Non-Conference play is in the books, and now the Oregon Ducks get to turn the page to the real grind of the schedule as Big Ten play begins. Ideally, Oregon would've went 3-0 before conference play, but with the loss to Oklahoma State every win or loss is going to be incredibly impactful on the Ducks' hopes of making the College Football Playoff.
The Big Ten slate opens with a throwback Pac 12 matchup as the Ducks head on the road to take on USC. The Trojans are looking to prove they're true contenders, but Oregon has dominated the rivalry as of late. If Oregon is going to continue the run of dominance against USC, 5 questions are going to need to be answered.
The 5 biggest questions ahead of Oregon's Big Ten opener
Will Jeremiah McClellan play?
The Ducks were dealt a surprise on Friday Night as Jeremiah McClellan warmed up with the team, but ended up on the sidelines in a boot and on crutches. Dan Lanning shared after the game that he suffered a tweak in warmups, and the first real update likely won't come until the injury report is unveiled. Messiah Hampton has stepped up the last two weeks at receiver, but having every weapon available in a game with massive stakes is the hope for this offense.
Will Jamari Johnson play?
Over the last two weeks, the Oregon offense has been without arguably it's best weapon as Jamari Johnson has been sidelined. Dan Lanning said after the Oklahoma State game that the Ducks could get Johnson back for the Portland State game or the USC game, and it was likely a precautionary move to hold him out on Friday Night. If Johnson can return to the offense for Saturday Night, it would be a major boost for the offense as he's the go-to target when the team needs to move the chains, and Dante Moore hasn't looked the same without him.
How will the offensive line fair?
Oregon's offensive line had another new look on Friday Night as Trent Ferguson is out for the season with a knee injury. It's hard to judge where the offensive line fared given the level of competition against Portland State, but this weekend will be a massive test. The hope is that the additional reps, and continued development will lead to a better performance than the last showing the line had against a Power 4 team, and if they don't it'll be a long night for the Ducks.
Will the defensive line create pressure?
The strength of this team coming into the season was supposed to be the defensive line, but they've struggled to create pressure against the two solid teams the Ducks have played. If the defensive front is going to emerge in any game, this is the perfect time to answer the bell. USC has an impressive offensive line, and the Ducks are going to need to get pressure to slow down this explosive offense.
Is the play tipping cleaned up?
Last week the biggest topic of discussion was Dante Moore's stance after it was revealed that Oklahoma State was picking up on a tell. It's hard to tell for certain if the Vikings picked up on any tell as they weren't talented enough to stop anything the Ducks did on Friday Night. If the Ducks are still tipping plays, USC will be able to exploit it, and in a game this important, you can't give anything away.
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