USC’s College Football Playoff hopes shattered in loss to Oregon

EUGENE, Oregon — The last time he arrived here, on the cusp of the College Football Playoff, Lincoln Riley could only watch USC’s hopes slip away with a single hamstring pull. Without its healthy Heisman-winning quarterback, USC failed painfully, forced to wonder what could have been.

It would take Riley nearly three years — and plenty of ups and downs — to return to the same place, only this time to see the door shut by No. 7 Oregon in a 42-27 loss that all but eliminated the Trojans’ hopes of a first-ever playoff invitation.

USC will once again settle for a second-tier bowl game, while the Ducks will likely be one of three Big Ten teams to host a playoff game.

It wasn’t an injury or an uncontrollable act that doomed them this time, but rather a series of disciplinary errors that occurred at the worst possible time.

An extraordinary number of mistakes were made by USC’s kicking and punt teams, where the Trojans looked somewhat improved this season. But that no longer seemed the case Saturday, as USC collapsed on special teams, putting its offense in a hole too deep to climb out of.

The Trojans’ defense certainly didn’t help matters, despite being confident it had solved its problems during three standout second-half performances. Against Oregon (10-1), however, that progress was hard to spot, as USC (8-3) gave up 436 yards, just shy of its worst mark of the season.

The defeat was not due to the lack of effort of his fleeting attack. After a questionable performance on the road in each of USC’s first four trips, quarterback Jayden Maiava made big throws to key the Trojans’ offense. Seven of his 25 completions went for 15 yards or more. He finished with 306 yards and three touchdowns.

Maiava was not without mistakes. He was intercepted twice for the second time in four weeks and missed some key throws. But the junior quarterback kept USC’s offense alive for the most part while its rushing attack struggled to move the ball.

King Miller has been outstanding in the five weeks since he took a primary role in the USC backfield. But the Trojan was completely neutralized by Oregon’s strong defensive front. He rushed for just 30 yards, with the longest of his 15 runs lasting just five yards. The Trojans only managed 52 yards on the ground.

After USC coaches reiterated all week the importance of starting fast, the offense wasted no time in making an opening statement. On its first drive, USC drove down the field and converted to a third down before Makai Lemon caught a swing pass and sprinted eight yards to the end zone.

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon attempts to block Oregon defensive backs Dillon Thieneman (31) and Jadon Canady, right, during the first half Saturday.

(Lydia Ely/Associated Press)

The momentum lasted a few minutes. Oregon needed just six plays to overturn USC’s defense and get into the end zone, the fifth straight game the Trojans have allowed an opening score. The Ducks didn’t encounter much resistance on their next possession either. It only took two third downs in two drives for Oregon to take a two-touchdown lead.

While its running game struggled to find room, big passing plays kept USC afloat early on. Maiava completed six passes of 15 yards or more in the first 20 minutes.

Early in the second quarter, Maiava found Lemon on a swing pass in the backfield, only for Lemon to throw downfield again on a double pass. Waiting for the pass was freshman Tanook Hines, who leapt for an acrobatic 24-yard touchdown in traffic.

The fireworks didn’t stop there, as both defenses struggled to contain themselves. But the Ducks were able to take advantage of several USC special teams mistakes; the most egregious came on a punt in the second quarter, as Oregon’s Malik Benson sprinted untouched by Trojan defenders 85 yards for a score.

The mishaps snowballed for USC. A jumping penalty on linebacker Desman Stephens turned a missed Oregon field goal into a touchdown. USC then drove to the 10-yard line with seconds left in the half, only for kicker Ryon Sayeri to nail a 27-yard field goal attempt off the goal post.

A third-quarter interception by Kennedy Urlacher, one of USC’s two reserves starting at safety, gave the Trojans some life after halftime.

But there would be no solid posturing from USC’s defense in the second half, as it has over the past three weeks. His electric offense couldn’t turn back the clock either.

As the final seconds ticked away on Saturday, it was only a realization that once again his hopes of a special season had been dashed on the doorstep.