Hopefully you’ve had a moment to catch your breath and lower heart rate since Saturday night, as the game this coming Saturday night in Los Angeles has all the makings to be a encore showing of what we saw this past weekend inside Autzen Stadium.

On the heels of their 37-35 win over Washington State, a contest that required some late game heroics for a second week in a row, the now 7th-ranked Oregon Ducks must find a way to re-gather emotionally before heading out the road later this week to face a very dangerous USC team that sits atop the Pac-12 South division and sports an undefeated record at home this season.

To prepare you for what could very well serve as Oregon’s most difficult remaining test on their regular season schedule, WFOD takes a closer look at the Ducks’ opponent this weekend in USC.

USC Trojans

2019 record: 5-3 overall, 4-1 in Pac-12
Last game: 35-31 win at Colorado
Ranking: N/A
All-time record vs. Oregon: 38-20-2
When and where to watch: Saturday, Nov. 2 at 5:05 p.m. (Pacific), FOX

Items of note:

• Saturday’s game vs. USC marks the fifth time this season that the Trojans have faced an AP-ranked opponent. USC is 2-2 in AP-ranked matchups this season.
• Saturday’s game is also a matchup between two sets of brothers, as Oregon’s Mycah Pittman and La’Mar Winston will try to earn the victory over USC’s Michael Pittman, Jr. and Eli’jah Winston
• The Ducks have won four of their last six meetings against the Trojans, including two of the last three in Los Angeles
• Oregon enters Saturday’s game tied for the most road wins (4) in Pac-12 play over the last two seasons. The Ducks have won three consecutive league games on the road for the first time since 2015, joining Washington State as the only two teams with a three-game run at any point over the last two years.
• An Oregon win would give the Ducks their first eight-game Pac-12 win streak since the end of the 2011 season into 2012

Five USC names you should know:

5. John Houston (LB)

Like most years, the Trojans aren’t short on talent on either side of the football. The problem, however, is that most of that talent – particularly on defense – is currently hampered by injury. Talanoa Hufanga (shoulder), Palaie Gaoteote (ankle), Drake Jackson (ankle), and Christian Rector (ankle) will either miss or be game-time decisions by the time Saturday night rolls around, meaning a beleaguered USC defense could be especially vulnerable facing an Oregon offense that has been in rhythm as of late. One player who will be on hand though is senior linebacker John Houston, who leads the Trojans in tackles (70), ranks second in tackles for loss (6.0), and is tied for second in sacks (2.5). The three-year starter at inside linebacker is turning his best season yet for the Men of Troy and figures to be a name that is heard early and often this Saturday.

4. Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR)

As one of a handful of highly-touted players the Trojans have stacked at the wide receiver position, Amon-Ra St. Brown may be the one who has impressed the most during the early portion of his career at USC. At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, St. Brown comes from impressive bloodlines, as his two older brothers (Equanimeous and Osiris) have starred at the FBS level at wide receiver, while his father, John, was a two-time Mr. Universe. A former five-star prospect from powerhouse Mater Dei High School in Southern California, St. Brown exploded onto the scene as a true freshman, leading the Trojans in receptions (60) while ranking second in receiving yards (750) to go along with three touchdowns. While his numbers in 2019 are a tick off last year’s marks, St. Brown is still a big-time weapon in USC’s pass heavy offense, as he currently ranks third in receptions (40), receiving yards (432), and receiving touchdowns (4).

3. Tyler Vaughns (WR)

Of the talented trio the Trojans can claim at wide receiver, Tyler Vaughns may be the one who is the smoothest, most natural pass catcher of the group. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Vaughns isn’t necessarily the physical presence that St. Brown and Pittman are, but he’s a smooth operator who plays with an effortlessness that is fun to watch. The redshirt junior is seemingly at his best making contested catches, but you’d be remiss to ignore him as a big-play threat. His 50 catches for 638 yards and five touchdowns through eight games have nearly eclipsed his totals (58 catches, 674 yards, six touchdowns) through 12 games a season ago.

2. Kedon Slovis (QB)

JT Daniels may have been quarterback who arrived at USC with all the pomp and circumstance, but Kedon Slovis may ultimately prove to be the one most deserving of such praise. Handed the reins to the potent USC offense following a season-ending knee injury to Daniels in the season opener vs. Fresno State, Slovis has shown impressive levels of growth and aptitude over the course of his true freshman season. Though unassuming and baby-faced at first glance, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Slovis is a talented passer who has been fearless and rarely out of sync with his trio of top flight receivers. Though he missed most of two games with a concussion, Slovis has posted terrific numbers in six starts, completing 72.3 percent of his passes for 1,625 yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Contending with Oregon’s resurgent defense will be perhaps the biggest test for Slovis thus far in his career, but it’s difficult to imagine the Scottsdale, Ariz. falling flat on his face, especially considering the Ducks have been stunningly leaky against the pass the past two weeks (289 yards surrendered at Washington, 406 yards surrendered vs. Washington State).

1. Michael Pittman, Jr. (WR)

When it comes to game changers at the receiver position, you could argue that none in the Pac-12 are as much of a nightmare to defend than USC’s Michael Pittman, Jr. The Trojans’ passing game is lethal as is with Slovis at the controls and St. Brown and Vaughns out wide, but adding Pittman to the mix practically makes defending this group an impossibility. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Pittman combines an imposing physical stature with next-level speed and athleticism, making him the ultimate receiving weapon both in college and projecting ahead to the NFL. Whether he’s targeted in the short, intermediate, or deep passing game, Pittman is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, as evidenced by the seven touchdown receptions he has tallied through eight games. Pittman’s 755 yards receiving currently leads the Pac-12, while his 50 receptions ties him with Vaughns for second in the conference. Regardless of the game’s outcome, expect Pittman to be the player that Trojans offensive coordinator Graham Harrell looks to feed throughout the game.

Top Photo: USC head coach Clay Helton (Sports Illustrated)