GAME RECAP: No. 19 Oregon Pulls Away From No. 12 USC as Lanning Goes 3–0 vs. Riley

LOS ANGELES — Dan Lanning keeps owning this matchup. Lincoln Riley still has not solved it.

No. 19 Oregon walked into the Coliseum, lost starting quarterback Dante Moore in the first half, and still pulled away from No. 12 USC, 41–27. Dylan Raiola took over and finished the job. Dierre Hill Jr. scored twice. Jordon Davison punched in the dagger. The Trojans are 4–1 with their first loss of the season. Lanning is 3–0 against Riley.

Oregon improved to 3–1 (1–0 Big Ten). USC fell to 4–1 (1–1 Big Ten).

The Ducks struck first without finding the end zone. Gage Hurych knocked through a 30-yarder at 3:34 of the first, capping a 10-play, 68-yard drive. USC answered the only way a Coliseum favorite is supposed to. Jayden Maiava hit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for 31 yards at 12:53 of the second. Caden Chittenden converted. USC 7–3.

That was the last time the building felt settled.

Raiola, in for Moore, found Evan Stewart from 3 yards at 9:11. Hurych tied it, then put Oregon back in front with a 19-yarder as the first-half clock died. Oregon 13–10 at the break. Moore was being evaluated. Lanning told the radio broadcast the quarterback was moving his extremities. The Ducks kept playing.

The third quarter was the swing.

Hill finished a 75-yard strike from a yard at 13:04. Oregon 20–10. Maiava answered from a yard at 8:33. Hill came right back from 4 yards at 5:52. Oregon 27–17. Chittenden’s 29-yarder before the fourth made it 27–20, and the Trojans still had a pulse.

They used it.

Maiava hit Tanook Hines from 11 yards at 12:41 of the fourth. Tied, 27–27. The Coliseum believed. Riley’s team had 75 yards in seven plays and the night back in its hands.

Oregon took it back the same way it has taken this series.

Nine plays. Seventy-five yards. Raiola dropped a 29-yard touchdown to Dakorien Moore at 8:35. Hurych made it 34–27. After Oregon took over on downs near midfield, Raiola converted fourth down to Stewart, Hill moved the chains, and Davison walked in from 2 yards at 2:03. Hurych made it 41–27. The Trojans did not score again.

Oregon finished with the yards and the answers. Raiola went 16-of-22 for 239 yards and two touchdowns after Moore’s exit. Moore had gone 8-of-10 for 77 before the injury. Hill was the mismatch: 12 carries for 38 yards and two scores, plus four catches for 105 yards. Davison added 61 rushing yards and the closer. Jamari Johnson caught seven balls for 119 yards. Stewart had the first Raiola touchdown. Hurych was 2-for-2 on field goals (30, 19).

Maiava went 17-of-27 for 271 yards, two touchdown passes, and the 1-yard sneak. Dixon-Wyatt had seven catches for 114 yards and the 31-yard score. King Miller led USC on the ground with 74 yards. Chittenden made kicks from 38 and 29. The Trojans had 379 yards and no turnovers and still left the Coliseum with a loss.

Devon Jackson led Oregon with 10 tackles. Matayo Uiagalelei and Bear Alexander each had a sack. Ify Obidegwu broke up three passes. Christian Pierce led USC with seven tackles.

Riley has now lost three straight to Lanning. The first two were in Eugene. This one was at home, under the lights, with an unbeaten record on the line and a backup quarterback on the other sideline.

Oregon pulled away when the game got tied. That is the part Riley has not been able to stop. The Ducks handed the Trojans their first loss of the season and left Los Angeles with the series still in Lanning’s pocket.