Caleb Williams and USC eliminated from Pac-12 title race in loss to Oregon
EUGENE, Ore. — Lincoln Riley called last year’s team the “least talented” group that he’ll coach at USC. Yet this year’s group has the most losses for any Riley-coached team.
USC’s 36-27 loss to No. 6 Oregon on Saturday in Autzen Stadium eliminated the Trojans from Pac-12 championship contention. Quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 291 yards and one touchdown on 19-of-34 passing, but Oregon’s Bo Nix stole the show with 412 yards and four touchdowns.
The Trojans (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12) have dropped four of their last five games and have only bragging rights to play for in their regular-season finale at the Coliseum next Saturday against rival UCLA.
Oregon runs out the clock on USC rally
No. 6 Oregon 36, USC 27, end of fourth quarter
USC tried an onside kick, but Oregon held onto the ball and started its drive on USC’s 45 with 3:44 remaining.
Oregon moved the ball steadily and USC only had one timeout remaining to burn to try to stop the clock.
The Ducks, on the other hand, entered the drive with three timeouts. Oregon proceeded to run time off the clock before calling timeout on third-and-seven with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter. Bo Nix’s pass was incomplete, bringing up fourth-and-seven with 1:31 left.
Nix passed to Bucky Irving for a first down to assure Oregon wouldn’t have to hand the ball back to USC. The Ducks went into victory formation to close out the game.
USC scores quickly but two-point conversion attempt fails
No. 6 Oregon 36, USC 27, 3:44 left in fourth quarter
USC started on its 25.
Caleb Williams passed to Brenden Rice, who carried defenders while gaining 37 yards.
On first down at the Oregon 40, Williams’ pass to Rice in the end zone was incomplete. On second-and-10, Williams passed to Zachariah Branch for five yards. On third-and-five, Williams’ pass to Duce Robinson was complete for a 13-yard gain but there was a flag on the play. USC was called for holding and Oregon was called for holding, so the plays offset and the teams repeat third down. On third-and-five part two, Williams passed to Rice for a first down.
On first down at the Oregon 25, Williams found Rice again for 12 yards.
On first down at the Oregon 13, Austin Jones rushed for a 13-yard touchdown. The Trojans went for two. Williams passed backward toward Rice as the quarterback fell out of bounds under heavy pressure and Rice caught it but was stopped at the one-yard line.
Oregon runs five minutes off the clock, misses a field goal
No. 6 Oregon 36, USC 21, 6:27 left in fourth quarter
Oregon started at its 25.
Bucky Irving ran for four yards. On second-and-six, USC’s defense was called for delay of game. On second-and-one, Bo Nix passed to Irving for a seven-yard gain.
On first down at Oregon’s 41, Irving ran for 18 yards, but the Ducks were called for holding. On first-and-20, Nix passed to Terrance Ferguson for nine yards. The ball hit the turf, but the play was already over. On second-and-11, Nix passed to Ferguson for a gain of 22 yards.
On first down at the USC 20, Nix faked a handoff and the ball was deflected as he passed toward the end zone. Oregon was called for an ineligible player downfield.
On first-and-15 at USC 25, Irving rushed for eight yards. On second-and-eight, Oregon fumbled the ball and Irving recovered as he was dropped for a loss. On third-and-13, Nix’s pass was incomplete.
Camden Lewis missed a 41-yard field goal with 6:27 remaining.
Caleb Williams leads touchdown drive
No. 6 Oregon 36, USC 21, 11:27 left in fourth quarter
USC started on its 25 after a fair catch on the kickoff.
Caleb Williams passed to Tahj Washington for a nine-yard gain. On second-and-one, Williams passed toward Ja’Kobi Lane was incomplete. On third-and-one, MarShawn Lloyd was stuffed for a loss of three to the USC 31.
USC went for it on fourth-and-four. The Trojans called timeout before the play clock expired. Williams’ pass to Washington was incomplete and Oregon was called for pass interference.
On first down at the USC 46, Williams again tossed an incomplete pass to Washington. On second-and-10, Austin Jones ran for five yards. On third-and-five at Oregon 49, Williams passed to Duce Robinson for a gain of 40 yards.
On first down at the Oregon 9, Williams raced backward under pressure and tossed to ball toward Lloyd and into the turf. On second-and-nine, Williams passed to Kyron Hudson, who caught the ball out of bounds alongside the end zone. On third-and-nine, USC calls another timeout to avoid a penalty.
