"On Saturday, an Oregon defense that struggled to stop the run in the early parts of this fall stifled the No. 15 Trojans' ground game, limiting USC to 52 rushing yards as the No. 7 Ducks improved to 10-1. "I think it's huge when you can take away a team's strength," Oregon coach Dan Lanning said after the 42-27 win. "I think they've been able to run the ball really well this season, and for us to be able to stop it was big.""
"The in-season turnaround of the Ducks' run defense, which has held each of its past four opponents to less than 125 yards rushing, is powering the program toward a second straight College Football Playoff appearance. Across the country, vastly improved units like Oregon's and individual players surging in the back half of the 2025 season shined in Week 13."
Oregon's defense dramatically curtailed USC's rushing attack, holding the Trojans to 52 rushing yards and handing the Ducks a 42-27 victory to reach 10-1. The Ducks' run defense has tightened through the season, allowing fewer than 125 rushing yards to each of its past four opponents and helping push the program toward consecutive College Football Playoff berths. Across Week 13, several programs showed late-season improvements, including offensive surges like Texas quarterback Arch Manning's six-touchdown game and teams that corrected earlier defensive deficiencies. Ohio State's rushing also improved markedly since November, aiding postseason positioning.
Read at ESPN.com
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