Ohio State and USC meet again in 2026, so today we're looking back at the last matchup between these two historic programs: the 2017 Cotton Bowl.

The Buckeyes beat the Trojans 24-7 behind a dominant defensive performance, four forced turnovers, eight sacks and a physical front that made life miserable for Sam Darnold and USC's offense.

In this Daily Buckeye Blitz rewatch episode, we break down what Ohio State learned from that win, why the box score was misleading, how J.T. Barrett closed his Buckeye career, and what lessons still apply to the 2026 matchup in Los Angeles.

Topics:

• Ohio State vs USC 2017 Cotton Bowl
• J.T. Barrett final game
• Sam Darnold vs Ohio State defense
• Damon Webb pick-six
• Ohio State defensive line dominance
• USC 2026 preview setup
• Ryan Day and the Buckeyes heading to Los Angeles

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Thursday, June 18, 2026

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