Ohio State plays at USC in a Week 9 college football game on October 31, 2026, with the Buckeyes favored by 6.5 and the total at 52.5. The picks have settled on Ohio State minus 6.5, with Taylor Lewan taking the Buckeyes for five units and Josh Pate for three, the latter citing USC's effort after the Wisconsin and Oregon losses. Earlier reasoning pointed to USC's weak right side of the offensive line and passive linebacker play. No counterargument has surfaced in the coverage so far.