Rewinding No. 6 Oregon Ducks’ 36-27 win vs. USC Trojans: Live updates recap (2024)

Bo Nix threw for 412 yards and four touchdowns and the sixth-ranked Oregon Ducks withstood a late rally to beat the USC Trojans 36-27 on Saturday night at Autzen Stadium.

The Ducks led 36-14 after Bucky Irving’s 19-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

But Caleb Williams and the Trojans (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12) rallied with two touchdown drives in the final quarter. Oregon recovered USC’s onside kick attempt, though, and the Ducks (9-1, 6-1) drained the clock from there.

Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, finished 19 of 34 for 291 yards and a touchdown pass to Brenden Rice, who had five catches for 81 yards. Williams also rushed for a TD.

The top-flight quarterbacks provided a show for the 59,957 on hand in Eugene, though Nix had the better performance.

Tez Johnson caught seven passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns for the Ducks.

Nix connected for long touchdowns of 77 yards to Johnson and 84 yards to Troy Franklin in the first quarter. A 15-yard scoring pass to Terrance Ferguson and a Camden Lewis field goal put the Ducks up 22-7 late in the second quarter, but Williams’ 2-yard TD run narrowed the gap to 22-14 at halftime.

Nix and Johnson hooked up for a 21-yard touchdown midway through the third for the only points of that quarter.

Evan Williams led the UO defense with nine total tackles, including one of the Ducks’ three sacks, and also broke up a pass, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.

The Ducks next travel to Arizona State (3-7, 2-5) before wrapping up the regular season at home against rival Oregon State (8-2, 5-2) on Friday, Nov. 24.

Here’s a recap of how Oregon vs. USC unfolded.

FINAL: OREGON 36, USC 27

-- Oregon takes over with a short field after USC’s failed onside kick. The Ducks run it up the middle with Bucky Irving. USC is down to one timeout remaining with 2:30 to play. The Trojans take their last timeout with 2:22 to go. On second and 10, the pitch goes to Irving and he gains 3 yards. So third and 7 upcoming for Oregon as the clock runs under 2 minutes left. Oregon takes its first timeout with 1:35 to play. Nix throws for Tez Johnson, but it’s dropped. The Ducks go for it on fourth and 7, and they convert with a swing pass to the right flat to Irving. That should ice it for the Ducks. They can now run the clock out. Oregon kneels it and the game ends. Oregon wins 36-27

-- USC drives down the field and scores a touchdown on Austin Jones’ run. The Trojans go for the two-point conversion, but it’s no good. Caleb Williams completed it to Rice, but he’s dropped short of the goal line. Oregon 36, USC 27 — 3:44

-- Fair catch. Bucky Irving for 4. Disconcerting signals. Bo Nix to Irving for 7 then again for 18. Jordan James for 5 wiped out by holding on Steven Jones. Nix to Terrance Ferguson for 9 then 22 more on a screen. Nix incomplete over the middle for Troy Franklin but ineligible man downfield on Jones. Irving for 8. Bad snapped recovered by Irving at USC 23. Third and 13, Johnson drops it. Camden Lewis 41-yard field goal is no good.

-- Touchback. Caleb Williams to Tahj Washington for 9. Incomplete pass. Third and 1, MarShawn Lloyrd dropped by Jordan Burch for loss of 3. USC timeout - 13:29. Fourth and 4 at USC 31, incomplete but defensive pass interference on Tysheem Johnson. Williams prolongs the play and throws incomplete. Austin Jones runs for 5. Third and 5, Williams finds a wide open Duce Robinson for 40. Williams throws it away. Williams throws to Kyron Ware-Hudson, incomplete. USC timeout - 11:35. Third and goal at UO 9, Williams pass for Rice broken up by Trikweze Bridges. Fourth and goal at 9, Williams 9-yard touchdown to Rice with Bridges in coverage. Oregon 36, USC 21 - 11:27

-- Bucky Irving 19-yard touchdown. Oregon 36, USC 14 - 14:55

End 3RD QUARTER: OREGON 29, USC 14

-- Jordan James for 6 and 4. Bo Nix to James for 13. False start. Bucky Irving goes for 11.

-- Zachariah Branch runs 21 yards. Caleb Williams incomplete for Brenden Rice. Williams incomplete with Dontae Manning and Trikweze Bridges in at corner, offsides on Matayo Uiagaleilei. Austin Jones fumbles, Evan Williams recovers at USC 48.

