Vernon Adams Jr. had a reminiscent tone when he spoke to the media after No. 23 Oregon’s (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12) convincing 48-28 win over No. 22 USC (7-3, 5-3). He had just thrown for a record breaking six touchdowns – never before been done against the Trojans – to six different receivers on 20-of-25 attempts for 407 yards against the program he grew up idolizing.
Better yet, he did so with reigning Heisman winner and Titans starting quarterback Marcus Mariota on the sidelines to go over the game with him after every one of his six touchdowns.
“He’s the greatest of all time to come here,” Adams said.
“Marcus is as good a college quarterback as I’ve ever seen,” offensive coordinator Scott Frost said. “For Vernon to be doing the things he’s doing in Marcus’ shadow is amazing. Vernon deserves a lot of credit for the success this team’s had.”
Adams spoke like a kid who grew up a die-hard Trojans fan and was finally getting to live out his childhood dreams.
“I was a big USC fan growing up, being from that area,” Adams said. “It’s just an awesome feeling. I’m so happy for the guys in that locker room, the rest of the seniors. Even on social media – ya’ll see me – I’m so blessed and just thankful for that.”
Naturally, a lot of thoughts and emotions were flowing through his head as this roller coaster season took one more turn towards the end.
Adams still wonders what he could have done in a Ducks uniform had he decided to come earlier.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done so far, what my teams have done at Eastern and here,” Adams said. “I do wish I came here earlier and (had) more years, but it’s just what it is.”
For Adams, this game meant much more than the final numbers that spread across the scoreboard. For the graduate transfer who had no other goal than to compete at college football’s highest level, this win meant he had one more performance under his belt to validated his dramatic decision to test the Division I waters.
From his 48-yard lob to a streaking Bralon Addison to get Oregon on the board first, to his 21-yard touch pass to Dwayne Stanford in the third quarter to go up 38-14, Adams was sharp as he’s ever been in his career.
His only hiccups were a forced throw to the end zone into double coverage that got picked off early in the first quarter, and not knowing what to say to the one receiver that he didn’t connect with in the end zone.
“Man, it’s just tough,” Adams joked in response to apologizing to the one Oregon receiver that he didn’t connect with for a score. “Was trying to get everybody.”
Remember, this was a nationally-televised game with Pac-12 title hopes on the line – the Trojans controlled their own destiny in the South division, while the Ducks faced a must-win situation with California and Stanford’s outcome determining their postseason hopes.
It can’t be forgotten: these two teams had nothing to play for other than to keep their conference title chances alive and making the best bowl possible.
“It was a big-time win,” Dwayne Stanford, who finished with 57 yards on four catches and one touchdown, said. “USC is a great, talented team. For us to go out there and get a win like that at home, definitely big.”
Before the season began, the entire college football community circled Oregon’s Nov. 21 meeting with USC. It would be the first time since 2012 – back when Chip Kelly and Lane Kiffin donned the headsets – that the two west coast powerhouses would collide. And before Oregon fell to Michigan State and Utah, before USC dropped to Stanford, Washington and Notre Dame, this was the conference matchup everybody was talking about.
Although the Ducks and Trojans lost their chances to compete for the College Football Playoff in a blink of an eye, they still put on a show today that their world-class talent called for: Royce Freeman rushed for 148 yards on 20 carries, cracking Oregon’s all-time top five list; Bralon Addison netted 105 receiving yards and one touchdown on five catches; Cody Kessler, who entered this season as an early Heisman candidate, went 30-of-41 for 238 yards and two touchdowns, keeping the Trojans alive until the very end.
In a game that had no other implications than an opportunity to vie for a Pac-12 title, neither team disappointed – the Trojans finished with 428 total yards, while the Ducks piled on 578.
For Oregon, this win doesn’t guarantee a thing. It needs a struggling California (6-4, 3-4) to upset an angry Stanford (8-2, 7-1) on the road to have a shot at ending its season with a game at Levi’s Stadium.
But for now, the Ducks were more than content with a win over the Trojans. Their offense is finally clicking and their defense, which has been subject all season, is beginning to prove it isn’t a push over.
With just the Civil War game remaining, Oregon will be doing just one thing after tonight’s win: gathering around a TV and cheering on the Golden Bears. Tonight, Adams and his resurging Ducks will sit and watch as their postseason hopes rest in Jared Goff’s hands.
“I’m a 24-hour Bears fan,” Frost said.
“Go Bears,” DeForest Buckner said.
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim