There's probably more motivation for the Ohio State Buckeyes to beat the Indiana Hoosiers than any other team on their daunting 2026 schedule, since that's the only Big Ten team that got the best of Ryan Day and Co. last year. Meanwhile, the Oregon Ducks are typically seen as the Buckeyes' only equal in the conference besides the defending champions.
ESPN's Heather Dinich sees it differently. Dinich listed the USC Trojans matchup at the Coliseum as the toughest matchup of the season for the Ohio State University this fall.
"Yes, the Week 2 game at Texas will garner more national attention, but the trip to L.A. on Halloween -- after facing defending national champ Indiana on the road -- will probably be the most difficult task of the season. The Buckeyes will have a bye week to prepare for it, while USC will be coming home from a trip to Wisconsin," Dinich wrote.
Perhaps no one seeing USC as the toughest matchup only adds to the potential upset factor. Then again, it's not as though there aren't stakes for a Scarlet and Gray program that knows the last trip to the City of Angels didn't end well for the Buckeyes in 2008. History doesn't matter that much, but it's on the fan bases' minds for sure.
USC's offensive line could test a rebuilt Buckeyes defensive front
The Trojans have all five offensive line starters returning to the fold. Center Kilian O'Connor has plenty of continuity with quarterback Jayden Maiava, while Elijah Paige has already started 20 games at left tackle.
Of course, on the other side, Ohio State is bringing back EDGE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and three-tech DT Eddrick Houston as its main players, but is hoping for the best with major transfers like EDGE Qua Russaw and three-tech DT James Smith.
The advantage, on paper, may go to USC in the trenches when the Trojans have the ball. Larry Johnson and Matt Patricia will have a lot of say in that, though, by the time the two teams clash on Halloween night.
Ohio State has a major advantage over USC on the other side
On the other side, USC has a bit of turnover. Most importantly, the Trojans are extremely vulnerable in the secondary. The Buckeyes have the advantage in a major way on that side of the ball. There's no question about it. Jeremiah Smith, Chris Henry Jr., and Co. should have their druthers against USC. Julian Sayin needs to make sure of that.
The running game should be an intriguing component of OSU's offense. Regardless of who is in charge, the Trojans' run defense has never been great. If it doesn't step up under Gary Patterson, Bo Jackson and Isaiah West are talented enough to be difference-makers. Hopefully Sayin has improved his running instincts this offseason.
If he has, LA should be an enjoyable trip this October for the Buckeyes. It follows the bye week and precedes a matchup with the Oregon Ducks at the "Shoe." The bye week part is good news, at least.
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