Ding-dong the Witch is Dead: Ducks end Trojans' Pac-10 Reign

Well no more excuses. The Trojans got beat, and they were beat badly. In the past, USC could look at one stat or point to a key injury to explain their loss. Here? The lack of coaching adjustments, especially on defense (understatement of the year) led to USC's demise and likely end of the Trojans' reign of terror over the Pac-10. Although not mathematically eliminated, USC would need to win out and have Oregon to lose three of their final four games to return to Pasadena. No sugarcoating 392 rushing yards allowed. No pointing to turnovers (only one late Barkley INT) or excessive penalties (6 false starts, the Autzen Stadium didn't get to Barkley, but it sure got to his O-line). Maybe point to injuries (TE Anthony McCoy, WRs David Ausberry and Travon Patterson, FB Stanley Havili, RB Stafon Johnson, C Kris O'Dowd missed action), but how the hell do we suffer so many injuries? It seems like we always have a rash of injuries with bite USC at the wrong time, but you don't hear the elite teams having the same problems. Maybe it's our training regiment:



But unlike USC's other losses, I'm not upset over this one. In fact, I saw this coming: from my season preview:

"USC will probably split the Oregon/Cal road games, both of which could decide the Pac-10 crown this year. Cal is a dangerous team with prolific runner Jahvid Best, and the Oregon schools always give USC trouble in the state of Oregon:

October 24, 1998 - L @ Oregon State (17-13)
September 25, 1999 - L @ Oregon (33-30, 3 O/T)
September 30, 2000 - L @ Oregon State (31-21)
September 22, 2001 - L @ Oregon (24-22, Oregon made field goal with 12 seconds left)
October 26, 2002 - W @ Oregon (44-33, trailed 19-14 at the half)
November 6, 2004 - W @ Oregon State (28-20, fell behind 13-0 to start game)
September 24, 2005 - W @ Oregon (45-13, fell behind 13-0 to start game)
October 28, 2006 - L @ Oregon State (33-31, trailed 33-10 midway through third)
October 27, 2007 - L @ Oregon (24-17)
September 25, 2008 - L @ Oregon State (27-21, trailed 21-0 at halftime)

3-7 in the last 10 games in the state of Oregon, and trailed in every game? Not good..."

I also said USC would most likely finish 10-2 (8-1) with losses to Ohio State and Oregon. And right now? I would trade losing to Washington to lose to Ohio State in a heartbeat, as that extra loss to the Huskies will keep us out of the Rose Bowl. But maybe this is a good thing long term for the program. Having a change of pace; no longer being the king of the conference. No longer having the target on their back. No longer being favored to win every game by 20+ points. Then again, I hoped we would have the same change after the 2007 Stanford game, but no dice there.

Back to the game, what happened to the defense? Is there one thing we can point to that occurred after USC jumped up 34-14 on Notre Dame? From that point on, the Trojans have allowed an astonishing 96 points in 9 quarters. USC allowed 93 points in 12 regular season games last year. But in a span of 9 quarters, I've gone from feeling comfortable with the defense on the field to having the offense on the field. I went from knowing the Trojans would hold the opposition to less than 20 points on a gamely basis to hoping the defense can hold to a field goal. Oregon marched the ball down the field, with the USC defenders just being pesky on their way to the end zone. It seems that teams have made adjustments to USC's defensive scheme and USC hasn't made changes to what they've done. Maybe because Pete Carroll was content with winning shootouts. But that's not USC football. And that's not how you win big games on the road.

I remember back to the 2004 Rose Bowl game, when USC made it's mark on the football world. The defense was spectacular that day, with their takeaways and sacks on Michigan QB John Navarre. Especially on those sneaky corner blitzes. And their dominance over Oklahoma in the 2005 Orange Bowl. The Wolverine and Sooner offenses were so basic and simple compared to what Oregon ran today. It seems Pete Carroll has stayed the same while everything around him has changed. Teams are going to spread offenses with quarterbacks that can run and throw. We saw seeds of doubt of our defense sown against Washington State, when freshman QB Jeff Tuel, pushed into relief, moved the Cougars down the field on what was a stout defense. The Cal game aside, USC has allowed at least 27 points in their last three games. Not good.

But again Oregon was the much better team on the field. They were more prepared, made the correct adjustments, and deserved this win. This is why I'm not too upset with this loss. USC didn't give this game away. Oregon won it on the field. On to the Pac-10 Rankings:

1. Oregon (7-1 overall, 5-0 Pac-10) - Have fun in Pasadena Duck fans. Keep up the Pac-10 dominance over the Big Ten please. Just don't shit the bed. I'm pulling for you guys to either finish 8-4 or 11-1. The latter is more likely and more deserving.
   