-- Bucky Irving back on field with left ankle taped up. Bo Nix pass incomplete for Tez Johnson, who wasn’t looking for it, possible miscommunication. Irving runs for 1. Third and 9, Nix hit as he throws incomplete. Luke Dunne punt to USC 25.

-- Zachariah Branch returns to USC 14. MarShawn Lloyd runs for 2. Caleb Williams incomplete for Brenden Rice. Williams to Branch for 10. Lloyd slips and loses 2. Williams runs for 5. Third and 6 at USC 30, Williams runs for 2. Fourth and 3 at USC 33, delay of game. Punt to UO 33.

-- Gary Bryant Jr returns to UO 33 but holding brings it back to UO 15. Bucky Irving for 3. False start on Steven Jones. Bo Nix to Tez Johnson for 6. Third and 6, Nix to Bryant for 7. Irving for 7. Nix to Terrance Ferguson, who fights his way for 3. Nix to Irving for 1. Nix to Bryant for 16. Nix to Johnson for 7 and again for 5 more. Jordan James for 4. Nix to Johnson for 5. Third and 1 at USC 26, James runs for 3, offsides on Bear Alexander. Nix 21-yard touchdown to Johnson. Oregon 29, USC 14 - 8:17 Bucky Irving is in the injury tent, he leaves and returns to bench.

HALFTIME: OREGON 22, USC 14

-- Gary Bryant Jr. returns to UO 19. Bo Nix kneels into half.

-- Touchback. USC reverse to Zachariah Branch gains 4. Caleb Williams incomplete Third and 6, Williams goes to Kyron Hudson for 9 with Khyree Jackson in coverage. Williams to Tahj Washington for huge gain of 59 to UO 3 with Tysheem Johnson in coverage. Austin Jones for 1. Williams 2-yard touchdown run. Oregon 22, USC 14 - 0:12

-- Oregon fumbles, recovered at 3. Bo Nix incomplete for Terrance Ferguson. Third and 8, Nix to Ferguson for 8. Jordan James for 9 and 2. Nix 63 yards to Troy Franklin. Incomplete. Bucky Irving for 4. Third and 6 at USC 11, Nix to Irving for 10 wiped out by holding on Josh Conerly Jr. Third and 17 at USC 22, Nix to Irving for 8 and ilegal formation penalty declined. Camden Lewis 33-yard field goal is good. Oregon 22, USC 7 - 1:59

-- Kickoff from UO 20, Zachariah Branch tries to reverse field and is dropped at 9 by Dontae Manning. Caleb Williams to Brenden Rice for 12, Jahlil Florence in coverage. Williams incomplete for Rice, defensive pass interference on Florence. Williams keeps for no gain. Williams for Branch, dropped. Third and 10 at USC 37, Williams to Tahj Washington for 10. Austin Jones dropped for loss of 1, Emar’rion Winston on tackle for loss. MarShawn Lloyd breaks through tackle for 11. Williams can’t escape Evan Williams and fumbles, USC recovers for loss of 13. Williams to Branch for 2. Third an 21, incomplete for Duce Robinson but offsides on Popo Aumavae. Third and 16, Brandon Dorlus and Jordan Burch pressure Williams into incomplete pass. Punt to UO 1.

-- Fourth and 1 at UO 46, Bo Nix appears to be stopped but USC called offsides. Nix throw for Troy Franklin incomplete as Franklin slips. Bucky Irving runs for 13. Nix to Tez Johnson for 5. Irving takes pitch for 7. Irving for 4 more. Nix to Terrance Ferguson for 3. Third and 3, Irving runs left for 7. False start on Jackson Powers-Johnson. Double pass with Irving back to Nix is incomplete, hit by Max Williams reviewed for targeting but ruled no targeting. Nix 15-yard touchdown to Ferguson. Unsportsmanlike conduct on Ferguson after touchdown. 2-point pass is no good. Oregon 19, USC 7 - 10:49

END 1ST QUARTER: OREGON 13, USC 7

-- Bucky Irving runs up the middle for 11. Irving for 9. Bo Nix incomplete for Traeshon Holden. Jordan James no gain.

