The matchups that will decide USC at Oregon

This is a big game, the biggest the Ducks have played since the Rose Bowl in January and the PAC-12 Conference Championship Game in 2023. They lost both of those.

What's different now is that Dan Lanning has built his team to peak at the right time, and in 2025, they have the secondary talent to match up with an elite passing attack.

Oregon has the No. 1 pass defense in the nation this season, holding opponents to 127.3 per game and a passer rating 94.26. To give context, Dante Moore's passer rating is 168.6, fourth highest in the nation.

That's a big edge. What dulls it is the fact that five of Oregon's opponents this season rank 100th or worse in pass offense, according to Josh Pate of the "Bussin with the Boys" podcast. Still, Oregon kept Fernando Mendoza to 20-31 passing for 215 yards and picked him once. Against Rutgers' Athan Kaliakmanis in Piscataway, New Jersey, the Big Ten's No. 2 passer, they limited him to 8-25 for 79 yards, by far his worst output of the last two years.

The major difference is unit excellence

The Ducks have a secondary that is playing way above the line, consistently.

In Jayden Maiava, Makai Lemon and Jakobi Lane, USC boasts one of the best aerial games in the nation. Lemon has shredded opponents for 71 catches in ten games, 1,090 yards and eight touchdowns. Adding to that imposing productivity is his penchant for leaning into defenders and picking up drive-extending pass interference penalties.

On the other side, Lane has contributed 40 catches for 585 yards and four touchdowns, a target that can gash opponents if they decide to bracket his dangerous teammate.

Finney told reporters this week, "A matchup like this is just a great opportunity. As a freshman, I'm excited to try to get my name out there by playing against these guys."

These two are future NFL receivers, and Oregon isn't going to shut them down completely. The key to getting some stops begins with pressure up front. Matayo Uiagalelei, Bear Alexander, A'Mauri Washington and Teitum Tuioti have to keep Trojan quarterback Jayden Maiava from bouncing on his toes with time to survey the field in the pocket.

Time for Young Concrete to dial up the pressure

The Oregon pass rush has to get SC's QB uncomfortable and hurried, off schedule, out of rhythm. They need disruption, enough to combat double moves and long-developing routes. They have to shut down the running game often enough to create 2nd and long, 3rd and long opportunities where they can tee off.

The Trojan offensive line has only surrendered 12 sacks this season, but six of those came on the road against Illinois, Notre Dame and Nebraska, three by the Cornhuskers.

Matayo Uiagalelei has been quiet this year. Against Southern California, the team from his home region, he needs to get loud. So do the fans at Autzen Stadium. They've got to bring the energy of the original Fright Night in 2009.

Fox Analyst Joel Klatt said, "For all intents and purposes, this is a playoff game."