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Oregon Football: 3 takeaways from blowout win over USC in Week 10

By Connor Muldowney

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 02: Juwan Johnson #6 of the Oregon Ducks reacts after his touchdown catch, to take a 42-17 lead over the USC Trojans, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 02: Juwan Johnson #6 of the Oregon Ducks reacts after his touchdown catch, to take a 42-17 lead over the USC Trojans, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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In what was expected to be one of the best games of the week, Oregon football picked up a big win over USC in Los Angeles.

There were two obstacles left on the schedule that were destined to make Oregon sweat before making a push for a playoff spot and the Ducks overcame one on Saturday at USC.

USC was no match for Oregon as the Ducks turned a 10-point first-quarter deficit into an 11-point halftime lead and then never looked back. If this doesn’t impress the playoff committee come Tuesday when the first rankings come out, I don’t know what will.

What’d we learn from the Ducks’ win over USC?

3. Defense and special teams flipped momentum

USC took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and it looked like Oregon was a deer in headlights. Nothing could go right for the Ducks and the Trojans were taking advantage of the electric atmosphere and a hot start. Then the second quarter started.

Oregon scored two straight touchdowns to take a 14-10 lead right before halftime and then Kedon Slovis was picked off and it was returned for a touchdown for the Ducks to make it a 21-10 advantage and it looked like the game was about to get out of hand. The Trojans surprisingly bounced back and scored a touchdown, completely flipping momentum, with 20 seconds left in the first half.

And then the Ducks returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to take a 28-17 lead into halftime. That was all Oregon needed.

Defense stepped up all game, picking Slovis off three times and holding the USC offense in check while special teams stepped up with that huge first-half touchdown return.

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