Matt Barkley couldn’t stop grinning.
As stunned Oregon fans flooded the exits of Autzen Stadium, the All-American USC quarterback stood still long enough for a postgame interview with ESPN — but he couldn’t keep a straight face.
“It was about time we pulled off a game like this,” Barkley said.
One would forgive him his satisfaction. After going 26-for-34 for 323 yards and four touchdowns, Barkley had done all that was expected of him and more. And when Alejandro Maldonado’s 37-yard field goal sailed wide, quashing Oregon’s last-minute hopes, his relief was palpable.
The win snapped Oregon’s 21-game home win streak, the longest in the nation, and effectively killed any chance the Ducks had of returning to the national championship game.
Critics say Barkley hasn’t been the same this year. Already he has thrown more interceptions and has been sacked more times than all of last year. His completion percentage has taken a dip, too. Against Stanford, Barkley completed less than half of his passes, tossed two picks and failed to throw a touchdown for the first time since his sophomore year. He’s had three multi-interception games this year.
He had just one last year.
Part of the reason his numbers are down is, well, that they were so high. His junior campaign was one of the best in school history, an impressive historical feat considering the USC college careers of Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez and the like. There really was nowhere to go but down.
But there’s also the pressure. While that may be relieved since USC’s second loss this season, Barkley came back for his senior year to compete for a national championship. This was supposed to be his year. His Heisman Trophy. His swan song.
So far, it’s been a disappointing last chapter. But if Barkley can’t win the national title this year, he’s going to do everything in his power to make sure the Ducks don’t win it either.
And numbers or not, Barkley’s determination and surrounding weapons are enough to make Ducks fans frown.