USC routs Oregon, 45-20, for its fifth straight victory
If you listen closely you still might be able to hear Ronald Jones II’s footsteps at the Coliseum.
The Trojans running back ran for 171 yards in 20 carries and had four touchdowns in USC’s rout of Oregon, 45-20, on Saturday night.
Jones’ big game comes on the heels of the biggest rushing game of his college career, a 223-yard performance against California on Oct. 27.
The four touchdowns, though, that’s a new high.
The Ducks never seemed within striking distance from the very beginning.
USC (6-3, 5-2 in Pac-12 play) ran out to a 17-0 lead on a field goal from Matt Boermeester and two scores from Jones before Oregon (3-6, 1-5) got on the board late in the first quarter with a 25-yard rushing touchdown by Charles Nelson.
Oregon kicker Aidan Schneider failed on his PAT and the rout was officially on.
USC quarterback Sam Darnold, who finished 28-of-40 passing for 309 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, connected with Deontay Burnett for a two-yard score in the second quarter to give the Trojans a 24-6 lead before halftime.
Burnett led USC with seven catches for 87 yards including his score. JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Trojans’ regular top receiver, finished with two catches for 10 yards.
In the third, Jones broke off a 66-yard run for a touchdown to extend USC’s lead before Oregon receiver Pharaoh Brown caught a five-yard pass from Justin Herbert for a score to make the game 31-13.
Herbert finished the night 18-of-33 passing for 162 yards with one touchdown. Jalen Brown led the Ducks with 64 yards receiving on two catches while Pharaoh Brown led the team with five receptions.
Oregon running back Royce Freeman was held to 38 yards on the ground in 10 attempts.
Tight end Taylor McNamara seven-yard touchdown reception in the third was followed by a one-yard plunge for Jones to make the game 45-13 in the fourth.
As the outcome was already decided, both USC and Oregon went to their backup quarterbacks, Max Browne for the Trojans and Dakota Prukup for the Ducks.
Prukup made the game slightly closer with a 15-yard touchdown run to get us to the final score of 45-20.
USC hosts No. 5 Washington (8-0, 5-0) next Saturday at Husky Stadium in Seattle at 4:30 p.m.
USC runs the clock and defeats Oregon, 45-20
With less than six minutes left and a big lead, USC stuck with its ground game, and specifically James Toland IV to eat the clock.
Toland got a taste of what life would be like as a bell cow, carrying the ball seven straight times for 49 yards against a less than dynamic Oregon defense, which presumably was also watching the clock.
The Ducks still had three time outs, but spared the delay of the inevitable and allowed the Trojans eventually take a knee to get the clock to zeroes.
USC defeats Oregon, 45-20, for its fifth straight victory.
USC leads Oregon, 45-20, in the fourth quarter
Dakota Prukop took over at quarterback and did the work himself, scrambling 15 yards for an Oregon touchdown.
USC leads the Ducks, 45-19, with 5:41 left in the game.
The scoring drive covered 72 yards in seven plays and took 2:03.
Prukop completed one pass for 35 yards in front of Jack Jones.
Clay Helton inserted USC’s reserves on defense.
Max Browne inserted at quarterback for USC
Max Browne took over at quarterback for Sam Darnold and USC went three and out
Dominic Davis was tackled at the line of scrimmage before Khaliel Rodgers was called for holding.
Davis rushed for 15 yards on the next play, but Browne’s third-down pass was swatted down.
Darnold completed 28 of 41 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception.
Quinton Powell sacks Justin Herbert
Quinton Powell sacked Justin Herbert and you can score that another three-and-out for Oregon.
Ajene Harris was inserted at cornerback and made a nice pass breakup on first down, then Royce Freeman rushed for only a yard on second down.
If there’s anything to criticize the Trojans for tonight it is penalties. Uchenna Nwosu picked up USC’s 10th of the game - 106 yards - after he was called for a 15-yard personal foul.
USC leads Oregon, 45-13, in the fourth quarter
Ronald Jones II is responsible for emptying the Coliseum tonight.
Jones rushed 31 yards to setup his fourth touchdown of the game, a one-yard carry and USC leads Oregon, 45-13, with 11:41 remaining in the game.
Jones ties a school record for most rushing touchdowns in game. LenDale White was the last player to rush for four touchdowns in 2005.
Jones has rushed for 171 yards and four touchdowns in 20 carries.
Michael Pittman Jr. also caught a 21-yard and 12-yard pass in the series.
