USC vs. Oregon live updates: Trojans, Ducks battle in Big Ten showdown with College Football Playoff stakes

Early 3Q: Oregon 28, USC 14

Facing a fourth-and-10 from Oregon's 46-yard line, Lincoln Riley opted to play it bold and go for it. Why not, right? This is a must-win game for USC's playoff hopes, and with a struggling defense, there is little hope to be found in playing things cautiously. Ultimately, it didn't work out. Jayden Maiava was intercepted by Jadon Canady, returning the football to Oregon. The Trojans forced a turnover on downs on the Ducks' first possession of the third quarter. But if USC wants to have any hope, it needs its defense to stack strong possessions, which it hasn't shown the ability to do yet.

USC's offense is doing its part in this top-15 showdown between College Football Playoff hopefuls. However, its defense and special teams have dropped the ball. If the Trojans are going to get back into the game, they'll need to get the same type of momentum-shifting plays from those units that Oregon used to build a 14-point halftime lead. Whether it's a kick/punt return for a touchdown, a big interception or something of the like, the Trojans are going to need some big breaks. With USC struggling against the run defensively, the Ducks have a clear path to potentially putting this game away.

Half: Oregon 28, USC 14

Jayden Maiava found Tanook Hines for a 51-yard gain to get USC's two-minute drill started with a bang. But the Ducks' defense stiffened from there to force a 27-yard field goal attempt from Ryon Sayeri in the waning seconds of the first half. It clanged off the right upright to send the Trojans into the half empty-handed. That was a brutal end to the half for USC, which played well offensively for the most part.

Defense was another story for the Trojans, who surrendered touchdowns on three of Oregon's four possessions in the first half. They appeared to have created another stop until USC was called for leaping on a missed Oregon field goal attempt. That call resulted in new life for the Ducks, who capitalized by scoring a touchdown. Between that call and USC's missed field goal to end the half, that's a 10-point swing.

1:52 2Q: Oregon 28, USC 14

Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher took a direct snap in a unique formation and surged up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run to cap a strange, penalty-filled sequence that results in Oregon taking a 14-point lead. That score puts a ton of pressure on USC's offense to produce puts in a 2-minute situation to close the first half. With Oregon getting the football to start the second half, the Trojans need to capitalize before the break.

Following Ify Obidegwu's interception, USC receiver Ja'Kobi Lane was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty as he attempted to retrieve the football from Oregon's sideline. That was just the start of a penalty-filled sequence late in the first half. 

Malik Benson made a 30-yard grab to set Oregon up inside the USC 10-yard line. However, he was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct after taunting USC DB Marcelles Williams following the catch. That backed the Ducks up. Then a rare offensive facemask penalty on Ducks offensive lineman Alex Harkey backed Oregon up again. Eventually, the Ducks settled for a long field — only for USC to be called for a leaping violation on the kick, resulting in an automatic first down for Oregon. 

Following Malik Benson's punt return for a touchdown, issues have continued compounding for USC. First, a bad shotgun snap from the backup center put the Trojans in a third-and-long. Jayden Maiava was subsequently picked off. Now Oregon has great field position and a 7-point lead. The Ducks also get the football to start the third quarter. This is the danger zone for USC.

9:58 2Q: Oregon 21, USC 14

Oregon just got an 85-yard punt return touchdown from Malik Benson to surge ahead 21-14. It was a line drive kick, and Benson went untouched down the left sideline with it. Benson had just four career punt returns entering the day, but he looked like a veteran of the gig on that one as he used his breakaway speed to produce a huge special teams touchdown.

USC center Killian O'Connor is done for the day, per CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell. That is just the latest blow for the Trojans' offensive line. It's been a series of shifts and injuries up front, and his loss will be a big one. The status of Oregon center Iapani Laloulu remains uncertain after he also went down with injury in the first quarter.

14:47 2Q: USC 14, Oregon 14

Lincoln Riley dipped into the bag of trick plays to open the second quarter. The result? A touchdown pass from receiver Makai Lemon to Tanook Hines, who made an awesome grab just inside the pylon. Lemon did a great job on the initial lateral from Jayden Maiava of selling the run before letting the ball fly before reaching the line of scrimmage. That capped an impressive response from the Trojans.

End 1Q: Oregon 14, USC 7

Oregon's offense started hot in the first quarter with a pair of touchdown drives. However, the Ducks' secondary is getting its biggest test of the season against a USC passing attack highlighted by star receivers Ja'Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon. Both have three receptions, and Jayden Maiava is off to an 8-of-12 start through the air. The Trojans are driving to start the second quarter after putting together an effective touchdown drive to begin the game. Given the poor start for USC's defense, the Trojans can ill-afford many empty possessions in this game.

Late 1Q: Oregon 14, USC 7

Oregon is having its way early on against USC's defense. Even after an injury to center Iapani Laloulu, the Ducks kept marching with a beautiful run/pass balance. The finisher was an 8-yard connection between Dante Moore and Kenyon Sadiq in the back of the end zone. With the Ducks dealing with a rash of receiver injuries, Sadiq was lined up in the slot. He took off over the middle and Moore found him to give the Ducks their first lead.

