No. 7 Oregon will host No. 15 USC this weekend in an effort to maintain its top-10 ranking. On paper, the Ducks are a better side on both sides of the ball. Moreover, both the losses for Lincoln Riley’s 8-2 team have come on the road. While the Ducks sit comfortably at 9-1, a loss could derail their momentum to the playoffs, as per a former odds maker.

“In my estimation, the winner of this game controls their destiny to get to the playoffs,” CBS Sports’ Todd Furhman said in a November 21 episode of The Next Round. “And realistically, if Oregon were to lose this game at home against USC, finish the regular season 10-2, there’s not enough meat on the bone for that particular resume for me to believe that they should even be included in the discussion, unless there’s complete chaos.

“Because if you go through the Ducks’ resume overall, I mean, where’s their big win at Iowa, at Penn State, who’s fighting for bowl eligibility? I just don’t see it,” he added.

Oregon has had a fairly easy schedule this year. The biggest opponents on the calendar for the Ducks were Penn State, Indiana, and USC. In hindsight, the Penn State win in the whiteout game doesn’t look that good anymore. To make matters worse, Indiana came to Eugene and handed Oregon their only loss of the season. Since then, the only major noteworthy performance from the Ducks has been against Iowa.

But it doesn’t quite move the needle on the scale that much for Oregon. However, they still control their destiny. The committee will not vote out an 11-1 team, but if they are 10-2, it’s highly likely that they’ll fall below the likes of Oklahoma and Alabama.

Oregon will see an explosive offense from USC. Before the Iowa game, the Trojans were averaging more than 300 yards passing and upwards of 200 on the ground. They were the only team with those high numbers in the FBS. Jayden Maiava, Makai Lemon, and King Miller are absolute weapons at their respective positions. “Makai Lemon is as good as Ja’Kobi Lane does a great job outside. You know, I think this is one of the best receiving corps we’ve seen since we’ve been here, and their quarterbacks are playing really, really high level as well,” Lanning said at a presser ahead of the game.

However, Oregon’s pass defense has been elite this season. It ranks No. 1 in the country, allowing an average of 127.3 yards per game. The passing attack from USC is going to be one of the most “prolific” Oregon has seen, Fuhrman noted. But, on the other hand, the Ducks’ offense also lacks some glaring problems in a very depleted WR room. Dakorien Moore being away is a serious problem for Dan Lanning, being the leading WR for the Ducks. But they’d have the home advantage.

Lincoln Riley prepared for the Oregon challenge at Eugene

The Trojans have lost to Illinois and Notre Dame this year. But they’ve also won at Purdue and are coming off a much-needed win at Lincoln. But playing at Autzen Stadium will be an intensely difficult change for USC. Lincoln Riley is prepping his team to go big this weekend.

“I think for the team, having the confidence of having been in some of those environments, learned from it, having been successful, especially here as of late, is important. And I think you learned some lessons in terms of communication. The mentality that it takes and all of that,” Riley said at a press conference ahead of the clash.

Even former players have gotten involved, understanding the kind of opportunity the game provides for Lincoln Riley. “Probably the biggest game of his career so far at USC. Huge huge opportunity against the Ducks!” former USC star and 2004 Heisman winner Matt Leinart wrote on X.