On third-and-nine after the timeout, Oregon broke up Williams’ potential touchdown pass to Brenden Rice. On fourth down, Williams went back to Rice on the left side and he pulled in the touchdown pass.
Denis Lynch hit the extra point.
Oregon scores on first play of fourth quarter, pulling further away from USC
No. 6 Oregon 36, USC 14, 14:55 left in fourth quarter
Oregon opened the fourth quarter facing second-and-four at the USC 19.
Bo Nix handed off to Bucky Irving for a 19-yard touchdown run.
The Ducks hit the extra point, making USC pay for its midfield turnover.
Oregon reaches USC red zone as time expires in third quarter
No. 6 Oregon 29, USC 14, end of third quarter
Oregon started at the USC 48 after the Trojans’ fumble.
James Jordan rushed for six yards and then rushed for another four yards.
On first down at the USC 38, Bo Nix passed to James for a 13-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 25 with 35 seconds left in the third quarter, Oregon was called for false start. On first-and-15, Bucky Irving rushed for 11 yards to USC 19 as time expired in the third quarter.
USC fumbles and Oregon recovers, crushing the Trojans’ flicker of momentum
No. 6 Oregon 29, USC 14, 2:26 left in third quarter
USC started on its 25.
Caleb Williams faked a handoff and tossed the ball to Zachariah Branch on the flea flicker play. Branch then gained 21 yards.
On first down at the USC 46, Williams tossed the ball toward Brenden Rice and the ball sailed out of bounds incomplete. On second-and-10, Williams danced to stay on his feet and fired the ball deep up field and out of bounds. Oregon was called offsides on the play. On second-and-five, Williams’ handoff to Austin Jones fell to the ground and Oregon recovered the fumble.
USC defense forces Oregon to go three-and-out
No. 6 Oregon 29, USC 14, 3:23 left in third quarter
Oregon started at its 33.
Bo Nix tossed an incomplete pass, Bucky Irving returned after an injury scare and rushed for one yard and Nix’s pass to Irving fell incomplete.
The Ducks punted and USC will start its drive on its 25.
The Fox broadcast team joked that fans witnessed history, with USC’s defense actually getting a stop against Oregon. Ouch.
USC is forced to punt after fourth down penalty
No. 6 Oregon 29, USC 14, 4:13 left in third quarter
USC started at its 14-yard line after Zachariah Branch’s 14-yard kickoff return.
MarShawn Lloyd ran for two yards. On second-and-eight, Williams stepped into a gap in the pocket and sailed a ball past Brenden Rice along the left sideline. On third-and-eight, Williams passed to Branch in space along the right side and he gained 10 yards.
On first down at the USC 26, Williams handed off to Lloyd and he slid on the turf for a loss of two. On second-and-12, Williams faked a handoff and ran for six-yard gain. On third-and-six, the Oregon crowd roared. Williams ran forward and slid for a gain of four yards while trying to look for a pass option.
On fourth-and-three, USC went for it. Williams didn’t snap the ball in time and USC was called for delay of game.
On fourth-and-eight, USC punted and it bounced out of bounds for no return.
Oregon opens third quarter by extending its lead to 15 points
No. 6 Oregon 29, USC 14, 8:17 left in third quarter
Oregon was called for holding on the kickoff return and started on its 15.
Bucky Irving rushed for three yards. Oregon was called offsides. On second-and-12, Bo Nix passed to Tez Johnson for six yards. On third-and-six, Nix passed to Gary Bryant Jr. for seven yards.
On first down at Oregon’s 26, Irving rushed for seven yards. Nix passed to Terrance Ferguson, who pushed to get three yards and the first down.
On first down at the Oregon 33, Nix passed to Irving for one yard. On second-and-nine, Nix had a comfortable pocket and passed to the left to Bryant for a 16-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 47, Nix passed to Johnson for a seven-yard gain. Nix passed to Johnson again for five-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 35, Jordan James ran for four yards. Nix passed to Johnson for five yards. On third-and-one, James rushed for three yards as Irving was receiving treatment on the sideline for an injury.
On first down at the USC 21, Nix spun away from the Trojans’ defense and passed to Johnson for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Oregon hit the extra point to give the Ducks a 15-point lead.
