Oregon Overcomes QB Injury to Beat USC 41-27 in Big Ten Opener
The short version
- Oregon beat USC 41-27 on Sept. 26 to open Big Ten play, improving to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
- Starting QB Dante Moore was stretchered off after a hit to the head early in the second quarter and left the stadium by ambulance.
- Backup Dylan Raiola threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-25 passing.
- The win keeps Oregon in contention for a third straight College Football Playoff berth after a Week 2 loss to Oklahoma State.
- Oregon enters its lone bye week of the season next week.
The Ducks improved to 3-1 by winning at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 26 despite losing starter Dante Moore to a first-half injury that required a stretcher.
Oregon opened its Big Ten schedule with a 41-27 road victory over USC on Sept. 26 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Ducks moved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play with the result.
The win came at a cost. Starting quarterback Dante Moore left the game early in the second quarter after taking a blow to the head from USC defender Desman Stephens II's forearms while sliding at the end of a scramble. Moore lay motionless for an extended stretch before being carted off on a stretcher and transported from the stadium by ambulance.
Backup Dylan Raiola, a junior and former five-star recruit who transferred from Nebraska, took over and delivered a strong performance. He completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns, capping the drive Moore began with a scoring throw and leading Oregon to points on three of his final four possessions.
Coach Dan Lanning praised the backup's readiness. "Every guy on the sideline had faith in him," Lanning said of Raiola. "He was ready for his moment."
Tight end Jamari Johnson, a preseason All-American who had missed the previous two weeks with injury, returned and caught seven passes for 119 yards. A one-handed reception that would have added a long gain was negated by a holding penalty. Lanning described Johnson as "that security blanket for our quarterbacks."
Running back Dierre Hill Jr. also stood out. The sophomore became the first Oregon running back since 2012 to top 100 receiving yards in a game and added two third-quarter rushing touchdowns. Oregon's offense produced 12 chunk plays in total.
Defensively, Oregon allowed 446 total yards, and USC quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 326 yards and two scores as the Trojans moved the ball past midfield frequently. Still, the Ducks came through in key spots: USC converted only 2 of 11 third downs and managed three field goals on deep drives into Oregon territory, one of which was missed. A fourth-down pass breakup near midfield by Brandon Finney Jr. helped end a late USC push.
The result keeps Oregon in the hunt for a third consecutive College Football Playoff berth after a surprising Week 2 loss to Oklahoma State. With USC itself a likely playoff contender, the road victory strengthens the Ducks' resume. Oregon now enters its only bye week of the season with questions to address on defense but momentum from a bounce-back win following the defeat in Stillwater.
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