No. 7 Oregon hosts No. 15 USC on Saturday (12:30 p.m., CBS) at Autzen Stadium.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reached out to USC beat reporter Ryan Kartje (@RyanKartje on X) of the Los Angeles Times to pose five questions about the Trojans and get a prediction.
1) Where has Jayden Maiava made the most improvement throughout the season?
Kartje: “Last season, when he was thrust into action in November, Maiava wasn’t comfortable enough in the offense or in his mechanics. He took too many risks downfield, and while some paid off, others turned into costly mistakes. That hasn’t been the case in his second season at USC. Maiava isn’t turning the ball over. He has been just as dynamic in Year 2, but looks much more comfortable at the helm of the Trojans’ offense. He could still stand to improve his accuracy in the middle of the field, but his top two receivers and top two tight ends have been so good this season, they’ll catch pretty much anything thrown in their vicinity. This week is a big moment for Maiava to prove he can stay poised in a big-time road game.”
2) If containing Makai Lemon is possible, how can it best be done?
Kartje: “Good luck to any and all who give it a try. Lemon has been pretty much unguardable this season. His yards-after-catch ability is unparalleled among college football receivers, and USC can manufacture ways to get him the ball if need be. Usually, he’s gotten open regardless. Nebraska’s defense did the best job at limiting him — the Huskers just happen to have very talented corners, which helps. But the problem with heaping too much attention on Lemon is that USC has Ja’Kobi Lane and tight ends Lake McRee and Walker Lyons, who are just as capable of producing big plays down the field. Lane is healthy again and starting to look like himself again. USC can win this game if it starts to hit on explosives down the field with any of those four. Lemon is just the most likely bet of the bunch to be open.”
3) Besides a few statistics, where is USC’s defense improved?
Kartje: “It’s a more talented group than the past few seasons. But since USC relied less this season on older defenders in the transfer portal, it has also been more inconsistent. The ceiling is much higher than in years past, and you’ve seen that in the second half of the past three games, as USC has held its opponents to three points or fewer. The problem is that it looked much worse before halftime. Up front, Kameryn Fountain, Braylan Shelby, Anthony Lucas and Jahkeem Stewart all can get after the quarterback. The secondary has taken steps forward, too, with cornerbacks DeCarlos Nicholson and Marcelles Williams looking better in recent weeks. But the run defense, on the whole, has been the team’s biggest weakness. That’s where Oregon’s offense will have the most decided advantage, if USC can’t get its act together earlier on Saturday.”
4) How will this season’s progress be viewed at 9-3 with an Alamo Bowl bid versus 10-2 and reaching the playoffs?
Kartje: “I think most USC fans started the season anticipating a loss in this game, and most would probably tell you that they’re pleased, albeit not thrilled, with a 9-3 season. But a Playoff bid changes everything. It would be a clear, indisputable mile marker in Lincoln Riley’s rebuild — no matter what happened after that. (Though, I think USC could be frisky in the first round, depending on the opponent.) So I think it’s fair to say there’s a lot riding on this game for Riley. A nine-win season is progress, no matter what. But a 10-win season means tilting any fans who might’ve been wondering about Riley’s buyout in his favor for 2026. That’s when the No. 1 recruiting class in the country is scheduled to land in L.A.”
5) How do you see it playing out and what’s your score prediction?
Kartje: “I’ve gone back and forth on how this will go. But I will stick to my first instinct that USC will have a hard time holding off Oregon’s rushing attack. In a similar spot, on the road, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price absolutely torched the Trojans for over 300 rushing yards. Assuming USC doesn’t get out to an early lead, I expect Oregon will try to punish them and wear down the defense by running the ball over and over. Maiava has been decidedly less sharp on the road, and Riley hasn’t had great results in big road games as USC’s coach either. I do think USC found something last week in the second half against Iowa, and we’ll know pretty quickly if that “culture win” magic will carry over to Autzen. But I think Oregon is just too much for them to handle in this one. Ducks win, 34-31.”
No. 7 Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) vs No. 15 USC (8-2, 6-1)
- When: Saturday, Nov. 22
- Time: 12:30 p.m. PT
- Where: Autzen Stadium
- TV: CBS
- Stream: Watch for free when you sign up for Paramount Plus (free trial). You can also watch on DirecTV (free trial), with Fubo (free trial) or with Sling (a Sling day pass to watch this game and more is just $4.99). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.
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