Oregon and USC meet Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a Big Ten matchup that could put the loser’s College Football Playoff hopes in jeopardy. With difficult games ahead for both, another defeat may leave little room to recover.
Oregon opened with a win over Boise State but then lost to Oklahoma State. Its schedule still includes Illinois and Ohio State on the road, plus Michigan. The Ducks have won their past four meetings with USC; the article says a loss Saturday followed by another defeat, such as to Ohio State, could imperil Oregon’s playoff bid.
USC struggled at Rutgers last week. In its next five games after Oregon, it faces Washington, travels to Penn State and Wisconsin, hosts Ohio State, then visits Indiana. The article says USC could absorb one or two losses in that stretch, but an Oregon defeat could be its third; a win would also give the Trojans a chance to make a statement.
