IT’S NOT HOW YOU START: The Pac-12 wraps up its season this week with the 2020 Pac-12 Football Championship, presented by 76, taking place on Friday, Dec. 18 at 5p PT / 8p ET on FOX with the #13 USC Trojans hosting the Pac-12 North representative OREGON Ducks.

• On Saturday, Dec. 12, the Pac-12 announced WASHINGTON would travel to face USC in the Conference title game as winners of the Pac-12 North division, the Huskies third division title in the last five seasons. 
• On Monday, Dec. 14, the Conference announced that WASHINGTON would be unable to participate in the game and would be replaced by OREGON as the team with the next best record in the division.
• The Trojans have captured their third Pac-12 South title in the last six seasons, the most among any team in the division.

PLAYING FOR THE TITLE: This Friday’s matchup represents the 10th edition of Pac-12 football’s title game, with the Pac-12 North winning all but one of nine contests. The Pac-12 South’s lone win came courtesy of USC in 2017 (defeated Stanford 31-28).

• For the Trojans, this is their third appearance in the champ game and first since 2017. 
• For the Ducks, this is their fourth appearance in the champ game which ties them with Stanford for the most in the event’s history. OREGON has gone 3-0 in the #Pac12FCG, defeating UTAH last season 37-15.
• This is the second time a second place team is playing in the #Pac12FCG (UCLA replaced USC in 2011 due to NCAA sanctions).
• This year represents the first home-hosted #Pac12FCG since 2013, with the last six taking place at Levi’s Stadium and the 2020 event originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

FIGHT ON TO THE END: On Saturday, USC defeated UCLA, coming with the game-winning score with 16 seconds left in the game, the Trojans third win this year scoring in the final 80 seconds of the game (scored with 1:20 left vs. ASU and 25 seconds left at Arizona).

• The Trojans outscored UCLA 20-3 in the 4th quarter, coming back from 18 points down for USC’s largest comeback since 2005 vs. Arizona State (also 18 points).

A PERFECT RECORD: The Trojans have started their season 5-0 for the first time since 2006 (started 6-0 that season) and are looking to start 6-0 for the 20th time in school history.

• Trojans are producing 319.2 passing yards per game this season, tops in the Pac-12 and 13th best in FBS (set a school record with 335.8 YPG). This would be the fourth time in school history the Trojans have 300+ passing YPG (319.8 in 2005 and 306.8 in 2002).
• QB Kedon Slovis has back-to-back games with a career-high five TDs after matching the total vs. UCLA. Only other Trojans QB to do so is Sam Darnold.
• Slovis now has 13 passing TDs and zero interceptions in the 4th quarter in his career. 

THE QUACK ATTACK: OREGON has produced 467.0 total yards per game this season, leading the Pac-12 (21st in FBS). The Ducks have produced over 400 yards in their first four games before being held under 400 at CALIFORNIA in their last contest (had their Dec. 12 game vs. WASHINGTON canceled due to COVID-19).

• QB Tyler Shough is one of three FBS QBs this season to be averaging over 250 passing yards and 50 rushing yards on the year (also, D’Eriq King of MIAMI and Dustin Crum of KENT STATE).
• Shough’s 1,645 total yards thus far are the most by an OREGON QB through his first five career starts.
• Shough’s 11 pass TDs are the second most ever by a Ducks QB through their first five career starts (Marcus Mariota and Bill Musgrave each also had 11 while Justin Herbert had 15).

IT’S NOT OVER YET: Rounding out the weekend’s schedule, three more #Pac12FB matchups are set to take place for the season’s final weekend.

• The Cougs visit UTAH in a matchup that will determine bowl eligibility for the winner (Pac-12 requires .500-or-better this year).
• STANFORD travels to UCLA as both programs look to finish their year with a winning record.
• ARIZONA STATE travels to OREGON STATE (Beavs were a higher seed in their division for week seven matchups) with the Sun Devils looking for bowl eligibility and the Beavs looking to end their season right after some signature wins on the year.