Oregon vs. No. 13 USC Inside the Numbers Pac-12 Championship Preview
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
As 2020 has presented unusual circumstances, so holds true for the 2020 Pac-12 Championship Game with the Oregon Ducks filling in for the Washington Huskies out of the North Division to take on South winner the USC Trojans. The showdown for the trophy also serves as a revenge game for the Trojans after suffering a 56-24 loss to then-No. 7 Oregon a year ago.
Oregon’s unconventional ride to Friday night’s championship game in Los Angeles serves from a season with twist and turns. The Ducks started out hot climbing to No. 11 in the AP Rankings with a 3-0 record but then lost back-to-back road games to Oregon State and California. Although a late addition to the game, Oregon has had two weeks to rest up and get everyone back on the field.
The Trojans have been kings of the college football thriller in 2020 winning three of their five games by a score or less. To open the season, USC got last second scores to top Arizona State (28-27) and Arizona (34-30) to build up the momentum. That trend held true last week when quarterback Kedon Slovis found Amon-Ra St. Brown with 16 seconds left for an 8-yard touchdown securing a 43-38 win.
Inside the Showdown
The game features two of the conference’s best quarterbacks in Kedon Slovis and Tyler Shough. One-two atop the Pac-12 in passing yards, each will stretch the opposition’s defense with key targets. The trio of Tyler Vaughns, Drake London, and St. Brown for USC are hard to beat. The combo combined for 298 yards, 23 receptions, and all five of the team’s receiving touchdowns against the Bruins. The sledgehammer out of the backfield for USC is Vavae Malepeai. Malepeai took the rock 19 times against UCLA for 110 yards with a score.
Last time out, Shough wasn’t on his game connecting on just 14 of 26 for 231 yards with one touchdown in the 21-17 loss to Cal. When things are rocking, he has a deep receiving corps with Jaylon Reed, Johnny Johnson III, and Mycah Pittman. The offensive juggernaut is scatback Travis Dye. Dye leads the team in rushing yards (336) and receiving touchdowns (3).
Oregon (3-2) vs. No. 13 USC (5-0)
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET – Friday, Dec. 18
TV: FOX
Spread: USC -3.0
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Inside the Numbers Breakdown
Strength of Schedule: 43rd
USC Strength of Schedule: 42nd
Offensive Breakdown
UO Points Per Game: 34.2
USC Points Per Game: 35.20
UO Rushing Yards Per Game: 189.2
USC Rushing Yards Per Game: 109.2
UO Passing Yards Per Game: 277.8
USC Passing Yards Per Game: 319.2
UO Total Offense: 467.0
USC Total Offense: 428.4
UO Third Down Conversion Percentage: 27-55 – 49 percent
USC Third Down Conversion Percentage: 34-74 – 45.95 – percent
UO Red Zone Offense: 20-24 – 83 percent
USC Red Zone Offense: 24-30 – 19 touchdowns
Oregon Key Offensive Players
RB Travis Dye: 45 carries for 336 yards, 1 TD
RB CJ Verdell: 64 carries for 285 yards, 3 TDs
QB Tyler Shough: 91-143-4 for 1,389 yards, 11 TDs; 256 rush yards, 2 TDs
SB Jaylon Redd: 20 rec. for 235 yards
WR Johnny Johnson III: 14 rec. for 203 yards, 2 TDs
WR Devon Williams: 13 rec. for 264 yards, 2 TDs
USC Key Offensive Players
RB Vavae Malepeai: 54 carries for 238 yards, 3 TDs
RB Markese Stepp: 32 carries for 140 yards, 2 TDs
QB Kedon Slovis: 149-212-4 for 1,601 yards, 15 TDs
WR Drake London: 25 rec. for 427 yards, 3 TDs
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: 36 rec. for 404 yards, 6 TDs
WR Tyler Vaughns: 31 rec. for 382 yards, 3 TDs
Defensive Breakdown
UO Total Defense: 419.8
USC Total Defense: 395.0
UO Points Allowed Per Game: 28.0
USC Points Allowed Per Game: 25.0
UO Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 235.6
USC Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 238.0
UO Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 184.2
USC Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 157.0
UO Defensive Third Down Conversion: 32-82 – 39 percent
USC Defensive Third Down Conversion: 26-66 – 39.39 percent
UO Red Zone Defense: 18-21 – 86 percent – 14 touchdowns
USC Red Zone Defense: 11-12 – 7 touchdowns
Oregon Key Defensive Players
ILB Slade-Matautia: 33 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 3 QB hurries, and 3 PBU
ILB Noah Sewell: 32 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, and 1 FF
DE KayvonThibodeaux: 27 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 PBU, and 2 QB hurries
USC Key Defensive Players
DB Talanoa Hufanga: 50 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, 4 INTs, and 2 FF
ILB Ralen Goforth: 32 tackles, 3 TFL, and 2 PBU
DB Isaiah Pola-Mao: 30 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PBU, and 3 FR
DL Nick Figueroa: 17 tackles and 3.5 TFL
Photo credit: USC Trojans