Every weekend college football has big games that have playoff implications and for the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans this weekend is huge. UCLA plays No. 10 Oregon at the Rose Bowl at 12:30 p.m. on Channel 7, and USC battles No. 13, Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana at 4:30 p.m.
Oregon is currently the only Pac-12 school in the top 25 in the college football rankings so a win over the Ducks in the nationally televised game will go along way in in helping the Bruins establish themselves as a legitimate good college football team. It will also help Bruin coach Chip Kelly stay off the hot seat.
UCLA is 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Pac-12 South. They are tied with 5-2 and 3-1 Arizona State in the conference and the Sun Devils hold the tie breaker because they beat the Bruins earlier this year at the Rose Bowl. Oregon is 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-12 North. They are also tied with 4-2 and 2-1 Oregon State for the conference lead.
The Bruins will need quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to play perhaps his best game of his career if they expect to beat the Ducks. If UCLA's quarterback does not play a great game, they have something on offense that have not had in a long time, that's a consistent running attack. Running backs Brittain Brown and Zack Charbonnet are two of the best backs in the nation.
On defense the Bruin's secondary of Qwuantrezz Knight, Stephan Blaylock, Quentin Lake and Devin Kirkwood will also need to play their best game of the year if they expect to stop Oregon's offense.
The Trojans have nothing to lose and everything to gain when head coach Donte Williams leads them into South Bend and the Golden Dome. Williams, who is a Culver City High School graduate is hoping the Trojans shake off their inconsistent play this year and play their best game of the year.
Quarterback Kedon Slovis and wide receiver Drake London will need to come up with some big plays if the Trojans want to upset the Fighting Irish and the USC defense will need to play their best game of the year.
Hopefully the Bruins and Trojans can find a way to upset Oregon and Norte Dame on Saturday.
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