Without Dante Moore, Oregon takes down USC at the Coliseum
The Top 25 Big Ten showdown between USC and Oregon went the Ducks' way, 41-27, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The scoreboard shows a clear win, but it came at a steep price: starting quarterback Dante Moore left in an ambulance in the second quarter after a violent hit.
A lot was riding on this matchup between the No. 20 Ducks and the No. 12 Trojans. USC came in unbeaten (4-0) and looking to cement its status as a contender. Oregon needed a response after its Sept. 12 loss to Oklahoma State (39-31). That setback had led Dante Moore to call a players-only meeting, without the coaching staff. The response on the field was emphatic, but it came at a cost.
A tight start
The first quarter offered few points. Only Oregon kicker Gage Hurych found the mark, with a 30-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. USC answered early in the second quarter: Jayden Maiava connected with K. Dixon-Wyatt on a 31-yard pass for the game's first touchdown, and the Trojans went ahead 7-3.
The hit that changed everything
That's when the game took a dramatic turn. After taking off with the ball, Moore tried to protect himself by sliding, but Desman Stephens II hit him late. Officials flagged the play immediately, and both benches spilled onto the field.
After video review, Stephens was ejected for targeting, and both teams were penalized for the scuffle that followed. Moore was attended to on the field for an extended period before leaving the Coliseum in an ambulance for the hospital. As of this writing, Oregon had not provided an update on the severity of his injury.
Raiola takes over
That left Dylan Raiola to step in. A former five-star recruit, he joined the Ducks after 23 starts over two seasons at Nebraska. In a twist of fate, his 2025 season ended with a broken right fibula suffered in a loss to… USC, on Nov. 1.
The impact was immediate. Two plays after entering, Raiola found Evan Stewart, who raced into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. Oregon was back in front, 10-7.
USC drew level on a 38-yard field goal by Caden Chittenden (10-10). Raiola then led a 16-play, 75-yard drive that left just one second on the clock before halftime. Hurych capped it with a 19-yard field goal: 13-10 Ducks at the break.
Dierre Hill carries the offense
The third quarter belonged to Dierre Hill. Right out of the locker room, Raiola hit him with a short pass that the running back turned into a 62-yard gain. Hill finished the drive himself with a 1-yard run (20-10). USC hit back right away, with Maiava scoring on a 1-yard run (20-17). Hill struck again, this time from 4 yards out (27-17), before a 29-yard field goal by Chittenden pulled the Trojans within seven (27-20).
Raiola tips the balance
USC kept fighting. With 12:47 remaining, Maiava found Tanook Hines for an 11-yard touchdown: 27-27, and the Coliseum believed again. But the Ducks kept their composure. Taking advantage of a USC penalty that extended their possession, they regained the lead when Raiola found Dakorien Moore in the end zone from 29 yards out: 34-27 with 8:43 to play.
Oregon's defense then made the difference by stopping USC on fourth-and-7. Jordon Davison sealed it with a 2-yard run with 2:11 left (41-27), a touchdown upheld on review. Needing to score quickly, the Trojans saw their final attempt intercepted by Koi Perich.
By the numbers
Oregon racked up 504 total yards (366 passing, 138 rushing) to USC's 446. Ducks quarterbacks completed 27 of 35 passes for 2 touchdowns, with no interceptions and no sacks allowed, and the team didn't turn the ball over all night. For USC, passers went 23 of 42 for 326 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception, and took two sacks. Time of possession was dead even (31:25 to 31:23).
What's next
With this statement win, Oregon improves to 3-1 (1-0 Big Ten), puts the Oklahoma State disappointment behind it, and lands a major victory for the rest of its season. USC suffers its first loss of the year (4-1).
In Eugene, however, the celebration will hinge on Dante Moore's medical update. The Ducks now know they have, in Raiola, a more than credible backup option. Oregon, which has no game scheduled for Oct. 3, hosts UCLA on Oct. 10.
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