/2026, 12:27:21 PM CDT; final stored pregame forecast 10/12/2026, 12:27:21 PM CDT. Rates use summed observed numerators and denominators; game averages use games with that statistic. Rankings use competition ties within the covered league population. NFL data uses regular-season games. EPA / play uses observed PBP EPA counts; success means positive EPA. Explosive plays use the source aggregation’s 20-yard passing / 10-yard rushing thresholds. CFB red-zone scoring includes field goals and touchdowns; a different NFL red-zone rate is not substituted. Quarterback hit rate is a hit proxy, not a complete pressure rate. Missing adjusted strength of schedule, pressure rates or archived inputs remain unavailable.