Oregon Tops USC 41-27 as Raiola Steps In for Injured Moore
The short version
- Oregon defeated USC 41-27 at the Coliseum, scoring 28 second-half points.
- Quarterback Dante Moore was hospitalized after a second-quarter hit to the head while sliding; he was stretchered off but is moving, per Lanning.
- Dylan Raiola relieved Moore and passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns.
- Lanning cited targeting rules and called the hit avoidable; USC's Lincoln Riley asked about Moore postgame.
- Lanning's key calls included a late first-half field goal and a successful fourth-and-three near midfield to seal the game.
Oregon beat USC 41-27 in Los Angeles, pulling away with 28 second-half points after quarterback Dante Moore left on a stretcher following a hit to the head.
Oregon earned a 41-27 road victory over rival USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a win head coach Dan Lanning acknowledged the team badly wanted. The Ducks broke the game open after halftime, scoring 28 points in the second half and pulling away in the fourth quarter while the defense came up with key stops.
The victory came at a cost. Starting quarterback Dante Moore was injured in the second quarter on a play Lanning described as avoidable. Moore scrambled for a first down, slid, and was struck in the head by a USC defender. He remained down on the field for several minutes before being placed on a stretcher, taken to an ambulance, and transported to a hospital.
Lanning said after the game that early indications pointed to recovery and that Moore was able to move, but he declined to speculate further until more information was available. The injury visibly shook the Oregon sideline, and Lanning said he gathered the team for a prayer for Moore's health and for their own composure before play resumed.
Backup quarterback Dylan Raiola entered the game and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Lanning praised Raiola's preparation during the week, saying the reserve had been texting him about what he saw on USC's film and in press conferences, and was ready when his number was called.
In his opening statement, Lanning credited the team's physicality as the deciding factor and highlighted Oregon's adjustments on offense at halftime, while noting the defense still had areas to clean up. He also said first-half penalties cost the Ducks chances at touchdowns that became field goals.
Lanning explained two key decisions. He opted for a field goal late in the second quarter, a choice influenced by the memory of a first-year game against Washington when he passed on a kick before halftime, and the change in personnel after Moore's injury. Oregon then converted on a fourth-and-three attempt near midfield to help close out the game.
The coach also noted the low possession count in the first half, with only four possessions for each side, and long early drives on both sides. He said playing in a packed Coliseum made it a difficult environment, remarking that he had watched three USC games on television this season without seeing a full stadium before Oregon's visit.
Lanning called out USC coach Lincoln Riley for asking about Moore after the game, saying that kind of concern cannot be coached. He also said there is a reason the targeting rule exists and that the hit on Moore was, in his view, as clear a case as there is.
Looking ahead, Moore's status remains under evaluation as he continues his recovery, with Lanning declining to offer a timeline. Oregon leaves Los Angeles with a rivalry win and a proven backup performance from Raiola should Moore miss further time.
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