USC vs. Oregon four things to watch

USC quarterback Caleb Williams was photographed standing on the sideline at the Coliseum during a recent tough loss to Washington. Williams is known for leading the nation in touchdown passes, but he has been struggling with fumbles throughout the season. Under Pete Carroll, USC was famous for “Tell The Truth Mondays” – a weekly session designed for candid recaps of the previous weekend’s game, intended to help the team process the highs and lows of their performance. For Lincoln Riley’s Trojans, that tradition has evolved into Quickly Move On Mondays.

The denial patterns that have emerged within the team have forced USC to address an uncomfortable truth this week – The Trojans find themselves in a must-win situation against No. 6 Oregon to maintain their slim Pac-12 championship hopes. Quarterback Caleb Williams emphasized the importance of this game by saying, “It’s a one-game season right now.”

The matchup with Oregon demands full attention as the Ducks are undefeated at home this season, led by Heisman-contending quarterback Bo Nix. The Trojans will need to win their final two games and also hope for losses from two-loss teams like Utah, Oregon State, and Arizona if they want to stay in the hunt for a Pac-12 championship game appearance.

Four things to watch for during USC’s game against the Ducks at Autzen Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Caleb Williams navigates uncharted territory. Williams can make touchdowns out of nothing, but even the Heisman Trophy winner can’t make a national championship out of this. The realization that Williams will go a third season in college without a College Football Playoff appearance has set in after USC’s recent loss to Washington.

The USC Trojans used to have a strong pass rush, but now it has been reduced to a trickle. After averaging 3.7 sacks in the first six games, USC had just two in the last month, losing three of their last four games.

USC has the Pac-12’s worst rushing defense and will need to face Oregon’s conference-best rushing attack. The Ducks lead the Pac-12 and rank 10th nationally with 208.1 rushing yards per game.

USC’s final road game of the season will be its most difficult against Oregon. The Trojans have lost three of the last four games against the Ducks and the high stakes game will be a test for the team.

USC’s final road game of the season will be its most difficult against Oregon. The Trojans have lost three of the last four games against the Ducks and the high stakes game will be a test for the team.

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Alex Martin

Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.