Oregon runs out the clock to end first half
No. 6 Oregon 22, USC 14, end of second quarter
Oregon returned the USC kickoff to its 19 with six seconds left.
Oregon downed the ball for a loss of three yards to run out the second quarter clock.
The Ducks will get the ball to open the third quarter. The scoring drive Williams led late in the second quarter helped slow the bleeding, but the Trojans’ defense will need to regroup at halftime after a rough start.
Caleb Williams leads six-play touchdown drive to cut Oregon’s lead
No. 6 Oregon 22, USC 14, 12 seconds left in second quarter
USC started at its 25.
Zachariah Branch rushed for four yards. Caleb Williams’ pass to Branch under pressure was incomplete. On third-and-six, Williams passed to Kyron Hudson for nine yards.
On first down at the USC 38, Williams evaded pressure and found Tahj Washington deep for a 59-yard reception.
On first down at the Oregon 3, Austin Jones rushed for one yard. On second-and-goal at the Oregon 2, Williams hedged after receiving the snap and ran left around the pile untouched to the end zone.
Denis Lynch hit the extra point with 12 seconds left to trim Oregon’s lead.
Oregon starts on its 1-yard line and manages a field goal
No. 6 Oregon 22, USC 7, 1:59 left in second quarter
Oregon started on its 1.
The Ducks fumbled the handoff on a rushing play and managed to recover for a one-yard gain. On second-and-nine, Bo Nix’s pass sailed high. On third-and-eight, Nix passed to Terrance Ferguson for a gain of nine and a first down.
The Trojans nearly tackled Ferguson short of the first down, but the extra yards he gained on a final push was another big blow for the USC defense.
James Jordan rushed for nine yards and another two before Nix passed to Troy Franklin for a 63-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 15, Nix tossed an incomplete pass. Bucky Irving ran for four yards. On third-and-six, Nix passed to Irving for 10 yards, but Oregon was called for holding.
On third-and-16, Nix passed to Irving for seven yards. A flag was tossed on Oregon for illegal formation, but USC declined the penalty.
Oregon kicker Camden Lewis then hit a 33-yard field goal 1:59.
Oregon turns up pressure on Caleb Williams, Trojans punt
No. 6 Oregon 19, USC 7, 5:18 left in second quarter
Zachariah Branch caught the Oregon kickoff while floating back to the USC end zone and struggled to turn up field, getting tackled at the USC 9.
On first down, Caleb Williams had time to scan the field and find Brenden Rice for a 13-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 22, Williams’ pass to Rice was incomplete as the receiver struggled to come back to the ball. After a lag, the refs called pass interference on Oregon.
On first down at the USC 37, Williams kept the ball and ran for no gain. On second-and-10, Williams passed the ball to Branch and he dropped it as he turned up field. On third-and-10, Williams ducked away from pressure and passed to Tahj Washington for a 10-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 47, Austin Jones rushed for a loss of one yard. On second-and-11, MarShawn Lloyd brushed off one tackle and rumbled to the left for 11 yards.
On first down at the Oregon 43, Williams tried to slip away from a near sack but a second defender closed in and he lost control of the ball. A USC offensive lineman recovered the fumble after a loss of 13.
On second-and-23, Williams pass to Branch for a two-yard gain. On third-and-23, Oregon fans roared as Williams tried to find Duce Robinson up the left sideline but the ball fell incomplete. The Ducks were called offside, bringing up third-and-16. Williams avoided one sack and tossed the ball upfield and out of bounds as he was tackled.
On fourth-and-16 at the Oregon 49, USC punted and pinned the Ducks at their 1.
Oregon scores again
No. 6 Oregon 19, USC 7, 10:49 left in second quarter
Oregon went for it on fourth-and-one at the Oregon 46.
Bo Nix rushed for no gain, but USC was called for offsides and Oregon got the first down.
On first down at the USC 49, Nix tried a deep pass but his otherwise open receiver tripped.
On second down, Bucky Irving ran for 13 yards to the USC 36. Nix then passed to Tez Johnson for a five-yard gain. Irving ran for seven yards and a first down.
On first down on the USC 24, Irving rushed for four yards. On second-and-six, Nix passed to Terrance Ferguson for three yards. On third-and-three, Irving ran for seven yards.
On first down at the USC 10, Oregon was called for a false start.
