USC is walking into Saturday’s showdown with Oregon carrying more than just the weight of a top-20 matchup. The Trojans’ injury list could shape everything about how this game looks at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where No.
12 USC will try to keep its unbeaten start alive against No. 20 Oregon.
The latest Big Ten availability report leaves several USC pieces in question, and one important name already ruled out. Wide receiver Corey Simms is out, while freshman wideout Trent Mosley is doubtful after missing USC’s 42-35 win over Rutgers. On the defensive side, the Trojans have a trio of players listed as questionable: defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart, safety Alex Graham, and linebacker Jadyn Walker.
That uncertainty comes at a brutal time. USC is 4-0 and staring at its biggest game of the season so far, with major Big Ten title and College Football Playoff implications attached. For Lincoln Riley’s team, now in its fifth year under the coach, a win over Oregon could be the kind of result that finally puts the Trojans on a path toward the 12-team playoff.
But Oregon is not coming in as a pushover. The Ducks arrive as a three-point favorite, according to the latest DraftKings Sportsbook odds, and they have their own playoff urgency after opening 2-1. Their only loss came on the road against Oklahoma State on Sept. 12, a game in which offensive line problems and defensive breakdowns hurt them badly.
USC will be looking to exploit those issues, much like Drew Mestemaker and Oklahoma State’s offense did in that loss. The Trojans have their own weapon to lean on in quarterback Jayden Maiava, who has been playing at a high level in his second year as the starter. Through four games, he has thrown for 1,173 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just one interception.
The matchup also carries some extra weight for USC beyond the standings. The Trojans are trying to snap a four-game losing streak in the rivalry series, with their last win over Oregon coming in 2019. The Ducks have taken eight of the last 10 meetings.
A victory Saturday would give Riley one of the defining wins of his USC tenure. A loss would not eliminate the Trojans from playoff contention, but it would make the road much tougher, especially with a demanding six-game stretch beginning here.
That run includes three more games against ranked opponents: No. 13 Penn State on Oct.
10, No. 7 Ohio State on Oct. 31, and No.
5 Indiana on Nov. 14.
USC will host Ohio State but has to travel to face Penn State and Indiana.
USC and Oregon are set to kick off at 4:30 p.m. PT at the Coliseum, with NBC carrying the broadcast.
In Other News...
Oregon's USC Game Could Put Andrew Olesh In A Huge Spotlight
The Ducks head into their matchup with USC with a little more uncertainty at tight end than they would like, as Kendre Harrison and Jamari Johnson are both listed as questionable because of undisclosed injuries. Dan Lanning sounded optimistic that both will be available, but the timing still matters for Oregon because the tight end rotation has become part of how the offense is built. If either player is limited, the next man up would be redshirt freshman Andrew Olesh, who has already started two games this season.
Olesh would not be an unfamiliar answer, either. His role has grown with steady improvement in both pass blocking and receiving, and this is the kind of game where that development can matter quickly. A road game against USC tends to sharpen attention on the guys who are called into bigger roles, and Olesh could find himself in that spotlight if Oregon needs him to carry more of the load than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Brings A Spotlight-Worthy Road Look To USC
Oregons Week 4 road trip to USC will come with one of the more eye-catching looks of the weekend. The Ducks are set to go all-white, paired with steel gray shoulder patterns and a stainless steel helmet, a sharp combination that fits right in with the programs long-running habit of treating uniform reveals as part of the show.
The matchup itself already carries plenty of attention, but Oregon is adding another layer to it with a design built to stand out under the lights. Around college football, several teams are rolling out special uniform combinations this week, with programs like UTSA, Washington, Baylor, Iowa State and Washington State also leaning into distinctive themes and traditions. [Read more 🡒]
USC Receiver Depth Suddenly Matters A Lot More Before Oregon
USCs receiving room was already drawing attention heading into the matchup with Oregon, and Terrell Andersons return to more consistent work only adds another layer to watch. Anderson was limited in practice after an injury kept him out for most of training camp, which made his development a little behind schedule at a time when the Trojans are trying to settle key pieces on offense.
Lincoln Riley said Anderson is now recovering and has put together his first full healthy week recently, with the expectation that he will keep improving from here. For Oregon, that means another potential target to account for as USC tries to sharpen its depth at receiver and get more reliable options on the field as the matchup approaches. [Read more 🡒]