cbssports
When No. 12 USC hosts No. 20 Oregon on Saturday afternoon, the Trojans will look to secure a victory that has eluded them in recent years: a win over a ranked opponent. Despite fielding high-powered offenses and creating memorable moments under head coach Lincoln Riley, USC has frequently faltered when matched against teams with equal talent and superior physicality.
With a revamped defense that has already shown promise and strategic adjustments, USC's first Big Ten challenge of the season arrives. Riley's success at Oklahoma, where he consistently contended for Big 12 titles, has not fully translated to USC. The Trojans hold a 5-14 record (.263) against AP Top 25 teams under Riley, including a 2-5 mark in the last two seasons against Big Ten foes.
Struggles Against Ranked Opponents
USC's performance against AP Top 25 teams under Riley has been lackluster:
- 2022: 2-3 record, finished 11-3 and ranked No. 12
- 2023: 1-4 record, finished 8-5 and unranked
- 2024: 1-3 record, finished 7-6 and unranked
- 2025: 1-4 record, finished 9-4 and ranked No. 20
Oregon is the first of four remaining ranked opponents for USC this season, with No. 13 Penn State, No. 7 Ohio State, and No. 5 Indiana still on the schedule. To reach the College Football Playoff for the first time under Riley, the Trojans likely need to split these matchups without any other setbacks.
After a loss at No. 13 Notre Dame last season, just a week after defeating Michigan, Riley expressed confidence that USC was close to turning the corner in high-profile games. "We've put ourselves in position to win a lot of these games," Riley said. "You've gotta go win them. I get it. In your ascent as a program, that's one of the last steps. Because it's the hardest thing to do."
Oregon's Perspective and Stakes
Oregon enters the game after a resounding 84-point win over Portland State, a game that served more as a tune-up following a tough loss at Oklahoma State. Coach Dan Lanning will learn more about his team this weekend in Los Angeles, as the Ducks aim to recapture the form that led them to an 11-1 record and the No. 5 seed in last season's CFP.
Last November, then-No. 7 Oregon defeated No. 15 USC 42-27 at Autzen Stadium, ending the Trojans' promising 8-2 start and their hopes of an at-large CFP berth. While this Week 4 matchup is not a CFP elimination game, it will set the tone for the remainder of the season. A loss would drop Oregon out of the rankings, while USC's margin for error would shrink considerably.
Both teams have flaws: Oregon struggles at the line of scrimmage, and USC's defense remains a concern. Despite a 4-0 start, the Trojans' defense ranks 13th in the Big Ten in total defense (just behind Oregon), and they have allowed 47 explosive plays, the second-most among currently ranked AP teams. USC has been particularly poor on third down and surrendered 35 points to Rutgers last week as a heavy favorite. The Scarlet Knights amassed 27 first downs and 460 total yards, more than they gained against UMass in a season-opening loss.
"Listen, we're not going to take road wins for granted in this league," Riley said after Saturday's win. "They're all hard." However, USC's defense often makes games harder than necessary. Some questions about the unit will be answered against Oregon, but the defensive issues that have plagued Riley throughout his tenure remain a significant problem. When a coach wins only a quarter of his games against opponents that define the season, those issues are magnified. Riley needs this win against Oregon.
Originally reported by cbssports.