This week, the No. 7 Oregon Ducks (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) face off against the No. 15 USC Trojans (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten) in the penultimate game of the regular season — and the final home game for Oregon. USC is coming off a tough 26-21 win over Iowa, a team that battled with the Ducks in Week 11.

The run game has been solid for the Trojans, with King Miller rushing for 719 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. Miller ranks second in the Big Ten in yards per carry, behind only Ducks running back Noah Whittington. Miller and Whittington have each rushed for over 190 total yards over the last two games.

Defending the run will be a focal point for both teams in this matchup, with Oregon and USC sitting at No. 2 and No. 4 in total rushing yards in the Big Ten. On the other side of the ball, the Trojans have allowed 1699 rushing yards (10th best in the conference), 374 more than the Ducks, who are sixth-best in the Big Ten. 

USC linebacker Eric Gentry will be a major factor in this week’s matchup, as he ranks first in the conference and third in the country in forced fumbles with five. He also leads the Trojans in total tackles with 64, and is second in tackles for loss with seven. 

Against Iowa, the Trojans’ defense struggled in the first half, allowing 21 points and trailing by 11. The defense rallied and didn’t allow a single score in the second half to finish the comeback win.

“I think the whole team understands what the culture is, and that is to fight to the last second. We’re not in denial or feeling like something bad is gonna happen,” Gentry said in a postgame press conference following the win against Iowa. “Coach Lincoln (Riley) said it — don’t hope for nothing, make it happen. Don’t hope for nothing good to happen, make the good happen.”

USC ranks first in the conference in forced fumbles with 11. Oregon has eight fumbles this season and fumbled on a blown-up lateral play last week against Minnesota.

One player flying under the radar for the Trojans is kicker Ryon Sayeri, who is second in the conference in field goal percentage with 94.4 (17-18). He also has the third-longest field goal of the season in the Big Ten after he hit a 54-yard kick in the fourth quarter against Michigan in Week 7. 

The special teams unit has been on a roll for USC this season, especially after a trick play against Northwestern saw third-string quarterback Sam Huard switch his number to 80 and throw a 10-yard pass in punt formation to set up a touchdown drive. Punter Sam Johnson usually wears number 80, and the Trojans do not have names on their jerseys, which made the Wildcats believe Huard was Johnson.

“You guys got to pay attention, that’s been there,” Riley said. “It’s been on there for three weeks, so I’m glad none of y’all put it on Twitter. It was a well thought out thing by several of our staff members involved and got it at the right time and we had confidence in it.”

ESPN College Gameday is coming to Eugene for the pivotal matchup between the Ducks and the Trojans Nov. 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. PST.