USC will miss important starting players when they face Oregon.

Jeff Hauser

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USC will be without key starters against Oregon image

TL;DR

  • USC, ranked 15th, faces No. 7 Oregon missing key starters Bishop Fitzgerald and Waymond Jordan.
  • Safeties Kamari Ramsey and left tackle Elijah Paige are questionable with injuries sustained last week.
  • USC will rely on Christian Pierce, Kennedy Urlacher, and Alex Graham in the defensive backfield.
  • The Trojans have not won in Eugene since 2011, facing a significant challenge for playoff contention.

USC, ranked 15th, will be missing several important starting players for Their Saturday visit to No. 7 Oregon. This is a crucial Big Ten game that could impact the College Football Playoff.

USC has declared safety Bishop Fitzgerald and running back Waymond Jordan unavailable. Safety Kamari Ramsey and left tackle Elijah Paige are questionable, with both considered unlikely to play, per CBS Sports. All three sustained injuries during last week's 26-21 victory against Iowa. 

Jordan has been out of action since October following tightrope surgery on his ankle. King Miller and Bryan Jackson will keep sharing the duties while Jordan is unavailable.

Given Fitzgerald and possibly Ramsey's absence, USC anticipates a significant reliance on Christian Pierce and Kennedy Urlacher in the defensive backfield. Freshman Alex Graham is slated to cover the nickel position, as reported by 247Sports. Should Paige be unable to play, the Trojans will revert to their previous strategy: moving left guard Tobias Raymond to tackle and placing Kaylon Miller at guard. 

USC arrives at Autzen Stadium with an 18-6 record when appearing on ESPN's “College GameDay,”, though they've faced difficulties in significant away games since their move to the Big Ten. The Trojans haven't secured a victory in Eugene dating back to 2011.

“Moments like these are fun,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “This is a challenge, and they play really good football.”

As both teams battle to remain in contention for the playoffs, USC's depth will face its greatest challenge yet.

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Staff Writer