USC Hosts Oregon Saturday With Playoff Stakes on the Line
The short version
- USC (4-0) hosts Oregon Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
- Riley called the game important; QB Jayden Maiava said the team treats every week the same.
- Riley is 5-14 against AP Top 25 teams as USC coach.
- Oregon has won four straight over USC and six of the last seven meetings.
No. 4-0 USC meets Oregon at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday in Los Angeles, with quarterback Jayden Maiava downplaying any added significance to the matchup.
USC brings a 4-0 record into Saturday's home game against Oregon, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Los Angeles. The Trojans are coming off a performance against Rutgers that fell short of expectations, despite the unbeaten start to the season.
Coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged the stakes ahead of the top-25 matchup, per Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times. "It's definitely an important game," Riley said Tuesday. "There's no question about it."
Quarterback Jayden Maiava took a different view. "Eh, not really," Maiava said when asked about the game's importance. "We're just kind of attacking it the same every single week."
A win would boost USC's case for a playoff spot, something the program has never achieved. Riley has struggled in these spots, though, with a 5-14 record against AP Top 25 teams since taking over at USC.
The matchup marks the 65th meeting between the schools. USC leads the all-time series 38-24-2, but Oregon has won four straight, including a 42-27 victory last season, and six of the last seven. USC's most recent win in the series came in 2016 in Los Angeles.
