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LOS ANGELES — Forget the Big Ten hype about Lincoln Riley versus Dan Lanning. The Oregon-USC heavyweight clash boils down to one brutal, simple truth: Oregon’s playoff hopes live or die with its defensive front four this week at the Coliseum.
These 2026 Ducks won’t see another cupcake shutout on the level of Friday’s 84-0 shellacking of winless FCS Portland State. And the trouble is, PSU wasn’t the only game so far Oregon would’ve won big if Lanning’s squad is built to go the distance.
On Saturday, Oregon’s defense will face the nation’s passing leader, USC’s Jayden Maiava (1,173 yards, 12 TDs, 75.7 percent passing after wins over San Jose State, Fresno State, Louisiana, and Rutgers).
USC’s rushing leader King Miller is averaging 84.5 rush yards through four games, and the Trojans’ ground attack blistered Rutgers for 6.7 yards per carry last week.
The first obstacle between Oregon the College Football Playoff is its own defense living up to the championship standard Ducks Nation bought into since the day Lanning was hired five years ago.
More on reality checks awaiting Oregon in LA on Saturday:
