USC-Oregon winners and losers: Special team miscues burn Trojans in the end

The USC Trojans fell on the road to the Oregon Ducks, 42–27, a defeat that all but ends their College Football Playoff hopes. Here’s a breakdown of the game's biggest winners and losers from a frustrating showing in Eugene.

Winners

Tanook Hines, WR

The true freshman has been a steady force in USC’s explosive offense all season, but Tanook Hines took a major leap on Saturday, delivering a true breakout performance on a big stage. Hines hauled in six passes for 141 yards and added a touchdown on a strike from Makai Lemon, showcasing his reliability whenever Lemon or Ja’Kobi Lane drew extra attention in coverage.

Time and again, Hines extended drives and kept USC’s offense moving, playing a key role in helping the Trojans stay competitive throughout the game. The loss to Oregon stings, but Hines’ emergence is a clear reminder that the future of USC’s receiving corps remains exceptionally bright.

Rushing Defense

Heading into the matchup, it was no secret that Oregon thrives on the ground. Despite dealing with injuries and rotating personnel, USC’s defense held up admirably, limiting the Ducks to under 200 rushing yards and a manageable 4.4 yards per carry. That effort played a major role in keeping Oregon’s second-half damage in check and giving the Trojan offense a chance to mount a comeback.

While the rally ultimately came up short, the defense once again showed its resilience after halftime, continuing a trend that has propelled USC to its 8–3 record.

Losers

Special Teams

USC’s special teams weren’t the only reason the Trojans came up short in Eugene, but they were responsible for a significant share of the damage. The game’s turning point arrived late in the second quarter, when a disastrous sequence of special-teams miscues tilted the momentum firmly in Oregon’s favor. Here’s the stretch that ultimately doomed the Trojans.

Oregon’s missed field goal should have been a break for USC, until a leaping penalty gave the Ducks a second chance. A few plays later, Oregon punched in a touchdown. USC responded by marching down the field in the final minute of the half, only for Ryon Sayeri to miss a field-goal attempt of his own.

That sequence doesn’t even account for Oregon’s punt return touchdown, which only compounded the damage. From start to finish, USC’s special teams struggled, and those breakdowns proved costly in a game where the margin for error was already slim.

The "were really close" crowd

USC fans hoped this would be the game that pushed the Trojans over the final hurdle and into true College Football Playoff contention. Instead, USC didn’t rise to the moment. While the program has undeniably made major strides this season, the standard in Los Angeles hasn’t changed and a 9–3 finish won’t be enough in the long run.

The Trojans have passed plenty of tests this year, signaling that a real corner has been turned. Now comes the hard part. Building on that momentum, accelerating through the final stages of the rebuild, and keeping their foot firmly on the gas as they push towards their ultimate goals.