On first-and-goal at the USC 15, a double pass attempt failed and Nix was tackled by Max Williams as he was trying to catch the ball from Irving. Williams was called for targeting on the play, but it was reversed after a review.
On second-and-goal, Nix passed to Ferguson across the middle of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown. Oregon was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play.
Oregon went for two again, Nix’s pass was deflected and fell incomplete.
Oregon has fourth down decision to make as first quarter ends
No. 6 Oregon 13, USC 7, end of first quarter
Oregon started on its 25 after the USC punt return penalty.
Bucky Irving rushed for 12 yards and then nine yards. Bo Nix tossed an incomplete pass, James Jordan rushed for no gain, bringing up fourth-and-one at the Oregon 46 as time expired at the end of the first quarter.
USC forced to punt
No. 6 Oregon 13, USC 7, 1:57 left in the first quarter
USC starts at its 35 after the kickoff sailed out of bounds.
MarShawn Lloyd ran for 19 yards to the Oregon 46.
On the next play, Lloyd ran for no gain. On second-and-10, Lloyd found space on the left side for a 13-yard gain, but the Trojans’ Amos Talalele was called for holding.
On second-and-20, Williams passed to Duce Robinson for six yards to the 50. On third-and-14, Williams’ pass to Robinson was incomplete.
USC punted and Oregon signaled a fair catch. The Duck returner bobbled the ball and Jac Casasante was called for a personal foul for hitting him after the bobble.
Oregon lights up USC defense again
No. 6 Oregon 13, USC 7, 4:11 left in the first quarter
Oregon started on its 19 after a kickoff reutrn.
Bucky Irving was dropped for a loss of eight as he tried to run up the middle. Quarterback Bo Nix run up field for five yards on the next play.
Forcing third-and-13 seemed like a great start for the beleaguered USC defense, but the unit’s flaws in the secondary were exposed on the next play.
Nix passed to Troy Franklin, who found an opening when USC defensive back Max Williams looked over the wrong shoulder and raced to the end zone for a 84-yard touchdown.
Oregon’s ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed.
Caleb Williams leads USC scoring drive to tie the game
No. 6 Oregon 7, USC 7, 5:37 left in the first quarter
Oregon kicked the ball out of the end zone and USC started at its 25.
The crowd continued to roar as Caleb Williams tried to pass across the middle to Mario Williams, but the ball fell the turf.
On second down, Austin Jones ran for 10 yards.
On first down at the USC 35, Williams evaded two potential sacks and tossed a pass to Jones for an eight-yard gain. Williams then passed to Tahj Washington for a four-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 47, Williams faked a handoff and was sacked for a nine-yard loss as he was dropping back.
On second-and-19, Williams had more time in the pocket, floated to the right and then hit Dorian Singer for a 44-yard gain.
On first down at the Oregon 38, Williams passed to Lake McRee for no gain. Williams handed off to MarShawn Loyd after a gain of five yards. On third-and-five at the Oregon 18, Williams evaded two potential sacks and split the defense before sliding at the Ducks’ 5 after gaining eight yards.
On first and goal at the Oregon 5, Lloyd powered forward to the right side for a touchdown. Denis Lynch hit the extra point to tie the game.
Oregon takes 49 seconds to score its first touchdown
No. 6 Oregon 7, USC 0, 11:00 left in the first quarter
Oregon started on its 17.
Bucky Irving rushed for six yards before Bo Nix passed to Tez Johnson, who slipped past the first level of USC defensive coverage and turned on the gas, completing a 77-yard receiving touchdown.
Oregon hit the extra point to cap the 49-second scoring drive.
The USC defense is not off to a good start during its first game since coach Lincoln Riley fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.
USC punts after moving the ball to midfield
USC 0, No. 6 Oregon 0, 11:49 left in the first quarter
USC started on its 25.
MarShawn Lloyd rushed for no gain and Caleb Williams was sacked on second down, but a facemask by Oregon gave USC 15 yards and a first down.
USC had to call timeout before the third play of the drive amid fierce crowd noise.
On first down at the USC 40, Mario Williams took a snap and passed to Caleb Williams, who rushed for 15 yards.
On first down at the Oregon 41, Austin Jones rushed for a yard. Williams tossed an incomplete pass and USC center Justin Dedich was called for holding on the play.
After a length break while Dedich was treated for an injury, Williams was sacked for a loss of eight yards and USC punted to the Oregon 17.
And we’re off ...
