Oregon Starts Slow, Dominates USC And Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive With 56-24 Win

Statement made. After one quarter played in Los Angeles it looked like the Ducks would have their classic letdown game. But Oregon went on to score 21 unanswered points in the 2nd quarter and opened up the 2nd half with a 28-0 run to get a dominant 56-24 win over USC.

USC had a 9 play 74 yard drive to score a TD to cut Oregon’s lead to 21-17 just before the half. But on the ensuing kickoff true freshman Mykael Wright went untouched to the end zone and gave Oregon a 28-17 lead and all the momentum. The Ducks took their first possession of the 2nd half down the field and Justin Herbert hit Juwan Johnson for a 15 yard TD pass. Oregon was up 35-17 and never looked back.

Grad transfer wide receiver Juwan Johnson was expected to be an impact player immediately for the Ducks. But Johnson was injured the first four games, and only caught 6 passes for 100 yards in the 4 games he played since. But tonight he put everything together and looked like the dominant wide receiver Duck fans hoped for. Johnson caught 7 passes for 107 yards and 3 TDs and was virtually unguardable tonight.

Justin Herbert went 21/26 for 225 yards 3 TDs and 1 INT. Travis Dye was the leading rusher for the Ducks with 75 yards on 12 carries.

With the blowout win, the Ducks made a statement to the rest of the country that they indeed belong in the playoff conversation. Up next, they have a bye week before hosting Arizona on the 16th.