Overview
- USC lost 41-27 to No. 20 Oregon at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night, dropping the Trojans to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play.
- A second-quarter targeting flag on linebacker Desman Stephens removed him from the game after a hit that also injured Oregon QB Dante Moore, and backup Dylan Raiola entered to throw roughly 309 yards and four touchdowns.
- The Trojans surrendered four straight second-half touchdown drives, allowed about 504 total yards, and committed six penalties including a late roughing-the-passer that extended Oregon’s decisive drive.
- Offensively Jayden Maiava passed for roughly 326 yards and two touchdowns, but the offense could not overcome repeated defensive breakdowns and momentum shifts.
- The loss intensified questions about Lincoln Riley’s performance in big games, reinforced by a 5-14 record versus ranked teams at USC and an 0-3 mark against Dan Lanning’s Oregon, and sets up pressing personnel and discipline issues ahead of a home meeting with Washington.