USC received the opening kickoff. Oregon kicked the ball through the end zone and there was no return.
USC shorthanded on defense against Oregon
USC is without several starters on defense as the Trojans prepare for a huge game in Eugene. Starting nickle Jaylin Smith and linebacker Eric Gentry are among the players who were not seen during warm-ups. Tre’Quon Fegans was in Smith’s starting spot when the team lined up in 11-on-11 formation before the game while Raesjon Davis was starting at inside linebacker next to Mason Cobb.
Christian Roland-Wallace participated in warm-ups, but Prophet Brown was lined up with the starting unit at cornerback opposite Domani Jackson.
Cornerbacks Jacobe Covington and Ceyair Wright and running back/wide receiver Raleek Brown are also not at Autzen Stadium.
One player slated to return is running back MarShawn Lloyd, who participated in warm-ups after missing last week’s game with an undisclosed injury.
MarShawn Lloyd dressed in pads and warming up after missing last week with an undisclosed injury.. pic.twitter.com/Y4hhPqllrz
— Thuc Nhi Nguyen (@thucnhi21) November 12, 2023
USC and UCLA will enter a weakened Big Ten in the midst of an ugly Michigan mud fight
The Michigan Wolverines were thousands of feet in the air Friday afternoon on their way to play the biggest game of their season when the Big Ten announced a three-game suspension of coach Jim Harbaugh.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, a Harvard-educated attorney with a TV background, received Michigan’s 10-page response to the conference’s evidence relating to now-former staffer Connor Stalions’ sign-stealing operation on Wednesday.
But Petitti waited until less than 24 hours before the third-ranked Wolverines — the best collection of Michigan football players since the 1997 national championship team and possibly ever — play a defining road game against 10th-ranked Penn State to levy a suspension he clearly has been mulling for weeks.
Brian Odom, Shaun Nua hope to galvanize struggling USC defense
When Alex Grinch boarded a private plane bound for Los Angeles two years ago, Brian Odom was the man left holding the reins to Oklahoma’s defense. Odom had never been a coordinator, never led a defense, never called defensive plays. But as the Sooners prepped for the Alamo Bowl, Odom stayed in Norman in Grinch’s place, helping lead them to a bowl win before eventually following his friend to USC.
The experience leading Oklahoma’s defense would prove particularly valuable this week, when Odom once again was thrust into an interim role in relief of Grinch, who was fired as USC’s defensive coordinator Sunday.
Fired too late, Alex Grinch’s last stand ends USC’s season
What a waste.
The USC football season essentially ended Saturday as one big fat waste.
A wasted brilliant offense. A wasted Heisman Trophy winner. A wasted full Coliseum. A wasted revival of Trojan pride.
Wasted, all of it, because of coach Lincoln Riley’s refusal to fix an indefensibly bad defense that, in a single, frightening word, has forever chiseled itself on to this season’s tombstone.
GRINCHED
The end came Saturday night in front of a rollicking sellout crowd that roared as the Caleb Williams-led Trojans offense pinned 42 points and 515 yards on fifth-ranked and unbeaten Washington.
After firing Alex Grinch, Lincoln Riley promises USC will have a defensive revival
USC coach Lincoln Riley talks about why he decided to fire defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.
Alex Grinch was one of the first people on Lincoln Riley’s private plane to Los Angeles. They had visions of building a college football powerhouse together. Less than two years later, the embattled defensive coordinator is out.
After weeks of unwavering support for Grinch, Riley reversed course by firing the coordinator Sunday, less than 24 hours after USC’s 52-42 loss to Washington at the Coliseum. The decision with two regular-season games remaining came as Riley held onto hope that the Trojans (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) can salvage their season and redirect the future of a program that feels like it’s just a serviceable defense away from a College Football Playoff breakthrough.
‘It’s a one-game season right now’: USC vs. Oregon four things to watch
Under Pete Carroll, USC famously had “Tell The Truth Mondays.” The weekly sessions were intended for unvarnished recaps of the previous weekend’s game that helped the team process the highs and lows of each performance.
For Lincoln Riley’s Trojans, that tradition is turning into Quickly Move On Mondays.
Linebacker Mason Cobb said this week the Trojans didn’t watch film of USC’s loss to Washington. Last month, safety Calen Bullock said he didn’t watch the final drive against Utah when the Trojans gave up a game-winning field goal.