Ohio State defense could use Wisconsin blueprint to beat USC

The Buckeye Dilemma in Los Angeles

Following an injury-riddled 19-15 victory over Indiana on Oct. 17, Ohio State took a much-needed week off to reset, heal, and prepare for an upcoming cross-country trip to face USC in Los Angeles. As landgrantholyland.com reported, the bye week arrived at a critical juncture for the Buckeyes, who must navigate the rest of the season without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, out indefinitely.

Lincoln Riley made an appearance on Trojans Live to talk about USC’s loss to Wisconsin and upcoming matchup with No. 2 Ohio State.⁰@AhmadMAkkaoui has five takeaways from the show: (VIP)https://t.co/Q1toVTtOGQ pic.twitter.com/Y1z8yMJHuz

— https://x.com/uscfootball/status/2115204895188131929

Yet their opponents in Southern California are wrestling with an identity crisis of their own. Last Saturday night in Madison, USC turned in a performance that bore little resemblance to a powerhouse. The then-No. 16 Trojans managed just a single touchdown against an unranked Wisconsin team, threw two first-half interceptions, gave up five sacks, and missed field goals in a 24-7 defeat.

Whether the Buckeyes will encounter the formidable version of USC that climbed as high as No. 12 in the national rankings earlier this year or the sputtering squad that crumbled against the Badgers remains an open question. Still, one messy outing in Wisconsin does not erase what the Trojans are capable of, nor does it guarantee an easy night for an Ohio State team breaking in an inexperienced signal-caller.

What Wisconsin Exposed at the Line of Scrimmage

While the Trojans entered their matchup averaging 36.4 points per contest, Lincoln Riley’s offense hit a brick wall in Madison. According to landgrantholyland.com, USC finished with the fewest points of Riley’s tenure, generating minus-17 net rushing yards while surrendering nine tackles for loss alongside those five sacks.

Ohio State defense could use Wisconsin blueprint to beat USC — Photo: sports.yahoo.com

That defensive blueprint offers a clear template for the Buckeye defense. Ohio State previously bottled up Indiana’s ground game, limiting the Hoosiers to just 73 rushing yards on 29 carries—an average of 2.5 yards per attempt. If Ohio State can replicate Wisconsin’s dominance at the line of scrimmage, they can force USC quarterback Jayden Maiava into obvious passing downs, creating prime opportunities for coverage mistakes and alleviating pressure on the Buckeyes’ own backup quarterback battle between Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair.

At the same time, dismissing USC entirely would be a mistake. Maiava still threw for 258 yards against the Badgers—surpassing the combined output of Julian Sayin and Luke Fahey from the Indiana game. To counter that aerial threat, Ohio State must disguise coverages, rotate defensive looks after the snap, and force Maiava to process complex pre-snap pictures quickly.

The Stakes and the Road Ahead

As scarletandgame.com noted, the Buckeyes head into Los Angeles ranked second in the nation, carrying College Football Playoff aspirations that require them to win games of this magnitude even amid mounting roster attrition. With Luke Fahey expected to take the helm, leaning on elite playmakers like wide receiver Jeremiah Smith in short routes to generate yards after catch will be vital.

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Wisconsin proved that USC’s defense remains fundamentally sound, holding the Badgers to just 200 total offensive yards and under 60 passing yards. That means Ohio State cannot afford sloppy penalties, turnovers, or squandered field position. As both programs pick up the pieces from contrasting forms of adversity—the Trojans watching their playoff hopes take a brutal hit, and the Buckeyes adjusting to life without their starting quarterback—the outcome will hinge entirely on execution.