Oregon Ducks Football: Way-Too-Early Preview of Oregon vs. USC

The last time Oregon and USC met on the football field, USC was trying to pry themselves back towards national relevancy while the Ducks were seeking to contend for yet another BCS National Championship.

After a thrilling game in always-rowdy Autzen Stadium that saw the Ducks claw all the way back from a 24-point deficit, the Men of Troy emerged victorious with a 38-35 win—a win that came to be as Alejandro Maldonado missed what would have been a game-tying field goal in the final seconds. USC QB Matt Barkley threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns while Oregon RB Kenjon Barner led all rushers with 123 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. 

Since that day, a lot has happened. Oregon won their first Rose Bowl since 1917 and USC completed the postseason ban that was part of the NCAA sanctions they received. Both LaMichael James and Darron Thomas declared for the NFL Draft and Matt Barkley elected to play out his senior season at USC.

Although Oregon vs. USC 2011 was quite the contest, expect USC vs. Oregon 2012 to be even greater.

USC, now back in BCS contention, is currently ranked No. 2 in most polls while the Ducks are ranked fourth, making this a preemptive Game of the Century part two. Both teams are favorites to win their respective Pac-12 divisions while also being part of an elite group of teams considered talented enough to contend for a BCS National Championship.

Returning stars such as Matt Barkley (USC), Robert Woods (USC), Kenjon Barner (Oregon) and DeAnthony Thomas (Oregon) are sure to make this game a west coast showdown for the ages. 

In order to cure your deprivation of all things college football, here is a way-too-early preview of what should shape up to be the best game in the Pac-12 (and arguably the nation) this year: USC vs. Oregon 2012. 

Game Details

University of Southern California Trojans vs. the University of Oregon Ducks 

Date: Saturday, November 3rd 

Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - Los Angeles, California

Time: TBD

Broadcast: TBD (Although it is not far reaching to imagine a game of this magnitude making an appearance on ABC/ESPN for their Saturday showcase on College Gameday) 

USC vs. Oregon head-to-head: USC leads the series, posting a 37-18-2 record against the Ducks. Oregon has won eight of the last thirteen meetings while also laying claim to three of the past five as they jumped into the national spotlight.

Coaching Comparison

University of Oregon Head Coach - Chip Kelly

Chip is the definition of an offensive guru. From his days at New Hampshire all the way up to his Rose Bowl victory with the Ducks, this man has always demonstrated that he is the premiere offensive mind in college football. 

Building off of what former leaders of the Oregon Ducks have established, Kelly has forwarded the goals of the Ducks football program to have it as a national contender year-in and year-out. He has recruited the players that fit his team needs and built them into standout athletes and young men. 

Since taking over for Mike Bellotti at the start of the 2009 season, Kelly has accumulated an impressive 34-6 record overall with a 25-2 record in conference. He has taken the Ducks to three straight BCS appearances: the 2009 Rose Bowl (lost to Ohio State), the 2011 BCS National Championship (lost to Auburn) and the 2012 Rose Bowl (beat Wisconsin). 

Implementing the fastest-paced offense in the nation, Kelly uses the width of the field to torture his opponents. Using the speed of his athletes, Kelly is able to stretch the field and give his team a greater amount of space to play in. He takes the read-option play to a whole new level, incorporating a two-back set, pitches, passes and just about every twist you can think of—and some you can't.

Kelly is the epitome of an innovator. He has been immensely successful as a head coach and with a win over the Wisconsin Badgers in the Rose Bowl, has proven that he can win the big games. In three games against the Trojans, Kelly has accumulated two blowout wins while faltering this past season by three points.  

University of Southern California Head Coach - Lane Kiffin

Known primarily as one of the louder coaches in college football (in terms of activity with his peers and the media), Kiffin may be the opposite of what is a normally reserved Chip Kelly. Now in his third tour of duty with the Trojans, Kiffin is trying to establish a name for himself at USC outside the perimeter of "assistant".

Just like his predecessor Pete Carroll, Kiffin is an ecstatic, outgoing, player's coach. If Kelly is the epitome of an innovator, Kiffin is the epitome of a player's coach. Using his young age to his advantage, Kiffin has continued to bring top talent to USC despite recruiting sanctions imposed by the NCAA. 

