USC suffered a 41-27 loss to No. 20 Oregon on Saturday, marking the Trojans’ first defeat at the Coliseum since 2024. The result comes amid a tenure for head coach Lincoln Riley that has seen the program struggle in high-stakes matchups, leaving fans questioning the current state of the football program.
Defensive Struggles and Injuries
Despite the hire of defensive coordinator Gary Patterson during the offseason, USC’s defense continued a trend of poor performance against top competition. The Trojans surrendered 504 yards to Oregon, which represents the third-most yards allowed by the defense over the last three seasons.
The game was marked by a significant injury in the second quarter when Oregon star quarterback Dante Moore was knocked out of the game. Moore was transported to the hospital via stretcher following a hit by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II. Oregon coach Lanning described the hit as disgusting
, and the play triggered a shoving match between the two teams. Stephens was ejected from the contest.
Oregon backup quarterback Dylan Raiola took over for the final two-plus quarters, throwing for 366 passing yards. The Ducks scored on six of their final seven drives. In the closing minutes, after an incomplete pass on a fourth-and-7 attempt by USC from its own 49-yard line, Oregon sealed the victory with an eight-play drive capped by a touchdown run from Jordon Davison.
Riley’s Record Against Ranked Opponents
The loss highlights a difficult stretch for Lincoln Riley against elite teams. USC currently holds a 5-15 record against top-25 opponents during Riley’s tenure and is 2-6 against ranked Big Ten opponents over the previous two seasons.
The Trojans now face a challenging Big Ten schedule that includes matchups against Indiana, Ohio State, and Penn State. While Riley recently signed the No. 1 recruiting class for the 2026 cycle, the program continues to struggle in high-leverage moments despite having one of the most expensive rosters in the sport.