Gatorade showers never get old@oregonfootball | @coach_cristobal pic.twitter.com/XTYBTal0uz
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 19, 2020
USC vs. Oregon score, takeaways: Ducks upset No. 13 Trojans to claim second straight Pac-12 title
Oregon may not have won its own division, but it managed to defend its conference title from 2019
The journey to get there was wildly unconventional, but Oregon captured its second straight Pac-12 championship on Friday night by withstanding another late rally from USC to win 31-24. USC entered 5-0 with a trio of last-minute victories to its credit, but the Trojans could never quite climb out of an early 14-0 hole, despite another late comeback effort.
USC had the football trailing by seven late in the fourth quarter, but Kedon Slovis' third interception of the night proved to be a costly one. As the USC quarterback scrambled out of the pocket to evade pressure with less than three minutes left, he made an ill-advised throw down the sideline in Oregon territory instead of just throwing the football away. The attempted heroics backfired when Oregon's Jamal Hill managed to control the ball and tap his toes for an interception after bobbling the football initially.
THE TOE TAP 😱@oregonfootball comes up with the huge INT late in the Pac-12 Championship Game pic.twitter.com/O2YlTsuwFH
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 19, 2020
Then, with Boston College transfer Anthony Brown in at quarterback, Oregon got a first down, which allowed the Ducks to run the clock down under a minute before punting it back to USC. But the Trojans' last-gasp effort with no timeouts yielded no results.
This was the conference title matchup that was predicted in the league's preseason media poll. But Oregon was not actually supposed to be here. Rather, Washington (3-1) was supposed to represent the Pac-12 North in the title game. However, second-place Oregon got the nod when the Huskies encountered COVID-19 issues that prevented them from playing.
The Ducks rose to No. 9 in the AP Top 25 poll during a 3-0 start before consecutive losses to Oregon State and Cal in recent weeks ended their chances of making any noise on the national scene. However, Oregon appeared to have put the woes of those defeats far in the past as it came out blazing on Friday. The Ducks picked off Slovis twice in the first quarter to set up a pair of touchdowns as the Ducks took a 14-0 lead.
Though USC battled back within a touchdown three times, the Trojans could never get any closer. After an abbreviated season of late-game heroics, their clutch magic finally ran out.
Ducks' depth at QB a factor
Brown had not played in the Ducks' first five games entering Friday night, but he entered and attempted his first pass in a big moment in the first quarter. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir set Oregon up inside USC's 10-yard-line with an interception on USC's first series. The Ducks faced a third-and-goal when Brown checked in for starting quarterback Tyler Shough and hit Jaylon Redd for a touchdown to put Oregon up 7-0. Brown also threw a short touchdown pass in the third quarter to put Oregon up 28-14, capping a 14-play drive. Though Brown attempted just four passes compared to Shough's 15, his presence as a second quarterback in the game was effective and something the Trojans had not seen on tape.
It wasn't the only time an Oregon backup quarterback made an impact. Cale Millen, a redshirt freshman who is not listed as one of the Ducks' top three quarterbacks, played on special teams and made a tackle in kickoff coverage during the second quarter.
Thibodeaux shines
Oregon sophomore defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux won the game's MVP award. He came up huge late in the third quarter after USC recovered an onside kick while trailing 28-17. It appeared the Trojans had stolen the game's momentum with the bold special teams play. But then Thibodeaux sacked Slovis for a nine-yard loss on third down to force a USC punt and swing control of the game back in Oregon's favor. Thibodeaux finished with five total tackles and also had a pass breakup while consistently getting pressure in Slovis' face. He's going to be a major factor in 2021 and among the top defensive players in the country.
Live updates
Well, it was a weird Pac-12 season. But that was a legitimately great game. USC will feel like it should have run. I go back to Oregon's drive to begin the third quarter. Ate half the quarter clock and put Oregon up 28-14. Big moment for the Oregon offense, which to that point had only scored on short fields.
