USC Trojans Face Critical Blow: Key Starters Out Ahead of Oregon Showdown—Can They Still Win?

Injuries are wreaking havoc as the Oregon Ducks gear up to clash with the USC Trojans this Saturday at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks, currently grappling with the loss of star wideouts Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr., find themselves limping into one of the season’s most crucial matchups. But hold on—Oregon isn’t standing alone in the pain cave. Word from the Trojans’ camp hints that they’ll be missing several starters too, including key defensive stalwarts Bishop Fitzgerald and Kamari Ramsey along with starting left tackle Elijah Paige. Fitzgerald, in particular, has been a thorn in opponents’ sides, leading the team in interceptions and earning accolades as the nation’s top safety by Pro Football Focus. It’s shaping up to be a nail-biter with both squads nursing sizeable wounds—who’ll step up when the stakes couldn’t be higher? We’ll know more as the official injury reports drop just hours before kickoff. LEARN MORE

The Oregon Ducks have been hit hard by the injury bug late in this season, and they’re expecting to be without two of their best wide receivers on Saturday vs. the USC Trojans, with Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr. reportedly out once again.

However, they are not alone in being dinged up at this point in the year. It appears that the Trojans are also expected to be without several starters in this win-or-go-home game at Autzen Stadium on Saturday.

According to a report from CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, the Trojans are expecting starting safeties Bishop Fitzgerald and Kamari Ramsey to miss the game, as well as starting left tackle Elijah Paige.

Fitzgerald and Ramsey are two of the top players on the Trojans’ defense, with Fitzgerald leading the team in interceptions and being graded as the No. 1 safety in the nation, per Pro Football Focus.

We will see how all three players are listed on the official availability report two hours before kickoff, but it appears that both sidelines will be without some key pieces for Saturday’s Big Ten matchup.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: USC down several starters vs. Oregon Ducks due to injury, per report