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Ohio State football is in transition in 2026, specifically on defense
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- Ohio State football is in transition in 2026, specifically on defense
USC football faces Ohio State this year , the first time the two programs will meet on the gridiron as Big Ten football opponents. USC brings back its quarterback and most of its offensive line. Meanwhile, as ESPN notes, Ohio State has lost key members of its 2025 defense, among other things:
"The Buckeyes will have a different offensive coordinator for the fourth consecutive season as Arthur Smith, the former Atlanta Falcons coach and NFL coordinator, will direct the unit this fall. Smith, who called plays for both the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers in between his Falcons stint, gives OSU coach Ryan Day the freedom to oversee the whole program. Smith has spent almost his entire career at the NFL level. The Buckeyes also hired new special teams coordinator Robby Discher from Illinois and Cortez Hankton, a longtime SEC assistant, to coach Jeremiah Smith and the wide receivers.
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"Ohio State is replacing the stars of its defense for the second straight year as Downs, Reese and Kayden McDonald all skipped their final seasons of college eligibility, and the team also lost Sonny Styles . The team also lost offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, who has overseen a historic stretch of elite wide receivers and been among the nation's top recruiters, to a head coaching role at South Florida . Ohio State had several notable transfer departures on offense, from guard Tegra Tshabola ( Kentucky ) and running back James Peoples ( Penn State ) to emerging wide receivers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter , both ESPN top-65 national recruits, joining Notre Dame. Tight end Max Klare declared early for the draft, and defensive backs Faheem Delane and Aaron Scott also transferred out."
With Ohio State changing a lot on defense, it's up to USC's offense to max out and exploit favorable matchups. Lincoln Riley beat Ohio State when he was at Oklahoma . It's time for him to deliver at USC.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Can USC take advantage of Ohio State football changes in 2026?
