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Week 7 of the college football season delivered a slate of dramatic finishes and top-five upsets, with one of the most notable being No. 4 Ohio State's 19-15 triumph over No. 5 Indiana in Bloomington. The loss snapped the Hoosiers' 22-game winning streak and provided a glimpse into what the No. 19 USC Trojans will face when they meet both teams later this year—matchups that will likely shape USC's College Football Playoff hopes.
Here are three key observations from the Buckeyes' win that carry implications for the Trojans.
Julian Sayin's Injury Could Benefit USC
When Ohio State visits the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the first time since 2008, they may be without star quarterback Julian Sayin, who sustained a right shoulder injury against Indiana. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day announced that Sayin will be sidelined for several weeks, meaning former three-star recruit Luke Fahey, a true freshman from Mission Viejo, California, is expected to start against USC on Oct. 31. Despite Sayin's absence, the Trojans' secondary—which has struggled in its first season under defensive coordinator Gary Patterson—must still contend with wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. Smith caught four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in the win over Indiana, surpassing former Michigan wideout Braylon Edwards for the most touchdowns by a Big Ten receiver.
USC's Run Defense vs. Ohio State's Rushing Attack
The Trojans' run defense has been a bright spot under Patterson, with the defensive line trio of Jahkeem Stewart, Luke Wafle, and Jide Abasiri showing improvement in generating pressure and stopping the run. How that unit performs against Ohio State's running back duo of Bo Jackson and Isaiah West could determine whether coach Lincoln Riley secures his most signature win at USC. Jackson leads the Buckeyes with 107 carries for 516 yards and four touchdowns, averaging over 15 carries per game, so expect Ohio State to lean heavily on him.
Josh Hoover's Performance and Indiana's Passing Threat
In the Hoosiers' loss, starting quarterback Josh Hoover—a TCU transfer tasked with replacing Heisman winner and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza—threw for 296 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-40 passing. However, the critical moment came when Hoover overthrew a wide-open Nick Marsh in the end zone on a potential game-winning drive, forcing Marsh to catch the ball out of bounds and allowing Ohio State to escape. The Nov. 14 clash between Indiana and USC in Bloomington could decide the Trojans' CFP fate, and USC's defense must step up. If Hoover is accurate, the Hoosiers' receiving duo of Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker will pose a significant threat. Becker led Indiana with nine receptions for 165 yards in the loss, while Marsh added three catches for 57 yards.
Pivotal Road Test at Wisconsin Awaits
Before their crucial games against Ohio State and Indiana, the Trojans face a road challenge on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Camp Randall Stadium against the Wisconsin Badgers. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT in another primetime NBC matchup. The Badgers fell to 4-2 after their first Big Ten loss, a 17-7 defeat to No. 12 UCLA at the Rose Bowl.