Saturday night saw Lincoln Riley add yet another big-game loss to his USC record, and it came against an opponent who was missing its starting quarterback. The Trojans fell to Oregon, with Dante Moore carried off on a stretcher after a late hit to the head in the second quarter. Dylan Raiola stepped in for Moore and guided the Ducks to the win.
In the fourth quarter, the game remained even. USC had a chance to take the lead. That opportunity never materialized.
What Went Wrong for the USC Defense
The hire of Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator in the offseason was supposed to address the issues that had held USC back against top-level opponents. Instead, Patterson’s arrival brought no improvement.
USC gave up 35 points and 460 yards in the Week 3 game against Rutgers. Some might say that was forgivable, since the game came right before traveling across the country. The way they played against Oregon, however, made it clear the issue ran deeper than just looking ahead to the next opponent.
USC’s defense stopped Oregon from picking up a first down on nearly all of its attempts, holding the team to just 366 passing yards while allowing conversions on only 50 percent of third downs and 100 percent of fourth downs. Moore was out of the game for most of it.
The harshest judgment came from Riley’s own actions. With seven minutes to go and three timeouts remaining, he opted to go for it on fourth-and-7 from his own 49-yard line. The attempt fell short, and Oregon sealed the game with an eight-play drive that consumed 5:12 off the clock, capped by Jordon Davison plunging into the end zone.
A Long History of Losing Big Games
USC is now 5-15 (.250) against top-25 teams under Riley. The Trojans are 2-6 against ranked Big Ten opponents over the last two seasons. Last year’s 42-27 loss to Oregon was eerily similar — USC had chances to win, but let Oregon pull away late.
No team has a better mark against ranked opponents than they do against all comers. These contests are difficult to claim victory in, and the nation’s premier squads are the ones competing in them. Still, it raises the question: should these matchups be this challenging for USC?
The Trojans rank among the most recognized names in college football, with a budget that few other schools can match. The cost of their current roster places it near the top of the sport. Coach Riley recently inked the No. 1 recruiting class for the 2026 cycle.
Why the Big-Money Plan Has Not Worked
The future looks bright for Riley to point at, since the Trojans have piled up young talent that will pay off in a few years. Selling that vision in Year 5, though, is hard, given that big-money freshmen are expected to play and perform right away.
There is no proof yet that adding another group of recruits or another round of transfers will finally push Riley and USC across the finish line. The only way to know for sure is to watch it happen.
The Trojans face Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana on their upcoming slate of games. Rather than serving as a springboard, however, this trio of contests has left USC with the same question it has posed for five years.
If not now at USC… when?
The question remains open.
Key Facts
- USC is 5-15 (.250) against top-25 teams under Riley
- USC is 2-6 against ranked Big Ten opponents over the last two seasons
- Moore was stretchered off after a late hit to the head in the second quarter
- Oregon gained 366 passing yards with 50 percent third-down conversion rate
- Oregon iced the game with an eight-play drive lasting 5:12
USC’s Upcoming Schedule
| Game | Opponent |
|---|---|
| Next game | Penn State |
| Following game | Ohio State |
| Remaining game | Indiana |
The question remains open.
Source material: “Lincoln Riley's latest failure against depleted Oregon raises the question: If not now at USC … when?,” CBS Sports.
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