🦆😂 @oregonfootball trips up USC in the @pac12 Championship Game to spoil their undefeated season pic.twitter.com/vDOKPTS50k
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 19, 2020
Back to back.@OregonFootball is once again, Pac-12 Champions. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/UuEjvbh7nD
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) December 19, 2020
FINAL: Oregon 31, USC 24
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) December 19, 2020
USC suffers its first loss of the season.#FightOn pic.twitter.com/YhJqEK8ebX
BACK-TO-BACK PAC-12 CHAMPIONS! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/xpskrfdI3i
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 19, 2020
SCO DUCKS!@oregonfootball wins their second-straight @pac12 title 🦆🙌 pic.twitter.com/7BwVdJXLxu
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 19, 2020
Unbelievable play by 1️⃣9️⃣ 🤯@rocket3power’s second INT of the game is a HUGE one. Ducks trying to put this one away... #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/oXwR8bqIvT
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 19, 2020
Time for the fourth quarter t-shirt toss presented by @JerseyMikes!
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) December 19, 2020
Follow @JerseyMikes and reply with a #FightOn to enter!#FightOn | #BeatTheDucks pic.twitter.com/ALuCF0x6su
THE TOE TAP 😱@oregonfootball comes up with the huge INT late in the Pac-12 Championship Game pic.twitter.com/O2YlTsuwFH
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 19, 2020
JAMAL HILL! INTERCEPTION!#GoDucks x @rocket3power pic.twitter.com/S9HnE03hKK
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 19, 2020
Kedon Slovis nearly throws an interception after scrambling to evade pressure. Should have thrown it away, but Jamal Hill was there on the sideline to try and pick. They're going to review it to make sure he didn't get a foot down.
USC is driving with a chance to tie it. Oregon has no answer for the Trojans' physical receivers. Under three mins left...
TOUCHDOWN!!!@Kedonslovis ➡️ @buhbuhbru
— USC Football (@USC_FB) December 19, 2020
📺 FOX#Pac12Championship#FightOn✌️ pic.twitter.com/WIFme4DwHJ
Here we go again...#Pac12Championship
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 19, 2020
Three-and-out for Oregon, and USC will get the football back down 31-24 with under five minutes to go. Ducks fortunate they're getting to punt this one after Shough threw up a jump-ball on third down that fell incomplete.
Up seven with 6:16 to play.
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 19, 2020
Let's finish this, Ducks. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/vzzTEAMOhP
I wrote about USC at @FOXSports last month. And USC is right on time again.
— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) December 19, 2020
"I did not see any panic. I saw immense poise on the sidelines from our staff and players and just looking for the next opportunity.”
—Clay Helton after beating Arizona Statehttps://t.co/V1cg0ugnmF
The Trojans won't go away!@USC_FB converts on 4th and goal to cut it to a 7-point game ✌️ pic.twitter.com/4k3BbONOKT
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 19, 2020
The magic is real. USC just won't go away. Trojans convert on fourth down twice (Slovis to McCoy both times) and score to draw within 31-24 with 6:16 remaining.
TROJAN TOUCHDOWN!@buhbuhbru gets in to make it a 7-point game.#FightOn | #BeatTheDucks pic.twitter.com/Og2eZN3m3P
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) December 19, 2020
Huge blow for USC's comeback effort.
#Trojans WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is on the sidelines, helmet off, holding his left hand/wrist, as he watches this drive. He appears to not be coming back.
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) December 19, 2020
Wow, what a huge fourth down conversion. USC was on the ropes but Slovis finds Bru McCoy for 28 yards to the Oregon 20. 31-17 Oregon with 8:13 left.
Alright, what does USC have up its sleeve here. Trojans in Oregon territory trailing 31-17 with under 9 minutes to go. Do they have one more comeback in them?
Fight 'til the finish.#FightOn | #BeatTheDucks pic.twitter.com/RBvvtysTxD
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) December 19, 2020
40-yard FG attempt by Henry Katleman is up and GOOD!
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 19, 2020
Ducks lead 31-17 with 10:26 remaining.#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/VpUxF9Tb0m
USC either scored or got to scoring position on four of its last five drives (one ended in a missed FG) before the punt after the onside kick. Huge stand by Oregon's defense.
The torch is lit.
— USC Football (@USC_FB) December 19, 2020
The championship is on the line.
It comes down to this.
Bring on Q4. #Pac12Championship #FightOn✌️ pic.twitter.com/LCKRkhzBW2
CHIRP CHIRP @BallStateFB hands Buffalo its first loss of the season and wins the @MACSports Championship Game 🔥🏆 pic.twitter.com/NkxKWfWsLe
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 19, 2020
Time to finish. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/jva9b9sJIX
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) December 19, 2020