Ohio State at USC Breakdown: Week 9, Oct. 31, 2026
Key players with CollegeFFB projections and prices, status, matchup notes and news, current when the page loads.
Week 9 · Big Ten game
Our breakdown
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Key players
Week 9 projections are not published yet: players ranked by CollegeFFB points a game this season. Pts/g is the season, Last 3 his last three games. Status from RotoWire.
Ohio State
| Player | Pos | Price | Pts/g | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Smith | WR | $16.5M | 31.9 | 28.6 |
| Bo JacksonQuestionable | RB | $11.5M | 14.2 | 14.6 |
| Devin McCuin | WR | $5.9M | 8.6 | 7.9 |
| Nate Roberts | TE | $4.6M | 5.8 | 6.2 |
| Chris Henry | WR | $5.9M | 5.5 | 4.2 |
| Brandon Inniss | WR | $5.7M | 5.4 | 1.7 |
| Isaiah West | RB | $4.5M | 3.9 | 3.5 |
| Mason Williams | TE | $5.0M | 3.0 | 4.9 |
USC
| Player | Pos | Price | Pts/g | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Mosley | WR | $5.6M | 24.1 | 23.8 |
| Jayden Maiava | QB | $9.5M | 22.8 | 20.2 |
| King Miller | RB | $7.0M | 12.9 | 12.0 |
| Kayden Dixon-Wyatt | WR | $5.2M | 12.6 | 11.6 |
| Mark BowmanQuestionable | TE | $5.8M | 10.7 | 14.3 |
| Tanook Hines | WR | $8.6M | 8.4 | 14.1 |
| Zacharyus Williams | WR | $4.5M | 7.8 | 9.1 |
| Waymond Jordan | RB | $8.1M | 6.7 | 5.5 |
Matchup notes
- USC passing game: Ohio State is the second-best pass defense in FBS, adjusted for opponents (5.2 yards per pass attempt allowed, 171 passing yards a game).
- USC run game: Ohio State is the sixth-best run defense in FBS, adjusted for opponents (3.1 yards per carry allowed, 93 rushing yards a game).
Yards per carry and per pass attempt allowed this season, ranked across FBS. A defense gets a note only when its opponent-adjusted rank and its SP+ rating agree.
News
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said Tuesday of starting quarterback Julian Sayin, “We’re not going to put any timeline on his recovery.” Day said Ohio State is putting together a plan for Sayin not being available for the regular season or the postseason. Sayin returned with a sling on his throwing shoulder after a fourth-quarter hit against Indiana on Oct. 17, according to CBS Sports.
USC freshman tight end Mark Bowman has missed two games with a hamstring injury, according to USC Trojans On SI. The bye week gave Bowman time to heal before USC visits Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, according to USC Trojans On SI. Bowman is expected to return to the lineup after the bye, the outlet reported.
Bo Jackson leads Ohio State in rushing this season, according to Sports Illustrated, and he found the end zone in Ohio State's 19-15 win at Indiana on Oct. 17, with 18 carries for 56 yards and 1 catch for 2 yards and 1 receiving touchdown for 12.8 CollegeFFB points. Sports Illustrated expects the Buckeyes to "feed Jackson a good amount against the Trojans." Averaging 14.2 points a game this season, with 16.7 carries per game over his previous 3 games, he could build on it at $11.5M when Ohio State visits USC on Oct. 31.
Trent Mosley returned for USC in Week 6 and delivered 9 catches for 111 yards and 1 touchdown, plus 1 carry for 9 yards, in the Trojans' 31-23 win at Penn State on Oct. 10, good for 27 CollegeFFB points. Mosley said "it was a real game-time decision, but I just was preparing to play." At $5.6M, he has averaged 24.1 points a game this season and should remain a central option when USC visits Wisconsin on Oct. 24.
USC wide receiver Corey Simms has a season-ending injury, according to USC Trojans On SI, which reported it before the Trojans' Oct. 10 game against Penn State.
USC receiver Terrell Anderson will undergo season-ending surgery, CBS Sports reported, according to USC Trojans On SI. The NC State transfer will miss the remainder of the season, according to USC Trojans On SI.