USC Trojans vs. Ohio State Schedule Update Provides Kickoff Reveal

Fans learned when the Halloween showdown between the nationally ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and USC Trojans will take place.

Sep 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts after the game against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns atUnited Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The No. 16 USC Trojans earn the distinction of playing a primetime game on Halloween.

They'll take the field before the sun goes down on Oct. 31, with No. 3 Ohio State coming to town that evening. Now fans have learned what time both teams will have their opening kickoff.

Ohio State at USC Earning Primetime Halloween Stage

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) leaves the field following the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Oct. 17, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Both teams will take the field before the nation goes trick-or-treating or hosts their Halloween parties.

The Buckeyes and Trojans earned a 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff, the schools announced on the morning of Oct. 19.

USC continues to receive love from NBC Sports too, as that heavyweight showdown will air on the network, plus through its streaming service Peacock.

USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) warms up prior to the game against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

This will mark the fourth time the NBC crew will head to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. NBC aired USC's home opener against San Jose State during a week zero non-conference game. The network brought back play-by-play commentator Noah Eagle and color commentator Todd Blackledge for the Oregon showdown back on Sept. 26. NBC then aired the nail-biter between Washington and USC on Oct. 3.

NBC also hit the road to air the USC at Penn State contest won by the Trojans on Oct. 10 in State College. Only this time, OSU at USC brings lots of star power and even more intriguing storylines, including a notabloe homecoming for one surprise Buckeyes starter.

Ohio State Starter to Play Closer to Home

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Luke Fahey (13) enters the game after an injury to Julian Sayin during the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Oct. 17, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Quarterback Luke Fahey is more than likely going to lead the Buckeyes' offense for this showdown. Even after the Buckeyes have their bye week on Oct. 24.

That's because starting quarterback Julian Sayin left the road win over Indiana with a sling over his right arm. Sayin is now projected to miss significant time with his shoulder injury. But there's a Southern California angle attached to Fahey.

Quarterback Luke Fahey (13) and the Ohio State Buckeyes take the field for warm ups prior to the NCAA football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Oct. 3, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

He previously starred at the annual Orange County powerhouse Mission Viejo High School and graduated from the 2026 class. Despite his smallish 5-11 frame, Fahey proved his accuracy facing one of the tougher schedules in the nation with the Diablos, as they faced a Rancho Santa Margarita Catholic team coached by USC legendary quarterback Carson Palmer plus even took on Tennessee powerhouse McCallie High during Fahey's senior season.

So Fahey more than likely will have a Mission Viejo/Orange County contingent as he feeds the football to Heisman Trophy hopeful at wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. USC also must prepare for the even taller 6-6 wideout Chris Henry Jr., whom the Trojans tried to flip on the recruiting trail during the 2026 recruiting cycle.

Could Another Big-Name Visitor Show Up?

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Robert Landers (67) tackles USC Trojans running back Ronald Jones II (25) during the third quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 29, 2017. [Adam Cairns / Dispatch] | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

So USC fans will see the NBC cameras pull up plus its live trucks. But could there be another big-name visitor showing up? Signs could point that way.

The nationally-ranked Ohio State at USC showdown could very well attract ESPN College GameDay for multiple reasons. For starters, both Big Ten rivals will be ranked in the top 20 for this showdown. Secondly, the only other current Oct. 31 contest featuring two ranked teams are No. 25 Arizona at No. 8 Texas Tech.

However, the famed pregame show already plans to take in another Big 12 showdown before Arizona-TTU: No. 10 Utah hosting No. 14 Houston in the Beehive State, which ESPN announced on Oct. 18.

That may mean the crew of Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, Nick Saban and Pat McAfee could become more intrigued by the biggest Big Ten showdown of Halloween weekend and prevent being at a Big 12 venue for the third straight week (the show aired from the BYU campus on Oct. 17).

If not ESPN College GameDay, the Big Noon Kickoff crew featuring Rob Stone, Mark Ingram, Brady Quinn, Urban Meyer and USC legend Matt Leinart could take in the atmosphere too, especially with Fox having its own broadcasting rights to air Big Ten games compared to ESPN. But USC has 4-2 Wisconsin to deal with first on Oct. 24 before facing OSU.

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