** Editors Note: Each week during football season, we feature a column from the opponent’s student newspaper on why Oregon will lose. This week’s edition is from Eric He of the Daily Trojan at USC. **
A year ago, two ranked teams in USC and Oregon squared off at Autzen Stadium and Ducks’ quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. torched the Trojans in a 48-28 victory for 407 yards and six touchdowns, a record for an opposing quarterback against USC.
It’s safe to say a lot has changed in a year, but I think we’ll see a similar score — except the other way around — at the Coliseum on Saturday.
The Trojans are brimming with confidence on a four-game win-streak and have incentive since every game is essentially a must-win if they want a shot at the Pac-12 South. Last week, USC took advantage of a weak Cal defense, torching the Bears on the ground and in the air. The Trojans put up 398 rushing yards and quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 231 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-24 win — the score was only that close because of two lost fumbles by USC.
Against another struggling defense in Oregon, the Trojans should be able to take advantage yet again. The Ducks are last in the Pac-12 in both scoring defense and total defense, giving up 42.2 points and 529.8 yards per game, so I foresee another big night for the Trojans’ offense. Even with lead running back Justin Davis out against Cal, sophomores Ronald Jones II and Aca’Cedric Ware both had record games. USC also has a dynamic quarterback-wide receiver duo in Darnold and JuJu Smith-Schuster, who should also pad their stats.
This will be a high-scoring affair, but I think USC has the firepower to match Oregon on offense and the Trojans have the much stronger defense. Still, they will have to stop the Ducks’ impressive freshman Justin Herbert, who had a record performance last week against Cal.
This is not the matchup it used to be — it’s the first time in 10 matchups in which neither team is ranked, and the first time USC will play an Oregon team with a losing record since 1982. It’s a testament to how fast things can change in college football and that both programs are hitting the reset button. For now, though, the Trojans have the upper hand.
