USC Trojans and Indiana Hoosiers: Kickoff Announcement Sets an Intriguing Showdown

Kickoff and matchup details

USC’s game at Indiana is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. PT, with CBS broadcasting. The Trojans will avoid an evening kickoff on the road and will not appear on NBC for this game, after playing on that network in six of their first nine contests.

The story first refers to the kickoff announcement as being for USC vs. Nebraska, then identifies the scheduled game as USC vs. Indiana. It does not explain the conflicting opponent references. Major sportsbooks DraftKings and FanDuel had not released odds, while ESPN analytics gave Indiana a 79 percent chance to win at home.

USC looks to build momentum

The No. 18 Trojans enter their second bye week after beating then-No. 2 Ohio State. The result gave coach Lincoln Riley his first top-five win at USC and put the team firmly back in the College Football Playoff picture.

Two teams prepare after byes

Indiana also has a bye before hosting USC in week 11, making the Hoosiers the second consecutive team the Trojans face after a week off. USC previously lost on the road to Wisconsin after its first bye, scoring seven points.

Indiana beat Minnesota 23-16 in overtime. Coach Curt Cignetti said he pulled quarterback Josh Hoover after he was hit; backup Grant Wilson passed for 156 yards and a touchdown, and ran four times for 26 yards. The account notes that USC may need to prepare for two quarterbacks again.

Different strengths in focus

Ohio State gained more yards through the air and on the ground than USC, and recorded 25 first downs to the Trojans’ 15. USC held firm in the red zone, forcing the Buckeyes to settle for field goals, while Ohio State was penalized 11 times for 71 yards.

Indiana ranks fifth nationally in penalty yards, averaging 34.8 per game. With both teams having two weeks to prepare, the account raises the question of whether either coaching staff will have an advantage.