The Trojans are the second most frequent non-conference opponent in program history for Ohio State (behind Pittsburgh). Through 23 games since the first encounter in 1938, the Buckeyes are 9-13-1 all-time against the Trojans.
The overall series looked a lot better before the 1975 Rose Bowl. Ohio State is 0-7 against USC since beating the Trojans in the 1974 Rose Bowl to conclude an undefeated regular season.
This flashback will pick at those seven straight losses to USC in anticipation of Ohio State ending that streak against the Trojans.
1975 Rose Bowl: USC - 18; Ohio State - 17
The 1975 Rose Bowl was the third-straight Rose Bowl between both programs. The two teams exchanged routs in the previous two years, setting up a rubber match between to end the 1974 season. USC prevailed 18-17.
There are several moments from this game that Ohio State fans of the time will lament as a lost opportunity for the Buckeyes. Most of them will focus on Neal Colzie. The star defensive back for Ohio State made two costly mistakes that were the difference in the one-point loss.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following an interception moved the ball from USC's 9-yard line to the 24-yard line. This incentivized Woody Hayes to dial a passing play, which was intercepted, costing Ohio State at least three points.
In the other more critical error, he was in coverage for USC's game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion. Ohio State missed several opportunities against the Trojans. Several of them hinge on one of the most underrated defensive players in program history.
The loss cost Ohio State a national championship. Notre Dame had upset Alabama in the Orange Bowl. Oklahoma, the No. 1 team in the AP, was on probation. That set up a winner-take-all for the Coaches Poll national championship in this game. USC claimed the prize.
1980 Rose Bowl: USC - 17; Ohio State - 16
USC cost Ohio State another national championship in another one-point loss in Pasadena.
Ohio State entered the game undefeated and the AP No. 1 team in the country in Earle Bruce's first year in Columbus. Charles White robbed Bruce of a special place in program history with a fourth-quarter with a goal-line dive for a touchdown with 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Ohio State's four-and-out on the following drive ended the game and the best opportunity Ohio State would have for a national championship for another 15 years.
Game MVP honors easily went to Charles White, that year's Heisman winner. White's 247 rushing yards set a Rose Bowl record that still stands today.
1985 Rose Bowl: USC - 20; Ohio State - 17
The stakes were not as high in the 1984 season when the Buckeyes and Trojans met again. That might make the 20-17 loss a bit more disappointing.
USC was not that good in 1984. A home upset of No. 1 Washington notwithstanding, the Trojans had three losses on the record. All were in Los Angeles and all were by double digits.
Ohio State seemed the better team with just two losses on its record. It certainly had the best player on the field. It was Keith Byars' best year in scarlet and gray.
However, quarterback play lost this contest. Tomczak threw an usual 37 times and had three interceptions that proved crucial in that contest. Keith Byars had 109 rushing yards on 23 carries. He probably could've used more touches.
Rich Spangler is Ohio State's only lasting superlative from this game. He set a Rose Bowl record with a 52-yard field goal. That record still stands today.
1989: USC - 42; Ohio State - 3
The 1985 Rose Bowl was the last postseason encounter between these programs. What followed were two home-and-homes in 1989-1990 and 2008-2009.
The results are ghastly for Ohio State fans.
This home-and-hoe started in the Coliseum in John Cooper's second year in Columbus. The eventual Pac-10 and Rose Bowl champion Trojans made short work of a mediocre Ohio State squad, routing the Buckeyes 42-3.
Game MVP honors went to Todd Marinovich, USC's star, if troubled, quarterback. Marinovich was 14/22 passing for the day for 246 yards. He threw four touchdowns to one interception.
USC's tailback, Ricky Ervins, added another 117 yards on the ground. All told, USC outgained Ohio State 491-233.
1990: USC - 35; Ohio State - 26
Ohio State fared only a little better in the return match at Ohio Stadium, though fans will probably remember this contest more for the weather. A thunderstorm led to the game being prematurely called with 2:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Ohio State die-hards may bemoan this was a cop-out. It almost certainly would not have been "called" if a similar circumstance unfolded today. Ohio State had cut a 35-18 to 35-26 after a Raymont Harris touchdown and a two-point conversion. A comeback was not out of the question.
It was, however, extremely unlikely. USC recovered the ensuing squib kick and held a two-score lead. There wasn't much Ohio State had shown that could convince the officials, and even the coaches, that the thunderstorm was worth waiting out.
Ohio State's defense at least held Todd Marinovich in check this game. USC's "Robo-QB" was 11/23 for 119 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Ricky Ervin was a different story. USC's tailback had 199 rushing yards.
2008: USC - 35; Ohio State - 3
Most fans should remember this home-and-home and cringe at how embarrassing this contest was.
Times have changed but this home-and-home started near the height of USC's dominance and the national nadir for the Big Ten and its bell cow, Ohio State. USC had won five of its last six bowl games and two national championships since 2002. Ohio State had lost two straight national championship games against SEC teams with superior athletes than it had. Other Big Ten representatives to BCS bowl games, like Michigan and Illinois, had done poorly as well (incidentally, against the Trojans in Pasadena).
It's why this 35-3 loss wasn't the same type of shell shock as the loss to Florida. It was just embarrassing.
Ohio State fans may have felt momentarily good when Ryan Pretorious gave Ohio State a 3-0 lead near the end of a tight first quarter. The Buckeyes were at least competing on the road with the superior Trojans.
However, Mark Sanchez dashed those in a seven-play, 74-yard drive that concluded with a Stanley Havili wheel route for a touchdown. The rout was on after that.
The more optimistic Ohio State fan may have wondered what this game would have looked like if Beanie Wells were playing. The Buckeyes' feature attraction on offense injured his toe in the season-opener against Youngstown State and did not play.
It's unlikely that would've mattered. USC linebackers Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing openly pleaded that they wanted Wells to play because they wanted him to "feel" their presence. They meant it.
Put in other words, Wells' presence would have been irrelevant because Ohio State's offensive line was atrocious in 2008. It put Todd Boeckman in positions to fail early into the season, which included a Rey Maualuga pick-six in the second quarter. It's also why Jim Tressel made the switch to a running quarterback, true freshman Terrelle Pryor.
Ohio State fans can at least take some comfort in knowing that Oregon State upset USC the next game in Corvallis. Ohio State may have wet its pants on a national stage again, but it at least loosened that jar.
2009: USC - 18; Ohio State - 15
Ohio State fared much better against the Trojans in the return leg in Ohio Stadium. It however came up short after USC scored a game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:05 left in the fourth quarter.
Fans in attendance put in the effort to will the Buckeyes to victory. The game was among the loudest the Horeshoe has been for a four-quarter contest. The faithful saw the fruits of that when Ohio State scored a safety against the Trojans and took a 15-10 lead into the fourth quarter.
However, true freshman Matt Barkley and USC's offensive coaching staff finally figured out what Jim Heacock's defense was doing. A 14-play, 86-yard touchdown drive ultimately gave USC the win.
Ohio State fans may remember the national fallout of this game was quick to pronounce the end of Jim Tressel. The most pronounced of these epitaphs was from Chris Brown of "Smart Football" fame, who "deconstructed" the "grisly demise of Tressel Ball" in his column about this game.
Ohio State at least rebounded, upcoming Purdue loss notwithstanding, to win the Rose Bowl that year. It could also boast that it loosened the jar once more when USC lost its next game at Washington.
It's been eight years since Ohio State last saw one of its most familiar non-conference opponents. Times have certainly changed. Ohio State fans will hope the results change as well. Ohio State is 9-13-1 all-time against USC in large measure because it has lost seven straight games against the Trojans.
The 2017 Buckeyes could secure a nice place in program history by changing that.
