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Halloween typically conjures images of costumes, candy, and playful frights. For Ohio State, October 31 might deliver all three—at least on the gridiron.
The Buckeyes are set to clash with USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with the game slated for a 7:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff on NBC. While the matchup itself brims with excitement, the possible first start of freshman quarterback Luke Fahey adds a layer of eerie appropriateness to this Halloween encounter.
Starting quarterback Julian Sayin is sidelined with an injury sustained against Indiana, positioning Fahey as the frontrunner to lead the offense. However, head coach Ryan Day also allowed fellow quarterback Tavien St. Clair to compete during the bye week, meaning Fahey's starting role is not yet guaranteed.
Even so, the stage is set for a potentially unforgettable debut—especially since Fahey hails from Southern California, where he made a name for himself in high school football. If he gets the nod, he'll have the chance to make his first career start in familiar surroundings, though under the most intense spotlight of his young career. That's the treat. The trick could be lurking on the opposing sideline.
A Coliseum Curse Spanning Generations
Ohio State's history at USC provides its own Halloween narrative. The Buckeyes have not secured a regular-season victory at USC since October 5, 1946. While Ohio State has defeated the Trojans in regular-season games at Ohio Stadium, in classic Rose Bowl matchups, and most recently in the 2017 Cotton Bowl (24-7), subsequent visits to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum have been far less forgiving.
USC triumphed 17-0 in 1959, 32-3 in 1963, 42-3 in 1989, and 35-3 in 2008. Nearly two decades later, the Buckeyes return to Los Angeles aiming to script a different outcome.
A Freshman, A Familiar Home, And A Formidable Test
Luke Fahey's potential start would be a compelling storyline even without the historical baggage. A young quarterback making his first start is one thing; doing so on the road against a talented opponent, with the college football season entering its most critical stretch, is another. The timing adds even more intrigue.
Ohio State enters the matchup after a bye week, giving the coaching staff time to prepare both Fahey and Tavien St. Clair for the possibility of leading the offense. Ryan Day has made it clear that the decision will hinge on who gives the Buckeyes the best chance to win.
For Fahey, the opportunity could be both a treat and a trick: a chance to start in his home region, but with the pressure of facing a USC team eager to rebound from a brutal road loss at Wisconsin (24-7) in one of college football's historic venues. For Ohio State, the challenge extends beyond navigating a quarterback change. The Buckeyes are also trying to overcome a road history that has not included a regular-season victory at USC in 80 years.
Trick Or Treat For The Buckeyes?
The Halloween theme practically writes itself. Fahey could deliver an unexpected treat for Ohio State fans by stepping into the starting role and helping the Buckeyes secure a significant road victory. Or the trip to Los Angeles could produce another frightening chapter in a long-running series of difficult afternoons and evenings at the Coliseum.
Of course, history does not determine what happens on the field. The teams are meeting in a different era, in a different conference landscape, with a new generation of players. A case in point is Ohio State's most recent victory, the aforementioned 2017 Cotton Bowl, was nearly a decade ago.
Still, Halloween provides a fitting backdrop for a game full of uncertainty. Ohio State may be introducing a new starting quarterback, Fahey may be returning to his home region for the biggest opportunity of his career, and the Buckeyes have a piece of history waiting to be rewritten. On October 31, Ohio State will find out whether its trip to the Coliseum brings a treat—or another trick from a venue that has haunted the program for generations.