During his two seasons as head coach of the Trojans, Kiffin has accumulated an 18-7 record with no bowl wins due to NCAA sanctions. In two games against the Ducks, Kiffin has been blown out at home 53-32 and beaten the Ducks at Autzen 38-35.

Also an offensive mind like his counterpart in this game, Kiffin relies more on the traditional attack for which USC has become well-known. He uses the power of his lines and backs to tire out defenses while using his talented quarterback to find open receivers when defenses believe they have figured his system out. 

USC Key Players

While football is one of the ultimate team sports, these players need to show up against the Oregon Ducks. 

Matt Barkley - QB

Surprising some by coming back to USC for his senior year, Barkley will be looking to make his impression on college football in 2012.

Against Oregon last year, Barkley threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns—an effort that he will likely have to replicate against the fast-paced Ducks. Barkley is an excellent passer. While his mobility may be questionable at times, his arm strength, accuracy and football IQ help him dissect any defense that presents itself to him. 

Robert Woods - WR

Aiding the Trojan air attack is standout receiver Robert Woods. Last year, Woods elevated his game and became one of the biggest playmakers in the nation. He is a dynamic receiver that always finds a way to exploit defensive weaknesses and will use his advantage over an Oregon coverage group that sometimes plays more for the interception than the pass breakup. 

Marqise Lee - WR

Yet another receiver on this list, Lee may be a close second to Woods in terms of talent. In fact, Lee absolutely torched the Ducks last season en route to 187 yards receiving and one touchdown.

Sure, the burden may rest on Woods to be the bigger playmaker, but Lee will once again be the coveted surprise the Trojans have in store for teams this year. By having both of these receivers on the field at the same time, the Trojans are able to spread out the defense and attack through other means as defensive players are keyed in on Woods and Lee. 

T.J. McDonald - S

One of the biggest playmakers on defense for the Trojans, McDonald will need to have a stellar effort against the Ducks in order for USC to reclaim glory. McDonald is part of a defensive unit that will return eight starters, him being one of the more potent of those eight.

Against Oregon, McDonald will be relied on heavily to use his ball-hawking mentality to cover both air attacks and Oregon's ground assault. If he is able to react quickly to the read option that Oregon runs and not get drawn in, McDonald may be one of the brighter defensive notes from this game. 

Oregon Key Players

The departure of LaMichael James and Darron Thomas has signaled the shift to a new era in Duck football. Here are the players that need to step up if the Ducks wish to take down the Trojans in Los Angeles.

Kenjon Barner - RB

With the departure of LaMichael James, Barner will finally get the opportunity to showcase his talents week-in and week-out on the national stage. While he has demonstrated that he can play the running back position, it will be interesting to see how Barner adopts to the role of the starter in a retooled Oregon offense.

Barner will need to show his outside ability and flexibility to catch the ball out of the backfield if he wants to give Oregon the chance to win.

DeAnthony Thomas - WR/RB (Taser)

In his true freshman season, DeAnthony Thomas did nothing but impress his constituents. This year, Oregon will look for him to step into a bigger role on offense as he will be one of the premiere players in college football.

Implemented in the taser role, Thomas will be relied upon to both carry out of the backfield and open up the field with his receiving capabilities against the Trojans. 

John Boyett - S

On the defensive side of the ball, Boyett will be one of the biggest keys to giving the Ducks a shot to win this game. A hard-hitting safety, Boyett is one of the better coverage players on Oregon's defense and will likely face his toughest test when he has to cover the likes of Robert Woods and Marqise Lee.

Limiting these two players would be huge for the Ducks. Yet, Boyett must also be prepared to step up in the defense to stop the run when Oregon deems it necessary.

Dion Jordan - DL

Key to whether or not Oregon can stop the Trojans offensive attack will be whether or not they can get into the backfield to disrupt the play from the start. The key player for Oregon in this regard will likely be Dion Jordan.

Originally recruited as a tight end, Jordan has excelled on the defensive side of the ball. Along with fellow lineman Ricky Heimuli, Jordan will be relied upon to disrupt the Trojans before their play even starts. If Jordan can get into the backfield and limit the amount of time Barkley has to find receivers, the Oregon Ducks will have an easier time finding a way to beat the Trojans. 