Rasheem Green sacks Oregon’s Justin Herbert for a second time
Rasheem Green sacked Justin Herbert for the second time and Oregon’s series quickly ends in a three and out.
Porter Gustin tackled Kani Benoit for a five-yard loss and then Benoit rushed for two yards on the following play.
USC leads Oregon, 38-13, in the third quarter
Sam Darnold scrambled and found Daniel Imatorbhebhe 37 yards down the field as Imatorbhebhe made a circus-like catch to setup another USC scoring drive.
Darnold completed a seven-yard pass to Taylor McNamara in the end zone and USC leads Oregon, 38-13, with 2:27 to play in the third quarter.
The drive covered 89 yards in eight plays and took 3:47.
Michael Pittman Jr. also caught a 17-yard pass in the series and Ronald Jones II rushed for 17 yards and four yards in consecutive carries.
Porter Gustin makes big play on fourth down for USC
Sam Darnold threw into triple coverage and was intercepted by Brenden Schooler, who returned the ball 13 yards to USC’s 41-yard line.
But no harm down. USC took over on downs from their 11 yard line after Porter Gustin knocked down a fourth-and-two pass attempt by Justin Herbert.
The Ducks converted twice on third down and once on fourth down during the drive.
Early in the series Trojans defensive lineman Stevie Tu’ikolovatu was assisted off the field by the training staff.
USC leads Oregon, 31-13, in the third quarter
Oregon converted three times on third down and Justin Herbert completed a five-yard pass to Pharaoh Brown for a touchdown.
USC leads the Ducks, 31-13, with 9:57 remaining in the third quarter.
The scoring drive covered 80 yards in 12 plays and took 3:47.
Oregon appears to have made some halftime adjustments as the Ducks moved swiftly against the Trojans’ defense, looking much more like the Ducks we used to know.
Herbert completed passes to six different receivers.
USC leads Oregon, 31-6, in the third quarter
Ronald Jones II is doing Ronald Jones II type things to start the second half.
On third and one Jones broke for a 66 yard run for a touchdown.
USC leads Oregon, 31-6, with 13:31 remaining in the third quarter.
The drive covered 75 yards in three plays.
JuJu Smith-Schuster caught a one-yard pass and Taylor McNamara caught an eight-yard pass.
Jones has now rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns in 12 carries.
Great start for the Trojans in the second half, which has to be a bit deflating for the Ducks.
USC leads Oregon, 24-6, at halftime
Sophomore Deontay Burnett is having a great game.
Burnett caught a two-yard pass for a USC touchdown and the Trojans lead Oregon, 24-6, with 30 seconds remaining in the first half.
The scoring drive covered 45 yards in 10 plays and took 1:46.
Burnett has caught seven passes for 87 yards. He helped setup his own touchdown reception by catching a 17-yard and 15-yard pass earlier in the series.
Burnett caught seven passes for 93 yards in a victory over Arizona State. He’ll be close to passing those numbers in the second half tonight.
Rasheem Green sacks Justin Herbert
Marvell Tell III nearly intercepted Justin Herbert on third down, but it fell incomplete.
Nevertheless, Oregon’s drive went three-and-out and the Ducks were forced to punt.
Rasheem Green sacked Herbert for a six-yard loss and Porter Gustin put the pressure on him to force an incomplete pass on second down.
Pac-12 games slowed by so many penalties
Flags. Flags. Flags.
Welcome to the Pac-12.
USC has five penalties for 41 yards, Oregon has seen for 43. This game is not moving quickly with all the laundry on the field.
Sam Darnold completed a 29-yard pass to Deontay Burnett, then two plays later completed a 28-yard pass to Burnett, but it was brought back because of a holding penalty called against Zach Banner.
Darnold’s next pass to Dominic Davis fell incomplete and then Davis was tackled at the line of scrimmage after a short reception.
The Trojans’ offense looked unstoppable to start the game, but they haven’t scored since the 8:13 mark in the first quarter.
There’s 2:45 until halftime.
USC’s defense makes another stop
USC’s defense has done a nice job shutting Oregon down.
Adoree’ Jackson tackled Royce Freeman far short of reaching the first down marker after Freeman caught a two-yard pass on third-and-12.
The Ducks punted a fifth time.
Oregon has 130 yards of total offense.
Justin Herbert has completed seven-of-12 passes for 75 yards.
With exception of a 25-yard carry for a touchdown, the Ducks have struggled to run the ball. Royce Freeman has rushed for 23 yards in five carries and Tony Brooks-James has rushed for six yards in four carries.
USC punts for a second time
USC punted for a second time after the drive stalled on Oregon’s 41-yard line.
