USC’s first ranked test of the season turned into a 41-27 loss to Oregon on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, even though the Trojans had every chance to turn it into something bigger.
The game stayed tight for three quarters. Oregon never got fully loose, but it did enough to stay in front, building a lead that reached 10 points before USC pulled even at 27 with 12:41 left. From there, the Trojans couldn’t get the stops they needed, and Oregon’s offense kept finding answers.
Head coach Lincoln Riley said the Trojans had put themselves in position to win.
"You play in a heavyweight battle like this, and you trade punches the whole night to put yourself in position to win. And we put ourselves in position to win," head coach Lincoln Riley said after the game.
"We had them stopped, going to get the ball back. Place going crazy.
They hadn't stopped us offensively in a while. We had exactly what we wanted.
But against good teams, if you give them opportunities to stay in the game or give them that fresh set of downs, it's tough to beat good teams that way. ... You guys will say whatever you want to say on the outside.
That's your job. I get it.
I respect it. I know we have a damn good football team in here, and we're going to keep going."
Oregon’s attack was led by Dylan Raiola, who entered late in the second quarter after Dante Moore was carted off the field following a late hit. Raiola finished 19 of 25 for 289 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks also leaned on a balanced ground game, with Jordon Davison running for 66 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Dierre Hill Jr. did damage all over the field, piling up 191 total yards of offense. He finished with 105 receiving yards, 63 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and 23 yards on a kickoff return.
USC got a strong day from Jayden Maiava, who went 23 of 42 for 326 yards with two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and a late interception. Freshman receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt caught seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, while King Miller added 74 yards on 13 carries.
The defeat snapped USC’s 10-game home winning streak and kept Oregon’s run going against the cardinal and gold.
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