Oregon receiver Jeremiah McClellan is dealing with an apparent shoulder injury, which is bad news for a Ducks team already grappling with a depleted receiver corps. USC center Kilian O'Connor also went down on the Trojans' second possession with an injury. That's significant as Southern Cal is already grappling with a litany of injuries along the offensive line. Both offenses are being hit where it hurts early on.

Mid 1Q: Oregon 7, USC 7

Oregon saw USC's impressive opening touchdown drive and responded right back with one of its own. Malik Benson broke a 24-yard run to get things started before a quick-hit pass from Dante Moore to Jeremiah McClellan moved the Ducks into the red zone. Jordon Davison finished it off with an 11-yard touchdown run on a misdirection pitch play. USC's defense looked non-competitive in that series as Oregon OC Will Stein carved up the Trojans for a quick score to even things up.

9:54 1Q: USC 7, Oregon 0

Jayden Maiava is off to a hot start. He just connected with Makai Lemon in the flat for an 8-yard touchdown throw. Maiava threw a beautiful ball to Ja'Kobi Lane down the left sideline for a gain of 27 yards to keep USC from going three-and-out on its first possession. The play jumpstarted an excellent opening possession for the Trojans, who were also bailed out at one point by an illegal substitution penalty on the Ducks, which helped turn a third-and-7 into a third-and-2. That was a statement start from USC, which opted to take the football first after winning the coin toss.

Saturday's Big Ten clash between No. 15 USC and No. 7 Oregon on CBS (and streaming on Paramount+ Premium) is already shaping up to be a battle -- and injuries are adding up for both sides. According to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, the Ducks will be without two of their top playmakers at wide receiver: star freshman Dakorien Moore (knee) and Gary Bryant Jr. (ankle). The duo missed the previous two games with Malik Benson and tight end Kenyon Sadiq seeing an increase in targets as a result.

The Trojans aren't exactly in the clear either. Standout safety Bishop Fitzgerald, who is tied for an FBS-leading five interceptions, is expected to be out, per Zenitz. Fellow safety Kamari Ramsey and left tackle Elijah Paige are also doubtful, leaving USC with several key holes to fill on both sides of the ball in a game that has major College Football Playoff implications for both teams.

Oregon (+23.0) and USC (+16.5) also rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring margin. But the Trojans have struggled away from home, posting just a +2.0 average margin in true road games (32nd in the FBS). While Lincoln Riley has picked up two Big Ten road wins this season — at Nebraska and Purdue — he is only 2-6 in road games outside California since USC joined the conference last year.

Oregon (39.0 points per game) and USC (38.2) both boast top-10 scoring attacks. First-year starting quarterback Dante Moore has shown poise in key moments, but the Ducks lean on a deep backfield that averages 6.31 yards per carry against FBS opponents, best in the nation. For the Trojans, walk-on running back King Miller provides a spark, but the star remains wideout Makai Lemon, one of only three FBS players to reach 1,000 receiving yards this season.

Oregon would make the 12-team CFP bracket if it started today, but USC still has work to do at No. 13 in the committee's latest rankings. A win would give the Trojans a major résumé boost heading into their regular-season finale against crosstown rival UCLA. For the Ducks, a loss could be damaging — even with just two defeats — because they lack a win over any team currently in the CFP rankings.

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava is not currently in the Heisman Trophy conversation like Caleb Williams was in 2022, but what he has done is been one of the most productive and effective quarterbacks in the country. USC ranks 2nd nationally in yards per play (7.43) and 10th in scoring offense, averaging 38.2 points per game. 

Lincoln Riley bet big on Jayden Maiava -- and it's paying off with USC in College Football Playoff contention

Chip Patterson

Saturday's showdown between No. 15 USC (8-2) and No. 7 Oregon (9-1) gives B1G Time on CBS a West Coast collision with major College Football Playoff stakes. With both teams fighting to stay in the hunt for a spot in the 12-team bracket, the stage delivers the essence of late-November football.

Oregon has rattled off four straight wins since its October loss to Indiana, while Lincoln Riley and the Trojans are on a surge of their own, winning four consecutive Big Ten games for the first time. USC is coming off a gritty win over Iowa in the rare Los Angeles rain, but the program has just one victory at Autzen Stadium in its last five trips dating to 2007.

Both teams are long known for high-powered offenses, but the shift into the Big Ten has added a tougher edge. What once felt like a track meet could now play more like a bruising battle, with two of the nation's most efficient rushing attacks driving the matchup. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming live on Paramount+.

Talent acquisition on the West Coast almost always starts and ends with two schools, Oregon and USC. The recruiting powerhouses pump out pro prospects on an annual basis, and they are stacked once again in 2025, accounting for 12 of the top 100 players in Mike Renner's NFL prospect rankings. Here are the 12 most prominent NFL prospects who will take the stage this week on CBS.

USC vs. Oregon features 12 players in top 100 NFL Draft prospect rankings including Dante Moore, Makai Lemon

Carter Bahns

It goes without saying that the team that comes out on top will get the most from its top offensive stars. For Oregon, that means big contributions from Noah Whittington and Kenyon Sadiq — especially if Dante Moore and Gary Bryant Jr. remain sidelined. Whittington averages an eye-popping 8.2 yards per carry, third-most among FBS players with at least 60 attempts, a major challenge for a USC defense that has struggled against the run at times. The Ducks' clearest path to victory is simple: sustain long drives and keep USC's passing attack off the field. Pick: Oregon -10.5