Sam Darnold completed two eight-yard passes to Deontay Burnett, but JuJu Smith-Schuster has struggled to get involved in the offense.
Smith-Schuster dropped a first-down pass, saw a nice throw get broken up just in front of him near the goal line and then was unable to hold onto another pass on third and 12.
Darnold has completed 10-of-16 passes for 97 yards.
USC goes three-and-out deep in own territory
USC went backward on its latest drive.
The Trojans started on their three yard line, but Ronald Jones II was tackled at the line of scrimmage and then was tackled for a two-yard loss.
Sam Darnold’s third-down pass fell incomplete.
Oregon will have great field position after a botched punt from the back of the end zone traveled 24 yards.
Oregon looks a fraction of its old self against USC
Nothing has gone well for Oregon, except its latest punt which is down on USC’s three-yard line.
The Ducks were moving the ball okay - Justin Herbert completed a 29-yard pass on third and 11- but then Tony Brooks-James was tackled for a one-yard loss on third down.
The Ducks were going for it on fourth down but committed two false starts and were forced to punt.
It’s not even loud in the Coliseum, though the crow has filled in late in the first quarter.
USC leads Oregon, 17-0, in the first quarter
USC is cruising.
Ronald Jones II rushed three yards for his second touchdown of the game and the Trojans lead Oregon, 17-0, with 5:25 remaining in the first quarter.
The scoring drive covered 56 yards in six plays and took 2:48.
The crazy thing was the Ducks had the third-down stop in teh red zone, but were called for holding - which setup USC with first and goal.
Sam Darnold completed two passes to tight end Taylor McNamara for five and 27 yards and another pass to tight end Tyler Petite for four yards.
Dominic Davis rushed for 14 yards in two carries.
USC has 121 yards of total offense to Oregon’s 12.
Ducks offense sputters in third series
This is not how we’re used to seeing Oregon play.
Ducks receiver Darren Carrington II was open down field, leaving Iman Marshall a few yards behind, but dropped a perfect pass from Justin Herbert.
The Ducks punted to plays later.
In three series on offense, all three-and-outs, they have a total of 12 yards.
USC leads Oregon, 10-0, in the first quarter
USC is off to a nice start against Oregon.
Ronald Jones II rushed 23 yards for a Trojans touchdown and they lead the Ducks, 10-0, with 8:37 remaining in the first quarter.
The scoring drive covered 60 yards in seven plays and took 2:32.
Jones rushed for 37 yards in three carries and Sam Darnold completed three of four passes in the series for 28 yards.
Oregon’s offense goes nowhere in second series
USC’s defense forced Oregon to a three-and-out.
Porter Gustin tackled Tony Brooks-James for a two-yard loss, Adoree’ Jackson made a physical tackle after a three-yard reception and the Ducks’ third-down attempt fell incomplete.
The Trojans are playing efficiently.
USC leads Oregon, 3-0, in the first quarter
Matt Boermeester kicked a 35-yard field goal and USC leads Oregon, 3-0, with 12:17 to play in the first quarter.
The scoring drive covered 18 yards in four plays and took 1:16.
Michael Pittman gave the Trojans’ nice field position after a 29-yard punt return.
JuJu Smith-Schuster was near the goal line for a deep pass and drew pass interfernence, but the drive didn’t make it into the end zone after Ronald Jones II was tackled for a loss, Sam Darnold rushed for four yards and Darnold’s third-down pass fell incomplete.
It’s been an odd to start to the game with Pac-12 officials throwing a few flags and Oregon Coach Mark Helfrich challenging the pass interference call because he thought the ball was tipped.
Oregon hurried off field in first series
It might be a down season for Oregon, but the Ducks are still fast on offense.
And in their first series, they quickly left the field.
Tony Brooks-James started in place of Royce Freeman and rushed for four yards before the drive stalled after an incomplete pass and Justin Herbert scrambling short of a first down.
USC and Oregon’s starting lineups
USC announced its starting lineup (Well, kind of - 12 Trojans are listed on offense and defense).
Offense: Quarterback Sam Darnold, tailback Ronald Jones II, tight end Taylor McNamara, fullback Reuben Peters, receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Darreus Rogers and Deontay Burnett and linemen Zach Banner, Viane Talamaivao, Nico Falah, Damien Mama and Chad Wheeler.
Defense: Malik Dorton, Stevie Tu’ikolovatu and Rasheem Green, linebackers Porter Gustin, Matt Houston, Cameron Smith and Uchenna Nwosu, cornerbacks Adoree’ Jackson and Iman Marshall and safeties Chris Hawkins, Leon McQuay III and Marvell Tell III.
