QUICKIE RECAP
When the 2023 football schedule was released this one against the USC Trojans was most certainly circled on every Duck fan’s calendar.
And it didn’t disappoint.
In front of a sold-out Autzen Stadium crowd of 59,957 Oregon used its speed and aerial attack to outscore USC 39-27 using four passing touchdowns from Bo Nix and a running touchdown by Bucky Irving.
The win pushes Oregon’s record to 9-1 overall and 6-1 in Pac-12 play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
While USC had been struggling defensively over the last several weeks, the Trojans made a valiant effort to hold the Ducks to 11 points under their per game average.
Oregon found the endzone four minutes into the game after forcing USC to punt on their first possession. Bo Nix led the Ducks on a lighting quick drive of 2 plays that covered 83 yards when Nix found receiver Tez Johnson for a 77-yard completion and run for the touchdown.
Oregon led 7-0 at the 11:00 minute mark.
Five minutes later USC tied the score at 7 when Trojan RB MarShawn Lloyd rushed for a 5 yard touchdown after Caleb Williams led USC on a 10 play – 75 yard drive.
On the next possession, Nix found Troy Franklin on a go route of 84 yards that began with a 3rd and 13 play. The Ducks would try a two-point conversion, however the attempt failed giving Oregon a 13-7 lead.
In the second quarter with 10:49 to play before halftime, Nix would once again navigate a nice drive covering 75 yards in 13 plays that ended with a 15 yard touchdown pass from Nix to TE Terrance Ferguson.
It was Nix’s third passing score of the game giving the Ducks a 19-7 lead.
After holding the Trojans on their next possession, Oregon would drive to their end of the field, however they couldn’t punch it in and were forced to try a 23 yard field goal by kicker Camden Lewis that would extend the Oregon lead to 22-7.
Oregon would leave too much time on the clock for the Trojans and Williams. With 1:59 remaining before the break, Williams navigated a 6 play – 75-yard drive that culminated with Williams finding the end zone on a 2-yard score closing the gap to 22-14 Oregon.
In the third quarter on their first possession, Nix once again executed an extended 12 play – 85 yard drive that ended with his fourth touchdown pass of the game to Tez Johnson – this one a 21-yarder to give the Ducks a 29-14 lead at the 8:17 mark of the third.
After a three-and-out and fumbled snap and turnover by the Trojans on their next two possessions, Oregon took advantage and put another touchdown on the board early in the fourth quarter when RB Bucky Irving found the endzone on a 19-yard run that extended the Oregon lead to 36-14.
And just when the Autzen Stadium crowd began to relax it was time for the Caleb Williams show to execute some magic of his own.
Williams would drive the Trojans 75 yards in 10 plays to find receiver Brenden Rice on a 9-yard touchdown drawing USC to within 15 at 36-21 with 11:27 to play.
Then after the next Oregon drive stalled, Williams would go to work on another tremendous drive that ended with an Austin Jones 9-yard run to pull the Trojans within nine at 36-27 with 3:44 to play.
But that’s as close as it would get.
Oregon was able to run out the clock on their next possession and give USC its fourth loss of the season and third loss in the Pac-12.
FINAL SCORE; Oregon 36, USC 27
GAME NOTES
In his post-game press conference Oregon head coach Dan Lanning told the full room of media he believed quarterback Bo Nix had another Heisman performance.
Nix completed 23 of 31 passed for 412 yards with 4 aerial touchdowns. Again, Nix was extremely efficient completing 74% oh his passes and played mistake-free football.
Troy Franklin had another night to remember in a Duck uniform. Franklin caught just two passes but ran for 147 yards after the catch and scored a touchdown. More impressively, Franklin became the 12th receiver in Duck history to surpass the 1,000-receiving-yard mark. It hadn’t been done since 2018 when Dillon Mitchell broke the 1,000-yard mark. Franklin came into the game with 946 yards and left with 1,093. Franklin also scored his 11th touchdown of the season.
On the ground the Ducks didn’t have their typical 200 yard attack, however, Bucky Irving did break the century mark with 118 yards on 19 carries and did put one of those carries in the endzone.