Ohio State and USC played 13 times between 1960 and 2009. Below you will find the best single-game team stats for both teams over various categories. Looking forward to the 2017 team rewriting the record books.
| OHIO STATE | USC | |
|---|---|---|
| 42 (1974) | GAME | 42 (1989. 1973) |
| 14 (1964) | HALFTIME | 21 (2008, 1989) |
| 7 (2009, 1974, 1964) | 1ST Q | 14 (1990) |
| 10 (1990, 1980, 1969) | 2ND Q | 21 (1989) |
| 13 (1974) | 3RD Q | 21 (1973) |
| 15 (1974) | 4TH Q | 15 (1975) |
Surprisingly, USC's offensive performance from the 2008 game is not listed above. The 35-3 Southern Cal win wasn't even the Trojans' largest margin of victory over Ohio State. That honor goes to the 1989 team when USC won 42-3 in LA.
The Buckeyes' largest margin of victory over SC was in 1941 when Paul Brown and his first Ohio State team traveled to LA and trounced the Trojans 33-0. However, Since 1960 the Scarlet and Gray's greatest win margin was in 1974 (42-21).
Hopefully we will see the 2017 team make its mark on several of the categories above. Especially total points scored and win margin.
| OHIO STATE | USC | |
|---|---|---|
| 320 (1974) | YARDS | 331 (1990) |
| 67 (1969, 1964) | ATTEMPTS | 53 (1975) |
| 5.4 (1974) | YPC | 7.5 (1990) |
| 6 (1974) | TDS | 5 (1973) |
Ohio State's ran wild over USC in the 1974 Rose Bowl. Archie Griffin and company combined for 320 yards and six touchdowns. Not sure the 2017 team can match those numbers, but if they can get close it should add up to a Buckeye victory.
In 1990, USC came to Columbus and averaged 7.5 yards per carry in a game that ended early due to lightning. The Trojans also put up an impressive 331 rushing yards that afternoon.
Ohio State's defense has held Southern Cal to 64 rushing yards (1964) and 69 rushing yards (1960). If the Silver Bullets can keep USC under 100 yards rushing on Friday that should end the Trojans' current seven-game winning streak over Ohio State.
| OHIO STATE | USC | |
|---|---|---|
| 297 (1980) | YARDS | 258 (1989) |
| 24 (1985) | COMPLETIONS | 22 (1974) |
| 37 (1985) | ATTEMPTS | 40 (1974) |
| 2 (1990, 1969) | TOUCHDOWNS | 5 (1989) |
| .750 (1974) | COMPLETION % | .704 (1973) |
| 0 (1969) | INTERCEPTIONS* | 0 (1985, 1974, 1973, 1963) |
*Fewest
Don't thrown an interception and your team should get a W. Only once in five games did the team that did not throw a pick leave the field with a loss. That happened to USC in 1974. Ohio State has thrown an interception in every game since 1960 except for one, the 1969 Rose Bowl.
There are several categories above that the 2017 team could be placed next to. It will be interesting to see the game plan Kevin Wilson and company come up with to attack USC's defense. Will it be run heavy? Pass Heavy? Balanced? When Urban Meyer is given over a month to plan, his teams usually perform very well.
Surprisingly, USC's highest passing total is only 258 yards. If Ohio State's defensive line can apply consistent pressure that performance in 1989 should stand.
| OHIO STATE | USC | |
|---|---|---|
| 449 (1974) | YARDS | 519 (1980) |
| 84 (1964) | PLAYS | 82 (1974) |
| 6.8 (1980) | AVG. PER PLAY | 6.9 (1989) |
Even with today's up-tempo offenses, I'm not sure either team will come close to 84 or 82 offensive snaps. Ohio State has the best chance at surpassing 449 total yards or averaging more than 6.8 yards per play. I'll put money on J.K. Dobbins averaging over 6.8 yards per play in this game.
| OHIO STATE | USC | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 (1973, 1969, 1964) | TOTAL | 27 (1974) |
| 16 (1969) | RUSHING | 15 (1975) |
| 12 (1990) | PASSING | 12 (1974) |
| 2 (2008, 1990, '80, '64, '60) | PENALTY | 3 (2008) |
The last time Ohio State had double-digit first downs rushing the ball was the 1974 Rose Bowl when the team had 13. Since then, the most rushing first downs in a game against USC was seven in the 1985 Rose Bowl. It's time to end that streak on Friday.
