University Southern California Trojans
Players Mentioned
Game Preview: No. 7 USC To Battle Tough Oregon State Team On The Road
September 22, 2022 | Football
Who: USC vs Oregon State
Where: Reser Stadium; Corvallis, Oregon
When: Saturday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Network
All-time series: USC leads, 63-12-4
Last meeting: Oregon State won 45-27 in 2021 at the Coliseum
Oregon State Player Spotlight:
Quarterback Chance Nolan:
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So far in 2022: 47 of 75 for 746 yards, 7 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
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Has gained more confidence in his junior year and has made better decisions to lead Oregon State's offense
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He's one of two Pac-12 quarterbacks averaging over 15 yards per completion at 15.87
Running back Deshaun Fenwick:
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A big runner but still fast at 6'2, 226 lbs
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So far in 2022: 204 yards on 38 carries with three touchdowns
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Leads Oregon State in carries and yards. Tied for first in rushing touchdowns.
Keys to the Game:
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Win the red zone battle
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It will be a clash of two strengths on Saturday: Oregon State's offense is 14 of 14 in the red zone, while USC's red zone defense has limited its opponents to a 54% success rate. It will be a bigger test for the Trojans' in Corvallis, but so far Alex Grinch's defense has shown that it can make critical stops when needed.
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"It's just battling, you know? Not giving in," Grinch explained earlier this week. "It's having an awareness about you that is like, 'Make them run another play. Make them run or play.' No magic here. Certainly sometimes we wish there was, but give our guys credit. We've held up in some situations thus far, but a little different animal in the red zone this week."
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Makes the most of every opportunity on offense
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Saturday's matchup features two very efficient offenses, so it could come down to a battle of possessions. Sometimes your best defense is your offense and the Beavers could do just that by putting together long drives and limiting the amount of touches Caleb Williams & Co. will get. USC has only punted five times in 2022 and has not punted more than twice in a single game, so the team is already very efficient on offense. It will be key to continue that productivity on Saturday.
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Continue to play a clean game
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USC has done a great job of protecting the ball so far this season and has not committed a turnover. It's the first time the Trojans have gone three consecutive games without a turnover since 2015. Oregon State ranks second in the Pac-12, behind USC, in forced turnovers (8), so it will be imperative for the Trojans to continue to secure the ball. Every possession will matter on Saturday and it's important for USC to not give the Beavers an advantage with self-inflicted errors.
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