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McKnight, USC hoping to rebound against Oregon

Oct 4, 2008 - 10:08 AM (20) Oregon (4-1) at (9) Southern California (2-1), 8:00 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- After a stunning loss last week, Southern California may need some high-profile wins to get back into the national title picture. Oregon could be the last ranked team USC plays this year.

Joe McKnight will try to bounce back from a woeful performance when the ninth-ranked Trojans host No. 20 Oregon on Saturday in a Pac-10 Conference showdown.

USC's most explosive player, McKnight had just 39 yards on 10 touches with a fumble lost during Thursday's 27-21 upset loss to Oregon State. He rushed for 10 yards on seven carries.

The talented sophomore leads the Trojans this year with 175 rushing yards but has found the end zone just once. USC (2-1, 0-1 Pac-10) also uses C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson, Allen Bradford, Stanley Havili and Marc Tyler in its versatile running game.

Even with a stable of talented backs, it will not be easy for the Trojans to get their rushing attack going against the Ducks, who have held four of their five opponents to less than 100 yards rushing.

Oregon (4-1, 2-0) may need to be carried by the ground game in this one. Not only was USC's daunting defense gashed for 176 rushing yards against Oregon State, but the Ducks are also without their top two quarterbacks.

But that didn't seem to hinder the Ducks on Saturday. LeGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Johnson scored three touchdowns apiece and combined for 187 yards on the ground as Oregon rolled to a 63-14 blowout over Washington State.

"We came out and played our best game," Blount said. "I can't even describe how good our offensive line is. I'd say they're the best in the country."

The Ducks have compiled 1,543 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 245 carries as a team this season, a 6.3 yards-per-carry average.

On the other side of the ball, Oregon will have to forced turnovers. USC quarterback Mark Sanchez has been impressive this year, but he does have an interception in each game - including a crippling one during last Thursday's loss.

Outside the interceptions, Sanchez has been terrific. He passed for 737 yards and 10 scores over the first three games of the season.