Oregon Ducks have smaller margin for error against USC

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Lincoln Riley leads the USCTrojans into a game against the Oregon Ducks with a lot at stake. Thankfully for Riley, Dan Lanning enters this game with some desperation surrounding his team. A loss can completely change the trajectory for the rest of the season for both teams.

Here is my take on which team needs the win more this week between Oregon and USC:

Oregon had a disastrous start to the season. In their first two weeks of the season, the Ducks got punched in the mouth two times. They should have gone 0-2 in that stretch. Dante Moore has not been consistent enough to be looked at as the No. 1 overall pick in the next NFL draft and the Heisman Trophy winner this season. The defense, just like Moore, has not met its high standard.

If there was ever any season for the Ducks to fall to USC football in recent years, it is this year. Dan Lanning has not met expectations with his team in a championship-or-bust season. Dan Lanning needs to win a Big Ten title this season and a championship. He has to lead the Ducks to success in the postseason. Three weeks into the year, they are now ranked No. 20 in the country, which is highly disappointing.

The Ducks cannot afford to lose this football game. Going 2-2 and still having to play Ohio State feels like a death sentence on the Ducks' chances of going to the College Football Playoff. Lanning may have a safe job position now, but if he loses to USC, you will hear more grumbling. Given that Oregon has never won a title before, and that this season looked like the Ducks' best chance, coming up short would carry a lot of negative weight.

USC, on the other hand, is the higher-ranked team, but not too many people are taking the Trojans to knock off Oregon after the Rutgers game. It is still very possible, but everyone knows Oregon tends to have their number. Losing this game would not derail their College Football Playoff hopes, nor their season. They are playing this game with house money. As long as Riley does not get blown out and embarrassed in this game, USC can recover from a loss.

That does not mean fans or the doubters will not feel angry about this USC team with a loss. It is just clear that Oregon has a lot more on the line in this football game. That could, however, play to the Trojans' benefit.

Contact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Oregon Ducks have smaller margin for error against USC

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos