Check out what to watch for when No. 21 USC takes on No. 23 Illinois on the road Saturday during a key Big Ten showdown.

After playing Illinois on the road, USC has a bye week before hosting No. 19 Michigan on Oct. 11. To close out the month of October, USC will travel to South Bend, Indiana, to face No. 22 Notre Dame — a team that handed the Trojans their first loss in 2023, starting a slide that knocked the Trojans out of CFP contention.

Turnovers and discipline could be critical. USC owns a +5 turnover margin but is also one of the most penalized teams in the nation. Michigan State, far more disciplined at just 35 penalty yards per game, will need that advantage to offset USC’s firepower.