Prophet Brown’s interception against Rutgers did more than flip a game for USC. It helped set the tone for a 42-35 Big Ten opener win on Saturday, Sept. 19, and it came at a moment when the Scarlet Knights were pressing hard and threatening to seize control.
Brown’s 99-yard return in the third quarter was one of the plays that pushed the No. 12 Trojans to 4-0.
Now USC turns to a different kind of challenge: No. 20 Oregon coming to the Coliseum.
It’s the Trojans’ first major test at home, and it comes against a team USC has had trouble beating in the past. Brown said the defensive side understands what’s at stake in a game that figures to come down to consistency against one of the most dangerous offenses on the schedule.
“Offense is definitely dynamic. They’ve got a lot of great, talented players and stuff, so they give us a lot of good looks.
With stuff we’ve seen on film. We could definitely see Oregon have success in their deep pass game.
I think we should be prepared with the looks we’ve been getting,” Brown said.
For Brown, the message inside the program is simple: stay locked in and treat every week like its own battle.
“We’re trying to go 1-0 every week. Every game’s a big game, especially in college football. They’re all valuable, so you can’t let any of them slip,” Brown said.
He also pointed to the kind of details USC will need to clean up if it wants to slow Oregon down.
“Just limit explosives. Play our roles, be very sound, good eyes, discipline.
A lot of stuff coaches have been harping on, just corrections from previous games and stuff. I’m excited to go into this one,” Brown said.
Third and fourth down could tell the story, too. Brown emphasized that the defense has to finish drives and avoid letting Oregon extend possessions.
“Just knowing situations, you got to get off the field at the end of the day. It’s not good to let drives get extended, and the great defenses find a way to get off the field on third and fourth down. Going into this game is definitely going to be a big indicator of how it’s going to go, how we do on third and fourth down,” Brown said.
Penalties are another area USC wants to keep under control.
“You want to play spotless, clean football every week, but some penalties do happen, but there are penalties that we can avoid through focus. Just limited mental lapses and really knowing situations and what to do in certain stuff is going to help us eliminate,” Brown said.
USC enters Saturday night as a three-point underdog, according to the latest DraftKings Sportsbook betting odds. It’s the first time the Trojans have been underdogs this season, and it may not be the last with more ranked opponents looming.
After Oregon, USC’s schedule includes games against No. 13 Penn State on Oct.
10, No. 7 Ohio State on Oct. 31 and No.
4 Indiana on Nov. 14.
The Trojans and Ducks are set for a 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff at the Coliseum, with NBC carrying the game.
In Other News...
USCs Upset Shot Vs Oregon May Hinge On One Injury Question
The injury reports are in ahead of Oregons conference game with USC, and both sides are dealing with absences that could shape how the night unfolds. The Ducks will be without Jeremiah McClellan, Trent Ferguson, Brayden Platt, and Simeon Price, thinning out depth in areas they would prefer to keep intact this late in the season.
USCs list is just as notable, with Jahkeem Stewart and Trent Mosley among the Trojans dealing with injuries and several others tagged questionable or probable. For a matchup that already carries upset intrigue, availability may end up mattering as much as scheme, and the Trojans chances of making this one interesting could come down to who is able to answer the bell when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
USC Heads Into Oregon Showdown With One Key Availability Twist
USC heads into Saturdays matchup with Oregon carrying a familiar kind of late-week uncertainty, as the latest Big Ten availability report lists several Trojans across the out, doubtful and questionable designations. The game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum carries plenty of weight on its own, and the Ducks will be watching the injury picture as closely as anything else before kickoff on NBC.
Lincoln Riley also offered an update on defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart, saying the freshman is making progress in his recovery but still does not have a definite return date. For Oregon, that leaves one more variable in a game where the Ducks already know theyll need to prepare for a Trojans defense that could look different depending on how the final availability calls break. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon's USC Game Could Put Andrew Olesh In A Huge Spotlight
With Kendre Harrison and Jamari Johnson both listed as questionable for Oregons matchup with USC, the Ducks may need to lean on a young tight end room in a game that already carries plenty of weight. Dan Lanning said he expects both to play, but the uncertainty keeps Andrew Olesh very much in the conversation, and the redshirt freshman has already shown he can handle real snaps with two starts this season.
Olesh has quietly turned himself into a credible next man up, with noticeable growth as both a pass blocker and a receiver. If the Ducks end up needing him in a bigger role against USC, it would be another meaningful step in his development and a chance to earn even more trust in one of Oregons biggest games of the season. [Read more 🡒]