🏈 No. 2 Ohio State (6-1) at USC (6-2)
📅 Sat 10/31, 7:30pm ET
📺 NBC
Coach's Corner
Ryan Day · Head Coach
Asked what he is looking for from either quarterback to be the starter:
"They got to be tough. If if our guys play tough and what I mean by that is like physically, mentally, and emotionally tough. That that's critical here."
Asked who will start at quarterback:
"I think things have progressed this week, similar to the way they have in the past. I'll just kind of leave it at that. We'll keep preparing, and we'll play the game on Saturday."
Asked whether two quarterbacks could play in the game:
"it's definitely possible. um what what the situations would be and what the circumstances would be. You know, we'd have to see, but yeah, there's definitely a chance."
On wide receiver Phillip Bell:
"I see a lot of Emeka Egbuka in Phil Bell, the way he plays and his approach, his size, the way he catches and plays strong. I think his confidence is growing. Somebody that in the second half of the season is poised to make a big difference."
Asked what he has seen from Jeremiah Smith and Luke Fahey as they build chemistry:
"Jeremiah is a tremendous talent and you know he can adjust quickly and um the good thing about you know he and Luke is you know Luke you just got to get it somewhere in the in the neighborhood of number four and he's going to pull it down."
Brotherhood Bites
Carson Hinzman · Offensive Lineman
Asked what it has been like taking snaps with a new quarterback:
"I played with a lot of different quarterbacks, and so I've been able to have different uh, guys at the at the helm getting ready"
Asked how the leadership dynamic changes without Julian Sayin:
"we have a ton of reps, a ton of live reps, a ton of adverse situations we've been in. And so for us to step up as leaders is going to be really important."
Jaylen McClain · Safety
Asked what responsibility the defense takes on with a new quarterback:
"it's pressure that you want, you know, almost as a defense. We take pride in just, you know, getting off the field and giving the ball back to the quarterback. So, at the end of the day, that's what we're going to have to do at a high level."
Asked where he has seen the biggest improvement in the defense:
"I just feel like we're playing a lot closer. I feel like, you know, in the beginning of the season, you know, we're we're kind of trying to figure it out. But I feel like now we're we're kind of taking pride in each other's roles."
Devin McCuin · Wide Receiver
On the growth he has seen from Chris Henry Jr.:
"He's just consistent. He keeps stacking days and he doesn't say much, but he goes about his work like a pro. So I'm proud of him and how he's come along."
Christian Alliegro · Linebacker
On how the defense has stepped up this past week:
"I think it all starts with the defense. The defense has to step up, not really change what you're doing, but be more intentional with preparation and stuff like that. We've got to rally behind whoever is starting."
Recruiting
Jamier Brown · 5-Star 2027 WR Commit
Ohio State's five-star receiver commit, per 247Sports, helped Wayne rally past Centerville 63-60 Friday.
On what he will bring to the Buckeyes:
"I want to work. I love the work. And a place like that, you've got to be able to stay down and work. So that's what they're going to get out of me"
DJ Jacobs · 5-Star 2027 Edge Commit
Jacobs, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2027 class per 247Sports, remains committed to Ohio State. He recently visited Miami and, 247Sports reports, plans to visit Oklahoma this weekend.
Theo Schott · 4-Star 2028 TE Target
On his visit to Ohio Stadium:
"I feel like I got more time with coach Bailey, the tight ends coach, and more of the coaches. Coach Day is a great guy. Loved that visit."
Describing his game:
"When you think of a tight end, you think of a dude that's in-line blocking, but I can do it all. I think I'm the best tight end in the nation."
Tahj Gray · 2028 LB Target
Gray, a five-star linebacker from Montvale, New Jersey, per 247Sports, is slated to visit Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 7, for the Oregon game, 247Sports reports. He has already made game-day visits to Auburn and Florida, 247Sports reports.
Jordan Hall · 3-Star 2027 RB
Hall, a three-star running back from Cincinnati Princeton per 247Sports, committed to Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 24, choosing the Nittany Lions over Ohio State and Missouri.
Program News
Ohio State is No. 2 in the AP Top 25, behind Miami (Fla.), and No. 2 in the coaches poll. USC dropped out of the AP poll after its 24-7 loss at Wisconsin on Oct. 24 and is No. 25 in the coaches poll.
The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced that Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain is a Paycom Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.
The Big Ten announced that Ohio State's Nov. 7 home game against Oregon will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
What to Watch For
Who starts at quarterback.
Ohio State has not named a starter for USC with Julian Sayin out. Day said Tuesday that Luke Fahey had been ahead of Tavien St. Clair going into the Indiana game.
Jeremiah Smith's record chase.
Smith, with 39 career touchdown catches, is tied with Braylon Edwards of Michigan for the Big Ten record. One more breaks it. He also has 15 career 100-yard receiving games, tied with Marvin Harrison Jr. for the most in program history, so a 100-yard game Saturday would pass Harrison.
Jeremiah’s Smith Heisman résumé & the game plan for him.
Will Arthur Smith scheme up ways to get the ball in Jeremiah’s Smith hands more frequently? Across major sportsbooks Smith is favored to win the Heisman Trophy. Will Smith’s Heisman résumé be bolstered if he can carry the Buckeyes without Sayin or will it take a hit if the QB play limits his ability to impact the game?
Austin Siereveld's return to the offensive line.
Siereveld, who was not available to practice during the bye week, is back for a full week of work.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava has thrown 19 touchdown passes and five interceptions this season, USC's game notes say. He completed 31 of 50 passes in USC's loss at Wisconsin.
Christian Alliegro, Linebacker, on Wednesday, on Maiava:
"I think he's super accurate with his passes. He's super comfortable in the pocket…obviously Wisconsin got a lot of pressure on him last week and kind of, you know, threw him off a little bit. So hopefully we can get, you know, do some of that this weekend and kind of get him off the spot."
First meeting since 2017.
Ohio State is 10-13-1 all-time against USC and beat USC 24-7 in the 2017 Cotton Bowl, Ohio State's notes say.
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