Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back Monday morning, using his spot on ESPN’s First Take to hammer USC and its head coach after the Trojans’ latest stumble.
Finebaum was reacting to USC’s 41-27 home loss to Oregon on Saturday night, a game that slipped away even after Ducks quarterback Dante Moore left with a concussion. USC still couldn’t finish the job against Oregon backup QB Dylan Raiola. The Trojans were tied at 27-27 after rallying from deficits at halftime and after the third quarter, but Oregon closed the game with the final 14 points.
The numbers told the story, too. USC put up 446 total yards, but its defense had no answer for Oregon’s 504 yards.
For Finebaum, it was another example of what he sees as a pattern under Lincoln Riley, who has been at USC since 2022. He pointed to Riley’s inability to win the kind of big games that became a hallmark of his Oklahoma tenure.
“Everybody knows who the fraud is. It’s Lincoln Riley.
He has the same record at this point in his (USC) tenure as Clay Helton, who got fired and run off, it cost about $10 million to get rid of him and it will cost about $70 million to get rid of Lincoln Riley, but I promise you USC people it would be worth it,” Finebaum said. “This guy is bringing your program down to the gutter.
… They don’t even have the best team in Los Angeles right now. That belongs to UCLA.”
The loss leaves USC with no room to spare if it wants to stay in the College Football Playoff conversation. On the championship side of the picture, the current Kalshi market lists Georgia at 15%, Texas at 14%, Ohio St. and Notre Dame at 12% each, Miami (FL) at 10%, LSU at 7%, Indiana at 6%, Oregon and Alabama at 5% each, and Florida at 4%.
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Oregon Suddenly Has A Bigger Quarterback Question After Beating USC
Dylan Raiolas primetime debut gave Oregon a timely burst of stability in a game that briefly tilted toward uncertainty. After starting quarterback Dante Moore left with an injury, Raiola stepped in and delivered a poised performance, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Ducks pulled away for a 41-27 win over USC.
Dan Lanning came away impressed with the way Raiola handled the moment, especially the confidence he showed in a spotlight game that could have unraveled quickly. Still, the bigger question for Oregon now is Moores health, and the Ducks will spend their bye week sorting out how serious the injury is and what it might mean for the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Mariota Just Gave Ducks Fans A Reason To Pay Attention
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Mariota completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns, a line that will resonate with Ducks fans who still keep one eye on his NFL stops. Seattle got big production from Sam Darnold in his return from injury, as he threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns, but also turned it over twice, leaving Mariota and Washington with the final edge in a high-scoring finish. [Read more 🡒]
Oregons USC Win Now Turns On What Happened After Dante Moore Went Down
Oregons 41-27 win over USC in a top-20 matchup was defined by much more than the final score, because the Ducks had to navigate the kind of midgame scare that can change everything in an instant. Starting quarterback Dante Moore left with a concussion and was taken to a hospital, forcing Oregon to lean on backup Dylan Raiola, who settled things down and helped keep the offense moving with key touchdown passes.
Afterward, Dan Lanning confirmed Moores concussion and made clear the program would be careful with the recovery process, which is the part of the story that now matters most for Oregon going forward. USC linebacker Desman Stephens II was suspended for the hit that caused the injury, but for the Ducks the bigger question is still the one hanging over the aftermath: how quickly, and how safely, they can get their starting quarterback back. [Read more 🡒]