Ohio State vs. USC: Can Luke Fay Lead the Buckeyes?

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From SportsGrid College Football Today

Ohio State Turns to Luke Fay for a Crucial Matchup With USC

USC hosts No. 2 Ohio State in one of the most interesting games of the college football season. Although it is a matchup between a ranked and an unranked team, Ohio State’s quarterback situation adds intrigue.

Ohio State enters the game without Julian Say, a Heisman Trophy finalist last year who has recorded 19 passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns this season. He has also demonstrated an ability to help Ohio State win and get the football to Jeremiah Smith.

Unproven freshman Luke Fay now steps in at quarterback. He attempted two passes in the win over Indiana and did not complete either one, leaving questions about whether Ohio State can be trusted in this spot.

However, Ohio State has consistently reloaded rather than rebuilt. Fay may need an adjustment period, but he will have Smith as a target, along with a good offensive line and a top-10 defense. Those advantages could help Ohio State remain on track despite the quarterback change.

There was some surprise that Ohio State’s national championship odds did not move even longer. Still, the program has regularly remained in contention, even in seasons when it was not expected to win the national title.

USC enters the matchup with its own concerns. A win at Wisconsin last week would have left the Trojans feeling much better about their season, but the loss placed Lincoln Riley firmly on the hot seat. USC has plenty of talent, yet questions remain about whether the team can turn that talent into meaningful wins.

The Trojans have been discussed as a possible playoff team because games against No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Indiana and No. 7 UCLA give them opportunities to strengthen their résumé. Winning all three could potentially put USC in the Big Ten title game, but there is little confidence that the Trojans can complete that run.

For USC, everything starts with beating Ohio State. A loss would make victories at Indiana and UCLA even more difficult to envision. A win, however, could keep the Trojans in the playoff conversation amid a landscape in which Alabama, Texas, LSU and Florida each have two losses.

A 9-3 USC résumé featuring wins over Ohio State and UCLA could receive consideration, particularly if three-loss teams enter the playoff discussion. An Ohio State victory would also be unlikely to age poorly, as the Buckeyes are expected to be favored in their remaining games against Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan.