The most important game in college football this weekend is easily Ohio State vs. USC. The Buckeyes lost star quarterback Julian Sayin to a significant injury against Indiana, and the outlook for their offense has changed drastically.

Thankfully, Ohio State had the bye week to figure out who it will turn to at quarterback. However, it’s unclear whether the Buckeyes even have a viable option. The Trojans will get the first look at a retooled offense with plenty to prove and very little margin for error.

Ohio State still has a championship-caliber roster

The Buckeyes have a loaded roster. Up until Sayin’s injury, they were firmly in the conversation to win a national championship. That isn’t an exaggeration.

Ohio State’s entire defense is stacked with former 5-star recruits playing at an elite level. The Buckeyes rank fifth in the country in EPA per play allowed, which makes them one of the toughest units to move the ball against in college football.

On the other side of the ball, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is an absolute freak. He has 984 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he remains a matchup nightmare for any secondary. Ohio State doesn’t lack talent anywhere on the field. The only question is whether someone can get Smith the football.

Luke Fahey deserves the benefit of the doubt

When Luke Fahey came into the game against Indiana, he looked rough. There’s no sugarcoating it. The offense stalled, and the Buckeyes looked nothing like the team that had been rolling before Sayin went down.

With that context in mind, Fahey deserves the benefit of the doubt. He’s a former 3-star true freshman who was asked to step in cold against one of the best defenses in the country. Very few quarterbacks in his position would look comfortable in that situation.

Now that Fahey has had a full bye week of preparation, hopefully he can build some momentum heading into this matchup. A week of first-team reps and a game plan built around his strengths could make a significant difference.

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day has not officially named Fahey the starter. Day left the door open for former 5-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair to be in the mix as well. That decision seems more like a measure to confuse USC than an indication that St. Clair could actually take the job. Forcing the Trojans to prepare for two quarterbacks costs Ohio State nothing, and it makes plenty of sense from a strategic standpoint.

USC’s defense presents an opportunity, or an exposure

Ohio State has one major advantage heading into this game: it’s going up against an awful USC defense. If there’s ever a time for a young quarterback to find his footing, it’s against a unit that has struggled to slow anyone down.

This game can go one of two ways for the Buckeyes. It will either be an opportunity for whichever young quarterback takes the field to build confidence and chemistry with Smith, or it will expose that Ohio State is extremely vulnerable.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. If this offense can’t look at least somewhat steady against a defense as weak as USC’s, the Buckeyes could absolutely be at risk of missing the College Football Playoff. A defense this talented can carry a team for stretches, but it can’t do everything on its own over the course of a playoff push.

Ohio State’s championship hopes depend on its quarterback simply giving this roster a chance.