2. Arizona (5-2, 3-1) - Scary offense will give fits to teams down the road, led by QB Nick Foles. Then again, you don't really need a good QB to give Washington State a hard time.
3. USC (6-2, 3-2) - With the Rose Bowl berth out of reach, will the Trojans finish strong the rest of the season to play for a BCS at large berth, maybe the Fiesta Bowl? All USC needs is 9 wins and a top 14 BCS rankings, not out of the question, depending on how far the Trojans fall after the blowout.
4. Oregon State (5-3, 3-2) - Almost let UCLA hang around too long. Then again, how did the Beavers defense allow two Bruin offensive touchdowns and two-point conversions? Washington State still remains on the schedule, so Oregon State should easily make another bowl game. Just no more 3-0 classics...
   
5. California (6-2, 3-2) - Screwed around after taking a 14-0 lead over Arizona State before needed a field goal in the final minutes to pull out the win in Tempe. Can't fool around with Oregon State, as this game may help round out the bowl pecking order.
6. Stanford (5-3, 4-2) - Finishes with a brutal stretch of Oregon, @ USC, Arizona, Notre Dame. Not sure where win #6 lies in that schedule.
   
7. Arizona State (4-4, 2-3) - Their reward for coming close to upsetting Cal? A visit from a banged up Trojan squad, who will either be demoralized after being embarrassed on prime-time national TV, or be looking to bounce back to make a trip back to, ironically, Tempe for the Fiesta Bowl. The Sun Devils needs to steal one from USC, Oregon, or Arizona to become bowl-eligible.
   
8. Washington (3-5, 2-3) - After all the rebuilding Sark has done in Seattle, a loss to UCLA next week will put the Huskies in the 9-hole where they spent most of last year, except for the last few weeks they were #10 after losing in last year's Apple Cup.
   
9. UCLA (3-5, 0-5) - Shows how much respect Prime Ticket is showing UCLA this year, as their game against Oregon State was shown on a tape-delay in L.A., which is unheard of in this day and age. Even the USC/UCLA soccer game was on live on Prime Ticket Friday night. Last gasp to become bowl eligible starts with a win over Washington next week.
10. Washington State (1-7, 0-5) - Poor Cougs. I hope that paycheck they got for being the sacrificial lamb to Notre Dame on national TV (NBC) was pretty hefty. Side note: ESPN was making fun about how New Mexico State had to take a game against Ohio State late in the season to help pay for food for the team during summer camp. They were made light of it, but the truth hurts for the Aggies. Almost as bad as the University of Hawaii showers not having soap in them.

And the top 10:

1. Florida (8-0) - Alabama's struggles against Tennessee last week and their bye this week along with Florida's dominance over Georgia put the Gators back at #1. Rankings #1-3 don't matter unless one of Florida/Alabama/Texas loses, which won't happen unless something really bizarre happens.
2. Texas (8-0) - Early season struggles, but they've put it together in all three areas of the game and look ready to make it back to the BCS championship game. Just no Heisman for Colt McCoy in my opinion.
3. Alabama (8-0) - Byes shouldn't cause teams to fall, but Texas looked really good on the road against a decent Oklahoma State team. But it won't matter as long as an undefeated Florida meet an undefeated Alabama in the SEC Championship game.
4. Cincinnati (8-0) - Even with a backup QB, the Bearcats are taking care of business. Couldn't say the same about, oh, USC about 6 weeks ago. Still have to get past a very good Pittsburgh team, but I don't see them having a problem getting to 12-0.
5. Oregon (7-1) - Still impressed with how they demolished the Trojans. Which makes me wonder if they had played Boise State later in the season... Best one loss team, hands down. If something happens to #1-2-3, Oregon is more deserving than Boise or TCU to make the national championship. I'm just saying.
6. Texas Christian (8-0) - 12-0 TCU goes in over 13-0 Boise. Period. Even if Oregon goes 11-1, the Horned Frogs would have defeated Clemson (ACC Atlantic leader), Virginia, and BYU, and gotten past a very good Utah team. Boise?
7. Boise State (8-0) - Just that win over Oregon, which continues to be more impressive by the day. But if the Broncos had to play the Ducks' schedule, where would they be? Hard to answer.
8. Iowa (9-0) - Yeah, I dropped them after playing sloppy games, but an even an undefeated Iowa does not deserve to be in anything greater than the Rose Bowl, which they should be content with. But please, Terrelle Pryor, please show up for a big game. As much as the college football universe loves to see upsets, I'm a traditionalist and like to see the big name schools (Texas, Ohio State, Florida, USC....) be in the BCS bowl games.
9. Georgia Tech (8-1) - Triple option, triple option, triple option. Love to see it in play, would have a heart attack if the team I rooted for ran it every down. Knowing USC, the Trojans would fumble one out of every five laterals. Just saying.
10. Louisiana State (7-1) - Can rock the world by knocking off Alabama in Tuscaloosa next weekend. Would make the season more interesting when we can say the #4 and #5 teams have a shot of being in the national championship game. But it would lead to a boring slugfest in the SEC championship game. Oh well.