USC Key to the Game

Can USC stop the Oregon offensive attack and limit the Barner/Thomas duo?

There is no question that this game will feature not only two of the premiere offenses in college football, but also two of the premiere teams. Whoever wins this game will need to stop the offensive onslaught from occurring for at least a drive or two.

For USC, this will be their main key to the game, especially in terms of stopping Kenjon Barner and DeAnthony Thomas.

As is known, Oregon is heading into this season with uncertainty surrounding their quarterback position. Though both Mariota and Bennett are talented athletes, both will rely heavily on the services of Barner and Thomas. 

By eliminating the threat of Barner and Thomas, the Ducks will have to look towards a more youthful movement to carry the load in what is surely to be a rowdy Los Angeles Coliseum. In order to accomplish this, USC must be willing to risk exposing their defense at first. They need to target Barner and Thomas at the start of the game and force the Ducks to try and spread out the attack to their other offensive players. 

By attacking Barner and Thomas, USC will be able to use their defensive might to find a way to slow down the Oregon attack, thus giving them the opportunity to win the game. 

Oregon Key to the Game

Can the Ducks survive the road with their youthful roster?

One of the reasons Oregon has received quite a bit of flack this year is for their relatively easy schedule. The Ducks play Arkansas State, Fresno State and Tennessee Tech out of conference while having their first four games at home. In total, the Ducks play seven games within the confines of Autzen Stadium and five on the road. 

Prior to their November 3rd match with USC, Oregon will have only played at Washington State and at Arizona State. Though those teams and fans will surely be gunning to take down the three-time reigning Pac-12 champions, Oregon's trip to Los Angeles will likely be its first true road test. 

Despite having several returning players, Oregon is still a relatively young team. As with all relatively young teams, an atmosphere such as the Coliseum is always going to be intimidating. Though we can assure ourselves that Chip will have coached his players to the best of his abilities, there is nothing that can really prepare you for the atmosphere of the intense and crucial matchup this is already shaping up to be. 

Whether it be Marcus Mariota or Bryan Bennett leading the Oregon offense, they will need to remain calm and collected as Oregon faces the raucous atmosphere of USC. By keeping composure, they can play to the best of their abilities, ultimately silencing a crowd that will be looking for blood. 

USC Uniform

Don't expect USC to be bringing out their inner-Oregon in terms of uniform style when they play the Ducks. Expect them to break out their classic look as they try to prove that they are once again the traditional college football powerhouse they used to be. 

Oregon Uniform

Last time they visited USC, Oregon broke out their "stormtooper" look and blew past the Trojans. Expect them to repeat their uniform combination this time around with perhaps a little wrinkle.

There is perhaps not a cleaner, more intimidating road uniform set than the Oregon Ducks' all-white combination. It brings a nice simplicity to what is generally a complicated outfit and team. 

However, as with all things Oregon, expect there to be a slight difference in their kits for this game. Perhaps it will be a green accent instead of grey? Will this be the game they showcase their newest uniform design?

After all, it has been four years since their new ones. This year signals the next cycle of unis.

Prediction

Though this will be one of the best games to watch in college football this year, there will ultimately be one winner and one loser.

Fortunately for the Ducks, I am predicting them to go into Los Angeles and beat a talented USC team. Though some may question their quarterback situation, both are extremely talented players and gifted athletes, allowing whoever steps into the role to take charge and lead the Oregon attack down the field.

I also believe that the Ducks will win in Los Angeles because of their defense. Returning players coupled with young and new talent will make this one of the better Oregon defenses in quite some time. 

USC will not go down without a fight, however. The Trojans will exploit the Ducks' talented defense through the air as Barkley keys on both Woods and Lee. This strategy will ultimately fail, however, once the Ducks figure out the USC system and stop their attack, thus allowing Oregon to suck the life out of the Coliseum en route to a huge win. 

A Final Thought

A reminder to all fans: this is an extremely early analysis of Oregon vs. USC 2012.

By the time the game arrives, who knows what could happen. Key players could be lost, different starters may emerge, etc. Heck, these two teams could even arrive at this game without having won a single game (though to be completely honest there is not a single chance of this happening). 

Point is, virtually anything can happen between now and game time on November 3rd.

Despite all the uncertainties surrounding what could happen, one thing is for certain: this game is shaping up to be an instant classic.