As the 2026 college football season approaches, the Oct. 31 matchup between Ohio State and USC is already being circled as a potential season-defining trap. While the Buckeyes enter the year as national title favorites, national analyst RJ Young believes the Lincoln Riley’s Trojans possess a specific tactical advantage that could derail the Columbus juggernaut.
Why RJ Young Gives Lincoln Riley and USC the Advantage Against Ohio State
Young’s analysis, shared on the latest episode of “Adapt & Respond,” centers on a precarious stretch in Ohio State’s schedule. The Buckeyes face Oregon the week after traveling to Los Angeles, with the high-stakes “The Game” against Michigan looming shortly after.
“They already know what’s coming. They already know what’s ahead of them,” Young noted. “If USC is going to jump up and do something like make the College Football Playoff, perhaps it would be because they’re able to win a game like this one.”
For USC, catching a “fat and happy” Ohio State team that might have just survived a grueling battle with Indiana is the perfect recipe for an upset. But to pull it off, they have to solve the most dangerous puzzle in the sport: Jeremiah Smith, who could be tracked by USC’s new defensive weapon and mind: Gary Patterson.
Smith isn’t just a wide receiver; he’s a statistical anomaly. In 2025, Smith lived up to the hype, hauling in 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. He enters 2026 as arguably the best player in the country, a 6-foot-3 nightmare who can win 50-50 balls as easily as he can outrun a secondary.
Historically, Riley’s USC teams have struggled with exactly this type of physical dominance. Under previous regimes, the Trojan defense often lacked the structural discipline to bracket elite playmakers.
Enter Patterson. Patterson, a 2026 College Football Hall of Fame electee, isn’t just a veteran. He’s the architect of the 4-2-5 defense, a scheme specifically designed to neutralize explosive passing attacks.
“When you got the Buckeyes coming to you and you might catch them at a time when, let’s say they lost that Indiana game, or better for you, they won it. So now ain’t nobody been into them; ain’t nothing been able to light them up. And maybe, just maybe, Gary Patterson has a little something-something for Jeremiah Smith,” Young concluded.
Patterson’s 4-2-5 uses three safeties, allowing for unique robber looks where a safety can sit over the top of Smith while a corner plays aggressively underneath. In addition, Patterson is known for varied blitz packages that look identical pre-snap. By pressuring the quarterback, he can force the ball out before Smith’s deep routes develop.
So, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Riley. After a 9-4 finish in 2025 and an Alamo Bowl loss, the 2026 season is widely considered make-or-break. With star QB Jayden Maiava returning to lead the offense, the burden of proof lies majorly on the defense.
Currently, the PFSN CFB Playoff Meter gives USC a 50% chance to make the College Football Playoff.
