Why Ohio State football is trending today

Published October 31, 2026 at 8:15 PM · 10 sources · 20000+ searches today

Ohio State football is trending because the Buckeyes are playing USC today, Saturday, October 31, 2026, in a nationally televised Big Ten matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. People are also searching because Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, is out indefinitely, and coach Ryan Day has not publicly named a replacement.

Key facts

Oct. 31, 2026: Ohio State plays USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Eastern / 4:30 p.m. Pacific on NBC
Ohio State is No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and 6-1 overall
Julian Sayin is out indefinitely with an arm injury
This is Ohio State’s first game at the Coliseum since 2008

What is happening today

Ohio State is playing USC today, Saturday, October 31, 2026, in Los Angeles. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern / 4:30 p.m. Pacific and will air on NBC.

The matchup is drawing attention because it is the first-ever Big Ten meeting between the schools since USC joined the conference in 2024. It is also Ohio State’s first game at the Coliseum since 2008.

Why people are searching Ohio State football

The biggest storyline is Ohio State’s quarterback situation. Starter Julian Sayin is out indefinitely after suffering an arm injury in the October 17 win at Indiana.

Ryan Day has not publicly identified the replacement starter, and freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair are competing for the job. That uncertainty has added to the interest around the game today.

Ohio State’s current standing

As of October 31, 2026, Ohio State is ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 with a 6-1 overall record and a 4-0 Big Ten record. The Buckeyes have won five straight games since losing at Texas in Week 2.

USC enters at 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play after a lopsided loss to Wisconsin last weekend. Ohio State is also expected to be without receiver Brock Boyd and defensive back Jay Timmons, while Brandon Inniss was listed as a game-time decision.

What to watch next

This game matters beyond one night because the first 2026 College Football Playoff rankings are scheduled for November 3. Ohio State’s result today will factor into how the Buckeyes are viewed heading into that release.

For searchers, the main questions are who starts at quarterback, whether Ohio State extends its winning streak to six games, and how the Buckeyes handle one of their biggest conference matchups of the season.

Frequently asked

Why is Ohio State football trending today?

Ohio State is trending because the Buckeyes are playing USC today, October 31, 2026, in a nationally televised Big Ten game. The unresolved quarterback situation is also driving search interest.

What time is Ohio State vs. USC today?

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern / 4:30 p.m. Pacific on NBC. The game is being played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Who is Ohio State’s quarterback today?

Ryan Day has not publicly named the replacement for Julian Sayin. Freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair are competing for the job.

What is Ohio State’s record right now?

As of October 31, 2026, Ohio State is No. 2 in the AP Top 25 with a 6-1 overall record and a 4-0 Big Ten record.

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.