Lane Kiffin lamented USC’s third-down conversion rate tonight (8-17) but in the Jeremy Bates era, that would be cause for dancing on the sidelines.

You really need to go for it when playing the No. 1 team in the nation and in one area I did not get that sense tonight: Playcalling.
And one drive offered two examples: With USC trailing 43-32, the Trojans had a third-and-5 at the Oregon 40. They tried an ill-fated run with fullback Stanley Havili that lost 4 yards. On fourth-and-9, Matt Barkley threw a 4-yard pass to tight end Jordan Cameron.
That’s not the daring type of calls that win big games.

Lane Kiffin was in decent spirits after the game. Cornerback Shareece Wright and quarterback Matt Barkley looked frustrated. On the other hand, some players were smiling on the field after the game talking to their Oregon counterparts.
“They don’t run a lot of (different) plays,” Wright said. “They just run some plays to perfection.”

Yes, the defense was run up-and-down the field. But I think the QB play hurt USC quite a bit (and maybe more).

Who took the over (70)?

Turnovers change games and Oregon QB Darron Thomas’ pass is tipped and intercepted by Jurrell Casey to set a TD pass from Matt Barkley to Ronald Johnson.

It’s halftime and the Trojans looked like they had a chance to really give the Ducks a scare but there was a fumbled snap and then a bad punt by Jake Harfman that made the difference and allowed the Ducks’ quick-strike offense to put it back in control.

Off topic, Steve Sarkisian getting pounded by Stanford 28-0. Maybe he will petition the Pac-12 to play USC every game.

Nice drive by USC that stalls when it gets a little conservative inside the 20. Joe Houston makes 32-yard FG.