If fans haven’t noticed yet, this Oregon Ducks (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) team that defeated USC (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12) 36-27 Saturday night is unique to most other teams in the country.
Most teams don’t have Bo Nix – the most experienced quarterback in college football history – under center.
In Saturday’s game, which was marketed as a battle of the quarterbacks, Nix outmatched last season’s Heisman winner, Caleb Williams, in every category finishing with four passing touchdowns. Wide receivers Tez Johnson and Troy Franklin both added over 100-yard receiving efforts in the win.
Most teams don’t have game-breaking wide receivers like Johnson and Franklin either.
“We got dynamic guys in that room,” Johnson said. “We all saw Troy Franklin take a dig to the house. We were basically competing.”
Most defenses aren’t as talented as the Ducks’. That much was on display early. Oregon immediately stuffed the Trojans, who coming into Saturday’s game had scored on eight of their first 10 opening drives.
Oregon’s offense picked off where it had left off after last week’s 63-19 demolition of California. On the Ducks second play from scrimmage, Nix connected with Tez Johnson for a 77-yard touchdown, which sent a packed Autzen Stadium crowd into oblivion.
“I’m the fastest player in the country,” Johnson said after the game. He certainly looked to be. Johnson has found his stride, especially of late, recording 100 yard efforts in the Ducks’ last two games.
Williams and the USC offense immediately responded with Williams – for the first of many times on the night – running for his life to evade the Ducks’ defenders. Williams, amid his escape act connected with Dorian Singer for 44 yards, setting up a 5-yard MarShawn Lloyd touchdown run to get the Trojans on the board.
Nix and the Ducks saw Williams’ wizardry and didn’t bat an eye. This time in the form of a 84-yard Franklin touchdown. Oregon’s offense tallied 164 total yards and two scores on its first five plays from scrimmage. The Trojans’ defense had no luck slowing down one of the best offenses in the nation.
Following a Trojans’ punt, the Ducks would not relent yet again. This time in meticulous fashion as Oregon orchestrated a 13-play 75-yard touchdown drive, further exposing a listless Trojans defense.
Oregon’s key to limiting Williams’ talent? Keeping him off the field. Oregon orchestrated three drives of 10 plays or more, limiting the talented Trojans offense.
Oregon’s defense forced another USC punt resulting in a rare non-Williams highlight for the Trojans, which came in the form USC’s punter Eddie Czaplicki pinning the Ducks back to their own 1-yard line. This setback only proved as fuel for the Oregon offense as the Ducks drove down the field. However, a string of crucial penalties resulted in the Ducks settling for a field goal.
They took a 22-14 lead into the half. A lead they never surrendered.
For most teams, being penalized 13 times for 120 yards matters.
Although uniquely talented, this Oregon team isn’t completely perfect either.
Unabated by USC’s defense, the Ducks’ main villain was once again themselves. Oregon was flagged six times for 65 yards in the first half of play alone. Aided by more Williams’ improvisation, the Trojans added another touchdown and trailed by just a score at the half.
“We had way too many penalties and that’s gotta get fixed,” Nix said. “We say it every week, but somehow we have got to find ways to fix that.”
A new half saw little change as Oregon was flagged on the opening kickoff as well as its second play from scrimmage. In terms of production, little changed for the Ducks who rebuked with a 12-play 85-yard touchdown drive capped off by another Nix-to-Johnson touchdown reception. In both flashy and scrupulous fashion, Oregon’s offense controlled the tempo of the game, which was key to limiting Williams and the talented Trojans’ offense to just one passing touchdown.
“Controlling the tempo, that’s what we want to do,” Johnson said. “When the ball is in our hand, we are able to control the entire game, Coach preaches it every week, so that’s what we try to execute everyday.”
Most teams aren’t able to contain Williams as well as Oregon did. USC’s offense relied often on trick-plays as Williams was under pressure from Oregon’s defensive line for most of the evening.
Following Oregon’s lone punt of the night, USC’s offense looked to be driving until Williams and running back Austin Jones miscommunicated on a hand-off. Oregon’s Evan Williams pounced on the ball for the Ducks, whose offense proceeded with a dagger in the form of a 19-yard Irving touchdown.
The Trojans’ offense struggled at times with communication, with the Autzen crowd forcing multiple Trojans pre-snap timeouts and penalties. The stadium was abuzz all game long. The student section brought relentless energy and dominating noise. But it didn’t affect the Ducks. In fact, its defense excelled at creating pressure.
“We have a defensive line that can create havoc,” Oregon head coach Dan Lanning said. “We’ve got some guys that are talented players. They have a good offensive line, and I thought our guys were able to create some havoc and mess up some of the timing.”
USC added another score late, but the Trojans’ woes were too much to overcome. Unfortunately for USC, Williams, amid his heroics, cannot play defense.
Most teams don’t have Nix, Bucky Irving and Troy Franklin blossoming in perfect cohesion and connection at the same time.
Competition and connection have been stressed throughout Oregon’s season. A theme that was evident in Saturday’s victory.
“Our DNA traits were something that we thought was going to show up in this game,” Lanning said. “And I think they did, there was never any panic, there was never any relax.”
Oregon will look to continue its connection next week against Arizona State (3-7, 2-5 Pac-12) who will be fresh off a 17-7 win over UCLA.
For most teams, beating USC isn’t as easy as Oregon made it look on Nov. 11. For most teams, a College Football Playoff appearance isn’t still on the table.