-- Kickoff out of bounds. MarShawn Lloyd runs for 19, then no gain. Lloyd run of 13 wiped out by holding. Caleb Williams to Duce Robinson for 6. Williams for Robinson incomplete. Punt fair catch at UO 10, personal foul on USC.

-- Gary Bryant Jr. returns kickoff to UO 19. Bucky Irving loses 8 yards. Bo Nix scrambles for 5. Third and 14, Nix finds Troy Franklin for an 84-yard touchdown. 2-point throw incomplete. Oregon 13, USC 7 - 4:11. Troy Franklin tops 1,000 yards on the season.

-- Touchback. Caleb Williams pass incomplete over the middle for Mario Williams, Evan Williams in coverage. Austin Jones runs up the middle for 10. Caleb Williams escapes right and flips to Jones for 8. Williams to Tahj Washington for 4. Teitum Tuioti sacks Williams for loss of 9. Williams evades pressure and finds Dorian Singer for 44. Williams to Lake McRee for no gain. MarShawn Lloyrd bounces left for 5 yards. Third and 5, Williams runs in circles and gains 8. Lloyd 5-yard touchdown. Oregon 7, USC 7 - 5:37

-- Bucky Irving runs for 6. Bo Nix 77-yard touchdown to Tez Johnson, who spins and loses Max Williams. Oregon 7, USC 0 - 11:00. Season-long pass for Oregon. Third 70-plus yard pass allowed by USC.

-- Touchback. MarShawn Lloyd stopped for no gain by Taki Taimani. Brandon Dorlus and Popo Aumavae get to Caleb Williams, face mask on Jahlil Florence makes for first down. USC timeout - 13:48. USC double pass Mario Williams back to Caleb Williams gains 20. Austin Jones gains 1, tackle by Dorlus, USC center Justin Dedich is down. Williams pass for Brenden Rice overthrown, Florence in coverage, offensive holding on Kilian O’Connor declined. Third and 9, Dorlus sacks Williams for loss of 8. Punt to UO 17.

-- USC won the toss and will receive. Oregon defending the West end.

PREGAME

-- Scholarship players not in uniform: WR Ashton Cozart, WR Josh Delgado, WR Justius Lowe, DB Khamari Terrell, OL Bryce Boulton, OL Lipe Moala, OL Michael Wooten, CB Daylen Austin, K Andrew Boyle, RB Noah Whittington

-- According to the LA Times, USC is without LB Eric Gentry, CBs Jacobe Covington and Ceyair Wright, Nickel Jaylin Smith and possibly CB Christian Roland-Wallace

-- Bucky Irving fully dressed. He missed at least the initial periods of practice on Tuesday.

-- CB Daylen Austin (right arm) is out

-- QB Austin Novosad fully dressed for first time since Washington State game

-- LB Devon Jackson, who has been out for a couple of games, is warming up

-- Former Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez, LB Noah Sewell, S Bennett Williams and RB Kenjon Barner are here.

-- NFL scouts in attendance from the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns (x2), Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks (x3), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans

HOW TO WATCH

TV Channel: FOX (KPTV 12 in Portland)

If you have a HDTV antenna, you can watch on your local FOX affiliate. If you need to get one, this WAGO brand HDTV antenna is currently the top selling HDTV antenna product on Amazon. It goes for under $30 and ships quickly with Prime.

Time: 7:30 p.m.

On air: Radio on 1080 “The Fan” in Portland, KUGN 590/KUJZ 95.3 in Eugene

How to watch live stream online: You can watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial) or by signing up for Sling (promotional offers, cheapest streaming plans). If you already have a provider, you can also watch this game live on FOX Sports Live with your cable or satellite provider login information.

Pregame reading:

Troy Franklin nearing bevy of Oregon football receiving records entering matchup with USC

Jamal Hill’s move to linebacker proving beneficial to improved Oregon football defense

Scouting the Trojans: 5 questions, prediction with a USC reporter

4-star tight end Roger Saleapaga, 2025 5-stars Noah Williams, Nasir Wyatt among over 50 recruits visiting Oregon football for game against USC

Bo Nix’s level of control, agency in No. 6 Oregon’s offense unique among college QBs

No. 6 Oregon football faces another top quarterback in USC’s Caleb Williams

How will Oregon football’s improved pass defense fare against speed, depth of USC’s receiving corps?

How Oregon football is preparing for change to USC’s defensive coordinator

What Dan Lanning said before Oregon’s matchup with USC

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