Here’s a look at Oregon’s projected starters.
Offense: Quarterback Justin Herbert, running back Tony Brooks-James, tight end Johnny Mundt, receivers Jalen Brown and Darren Carrington and linemen Brady Aiello, Shane Lemieux, Jake Hansen, Cameron Hunt and Calvin Throckmorton.
Defense: Linemen Henry Mondeaux, Rex Manu, Gary Baker and Justin Hollins, linebackers Kaulana Apelu, Jimmy Swain, Troy Dyre, cornerbacks Ugo Amadi and Tyree Robinson and safeties Reggie Daniels and Brendan Schooler.
Join us from the Coliseum before kickoff
Bill Plaschke, Zach Helfand and Lindsey Thiry discuss today’s USC vs. Oregon game.
Justin Davis, Aca’Cedric Ware sidelined against Oregon
Tailbacks Justin Davis and Aca’Cedric Ware are not suited to play in today’s game against Oregon.
Davis suffered an ankle injury against Colorado and has been sidelined since.
Ware suffered an ankle injury during practice this week.
Ronald Jones II is expected to start and rotate with Dominic Davis.
A plausible path to the Pac-12 championship game for USC
USC fans were faced with the awkward proposition of cheering for a UCLA victory over Colorado on Thursday night Despite USC’s head-to-head win in October, Colorado sits atop the Pac-12 South Division standings.
Now that Colorado has escaped, 20-10, where does that leave USC in the Pac-12 South race?
Effectively, USC needs to win its final four games — barring an unlikely scenario in which Utah and Colorado each lose their next two games.
But USC needs help: Colorado and Utah must also lose a game — to any team on their schedule.
The Oregon-ification of college football has hurt the Ducks the most
Chip’s one of those guys I think revolutionized the game and probably changed the college game forever.
— USC Coach Clay Helton
In 2009, at the same time Chip Kelly was taking his first head coaching job at Oregon, defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu was beginning his first season at Utah.
He left on a church mission to the Philippines the following year, and when he returned in 2013 he found college football had upped and got itself in a big hurry.
“Teams are trying to get the ball more to the perimeter than trying to just tough it up and go up the middle,” said Tu’ikolovatu, who transferred to USC this season. “And they’re just trying to beat everybody with fast tempo.”
It was all Kelly and his new blur offense, an ultra-fast spread scheme that soon assumed almost mythic status. Coaches began a pilgrimage to Eugene, Ore., to observe. There were stories of defenders, tongues aslant, begging for mercy. In Kelly’s first season, the Ducks put up 47 points on Pete Carroll and USC, churning through 613 yards of turf.
USC and Oregon warming up for 4 pm kickoff
It’s a perfect November day at the Coliseum as USC and Oregon warm up for today’s 4 pm kickoff. It is 78 degrees at there’s not a cloud in the sky.
The Trojans are 5-3 overall and are in third place in the Pac-12 Conference at 4-2, while the Ducks are having their worst season in the last decade at 3-5, 1-4.
There’s still hope for the Trojans to capture the Pac-12 South division title, but they’re certainly on the outside looking in after Colorado held off UCLA on Thursday night.
It’s looking like a long shot, but in order for USC to win the South, the Trojans must win the remainder of their conference games against Oregon, Washington and UCLA plus Utah and Colorado each must lose a game.
USC vs. Oregon: How they matchup
Most intriguing story line: USC’s path to the Pac-12 Conference championship game is straightforward but narrow. It must win all four remaining games, and it needs Colorado and Utah to each lose at least one more game. The Trojans’ pursuit starts here, and they are heavily favored. But Oregon is dangerous. The Ducks have defeated USC in four of the last five meetings. “We need to take this game serious as a heart attack,” USC Coach Clay Helton said.
USC pass offense vs. Oregon pass defense: Oregon’s numbers on pass defense are deceptive. The Ducks are ranked a lowly 121st (of 128 teams) in yards allowed per game, but that’s largely because few teams are passed against more often. Its per-pass average, 7.13 yards, is more middle-of-the-pack — 54th in the nation. That still leaves plenty for quarterback Sam Darnold to carve up. By his standards, Darnold did not play particularly well against California last week. He still finished with 231 yards and five touchdowns, with one pass intercepted. One surprise has been the emergence of USC’s tight ends. Freshman Daniel Imatorbhebhe has three straight games with a touchdown reception.