Saturday night gave Oregon exactly the kind of response it needed.
Dan Lanning’s team handled USC in a game that turned somber when Dante Moore was knocked out after a hit from USC’s Desman Stephens II. Oregon finished the job anyway, beating the No. 12 team in the country with its backup quarterback and keeping itself in the national championship conversation.
The Ducks entered the weekend sitting 20th in the AP Poll after starting the season at No. 2, then sliding after the close call against Boise State and the loss to Oklahoma State. A lopsided win over Portland State helped, but this was the kind of result that should force a bigger jump.
A move into the top 20 looks safe, and Oregon should climb at least six spots after a wild Saturday around the country. The Ducks’ win over USC was paired with chaos elsewhere: No.
13 Penn State was shocked by Wisconsin, No. 14 Tennessee lost to Texas, No.
16 Louisville was stunned by Wake Forest, No. 18 Michigan fell to Iowa, and No.
19 Missouri lost to Mississippi State.
There is still some traffic ahead of Oregon in the rankings, though. Florida delivered a huge statement by scoring 50+ in a win over No.
4 Ole Miss, and that should send the Gators soaring from 21st. No.
24 Mississippi State also helped its case by beating Missouri, and Kamario Taylor is only going to continue to win people over.
Still, the most likely landing spot for Oregon looks like 14th in the AP Poll, assuming the top 11 mostly stays in place and Florida and Iowa join that upper group. Oregon does have a loss, but the win over USC is better than anything Utah has on its resume right now.
There’s also a chance those earlier non-conference games look even better over time. Oklahoma State beat a West Virginia team that had plenty of hype, while Boise State keeps building a case as the best non-Power 4 team.
The AP Poll comes out at 11:00 AM PT, and Oregon’s rise should only add to the significance of what it just did against USC.
In Other News...
Oregon Fans Are Livid Over Chris Simms After Dante Moore Hit
The hit on Dante Moore was the kind of moment that stops a game in its tracks, and it immediately put Oregon fans on edge as the Ducks quarterback ended up hospitalized after the collision with USC linebacker Desman Stephens II. Even before the broader debate settled in, the focus in Eugene was on Moores condition and the kind of physical finish that can change the feel of a rivalry game in an instant.
Chris Simms only widened the divide during halftime, when he defended Stephens to some extent and suggested Moore had slid late, leaving the linebacker in a no-win situation. That take lit up Oregon fans on social media, who were already furious over the play and had little patience for any explanation that seemed to soften it. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Response To The Dante Moore Hit Will Anger Oregon Fans
USCs punishment of linebacker Desman Stephens came down after a dangerous hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore in the recent matchup, adding another flashpoint to a rivalry that already had plenty of edge. Stephens was ejected from the game, then stayed on the sideline afterward, a detail that drew criticism in its own right, while his later public apology did little to quiet the noise around the play.
For Oregon, the bigger concern is Moores health, and reports that he is in good spirits after suffering a concussion offer at least some relief. Still, the one-game suspension for Stephens is the kind of response that will leave Ducks fans frustrated, especially after a hit that changed the tone of the game and raised questions about how the situation was handled in the moment. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Twisted The Knife After USC Lost Dante Moore
The No. 20 Ducks walked out of a rivalry win over No. 12 USC with more than just another statement victory, and Dan Lanning did not waste the moment. After the game, the Oregon coach talked through Moores recovery status and addressed the targeting penalty that led to the injury, all while making sure to highlight the work Dylan put in on the field.
Lanning also took a moment to praise Dylans performance and, with a coachs grin, pointed to his 3-0 record against USC. For Oregon, it was the kind of postgame backdrop that comes with beating a ranked rival, especially when the win leaves one side dealing with a costly injury and the other side savoring the edge it earned. [Read more 🡒]