Oregon Upsets USC 41-27 After Starting Quarterback Suffers Injury
Backup quarterback Dylan Raiola led a second-half surge for the Ducks, who overcame the loss of Dante Moore and a controversial hit.
No. 20 Oregon mounted a significant comeback to defeat No. 12 USC 41-27 on Saturday, fueled by backup quarterback Dylan Raiola after starter Dante Moore was injured and taken off the field in an ambulance following a hit in the second quarter. The victory extended Oregon's winning streak over USC to five games.
Aggressive Play and Injury
The game took a tense turn late in the second quarter when USC linebacker Desman Stephens II was flagged for targeting on a hit to Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. Moore was attempting to slide when Stephens made contact to his head. The hit resulted in Moore's ejection from the game and sparked a heated exchange between both teams, with coaches and players involved in shoving.
Moore was subsequently placed on a stretcher and transported to an ambulance, leaving the Trojans with a 7-3 lead but facing a significant penalty and the ejection of a key defensive player. Stephens was ejected from the game for targeting.
Raiola Takes the Helm
Stepping in for Moore was backup quarterback Dylan Raiola, who had previously seen his season end with an ankle injury against USC the previous year. Raiola immediately impacted the game, leading Oregon on a scoring drive that resulted in a touchdown pass, giving the Ducks a 10-7 lead before halftime. He finished the game completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 23 of 42 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw an interception in the end zone late in the game. The Trojans' defense struggled to contain Oregon's offense in the second half, allowing 34 points after Moore's injury.
Second-Half Dominance
In the fourth quarter, with the score tied, Raiola connected with Dakorien Moore for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Following a failed fourth-down conversion attempt by USC, Oregon extended its lead. The Ducks sealed the victory with a 2-yard touchdown run by Jordan Davison with under two minutes remaining.
The win marks USC's first home loss of the season and raises questions about the team's performance and composure, particularly for head coach Lincoln Riley, who has yet to secure a win against Oregon's Dan Lanning. The Trojans now face a challenging schedule with limited room for error.