Oregon starts slowly, then rolls over USC

Justin Herbert passed for 225 yards and threw three touchdown passes to Juwan Johnson in the second half, and No. 7 Oregon recovered from a slow start to cruise to its eighth consecutive victory, 56-24 over host USC on Saturday night.

Freshman Mykael Wright returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown shortly after Brady Breeze returned an interception 32 yards for a score late in the second quarter for the Ducks (8-1, 6-0 Pac-12). Oregon erased an early 10-0 deficit by scoring a touchdown after each of four turnovers by USC freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis during a 19-minute stretch spanning halftime.

Herbert and receiver Jaylon Redd rushed for touchdowns in the first half for Oregon, which remained on track for the Pac-12 North title and a good shot at the College Football Playoff despite a rough start at the Coliseum. Johnson, the Ducks’ senior Penn State transfer, had seven catches for 106 yards after making just six previous receptions all season.

Herbert threw his second interception of the season and didn’t look sharp early, but he was 21-for-26 passing. Oregon committed 12 penalties for 157 yards and had two defensive players ejected, yet remained perfect since its season opener after its defense thoroughly rattled Slovis.

Slovis passed for 264 yards and three touchdowns for USC (5-4, 4-2), but his three interceptions and a fumble erased the Trojans’ solid start.

Michael Pittman Jr. and Drake London caught first-half touchdown passes for USC which fell out of first place in the Pac-12 South with its third loss in five games.

#9 Utah 33, Washington 28: Tyler Huntley threw for one touchdown and ran for another, Jaylon Johnson returned an interception 39 yards for a score, and the visiting Utes (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) overcame an 11-point first-half deficit to...