USC took another hit against Oregon, and the loss did more than dent the Trojans’ short-term hopes. It raised the same old question around Lincoln Riley’s team: is this group actually built to survive the grind ahead?
After five games, the answer from the field looks bleak. USC is still technically alive in the College Football Playoff race, but the gap between that idea and the team we’ve seen so far feels enormous. This doesn’t look like a roster that’s ready to handle the kind of postseason football the program expects.
The concern isn’t just Oregon. It’s what comes next.
Washington is up next, and even with the Huskies coming off a loss to the Gophers, they bring more talent than the Rutgers team that pushed USC to the wire. Demond Williams looks like a real problem for the Trojans’ defense, and that matchup is anything but a comfortable step forward.
Then the schedule turns even harsher. USC still has Penn State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Indiana waiting.
If the Trojans couldn’t get past Oregon, it’s hard to see them suddenly flipping the switch against Indiana or Ohio State. And with Wisconsin and Penn State both coming on the road, those are the kinds of environments that expose a team fast.
Even the finale against UCLA doesn’t feel like something USC can simply pencil in as a smooth finish. The bigger issue is how Saturday’s loss could hang around. Games like that can leave a mark, and right now there’s not much reason to trust this team to shake it off and navigate the rest of a brutal schedule.
In Other News...
USC Is Still Watching A 5-Star RB Shut Down Flip Buzz
Kemon Spell remains one of the biggest names in the 2027 recruiting class, and USC is still in the mix as it keeps pressing for the top-ranked running back. Spell is already committed to Georgia, but the Trojans have continued to stay involved alongside Penn State and Virginia Tech, a sign that his recruitment still has a long way to go before it feels truly settled.
Spells path has already included one notable turn, going from a Penn State pledge to Georgia after a coaching change in Happy Valley. Even with the extra attention from USC and the other programs, he has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the Bulldogs, which leaves the Trojans watching closely as one of the classs most coveted backs keeps drawing the kind of national interest that usually doesnt fade quietly. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Faces A Bigger Dante Moore Question Than Just His Injury
Oregons quarterback situation took a sharp turn after Dante Moore was hurt on a targeting play and taken to the hospital, but Dan Lannings update offered at least some immediate reassurance. Lanning said Moore is healthy and still being evaluated, though the Ducks have not announced any timetable for his return. In the meantime, the offense did not stall, with backup Dylan Raiola stepping in and helping lead Oregon to a win after the injury.
Now the bigger question is not only when Moore will be back, but how Oregon manages the next stretch if it has to plan around both quarterbacks. Raiola has already shown he can keep the Ducks moving, and the staff is preparing for upcoming games with that reality in mind. For a team with its sights set on staying on schedule, the uncertainty at quarterback is becoming more than a short-term injury update. [Read more 🡒]
USC Faces One Big Problem Ahead Of Crucial Washington Game
The No. 18 Trojans return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 3 for a meeting with Washington that already carries a little extra weight, even at this point in the season. USC is 4-1 and favored by 8.5 points at DraftKings Sportsbook, but the matchup comes with a familiar kind of October concern: the health of the receiver room. Trent Mosley and Corey Simms are among the injury question marks, leaving the Trojans to sort through depth and timing as they prepare for a conference test on NBC.
Washington brings its own challenge in quarterback Demond Williams Jr., whose passing and rushing production have made the Huskies a difficult team to settle down. For USC, the issue is not just whether it can protect its home field, but whether it can do so while navigating a short-handed offense against a team capable of turning the game into a track meet. The Trojans have the edge on paper, but the next step in this season may depend on how much of their playmaking cast is actually available when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]