Ohio State’s Halloween game at USC set for 7:30 p.m. kickoff on NBC
The Big Ten’s schedule announcement gives viewers a time and network for Ohio State’s Oct. 31 visit to USC in Los Angeles.
Ohio State’s Oct. 31 football game at USC in Los Angeles will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and air on NBC, according to the Big Ten announcement reported Monday, Oct. 19, by On3 and The Columbus Dispatch. The Halloween matchup gives viewers a confirmed time and network for the Buckeyes’ next game after an open week.
Ohio State’s first night kickoff since Texas
On3 puts the local kickoff time at 4:30 p.m. Pacific. The Dispatch says it will be Ohio State’s first night game since its September trip to Texas. None of the Buckeyes’ five games since that trip began later than 4:15 p.m. Eastern, and three started at noon.
Ohio State enters its week off after a 19-15 win at Indiana on Oct. 17. The Dispatch reports that the result left the Buckeyes 6-1 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten play. USC has a road game at Wisconsin scheduled for Oct. 24 before hosting Ohio State a week later.
The Dispatch placed Ohio State at No. 2 and USC at No. 15 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll when it reported the kickoff announcement. USC still has the Wisconsin game on its schedule before the teams meet.
Ohio State’s return to USC as a Big Ten opponent
This will be Ohio State’s first trip to USC since the Trojans joined the Big Ten in 2024. USC was one of four former Pac-12 schools added as the conference expanded to 18 members. The Buckeyes have since made conference trips west to Oregon in 2024 and Washington in 2025, the Dispatch reported.
Ohio State last played at USC in 2008, when the Trojans won 35-3 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Dispatch identified that game as quarterback Todd Boeckman’s final start for the Buckeyes; Terrelle Pryor replaced him. The Oct. 31 visit will be Ohio State’s first game at USC as a Big Ten opponent.
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Sources and context
- Ohio State set for primetime kickoff at USC on HalloweenOn3
- Ohio State football game at USC in primetime on Oct. 31The Columbus Dispatch
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.