USC fell 41-27 to Oregon at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 26, 2026, dropping to 5-15 against top-25 opponents under Lincoln Riley as defensive breakdowns and a controversial second-quarter ejection overshadowed the marquee Big Ten matchup.
Nearly half a decade after Lincoln Riley surveyed the Coliseum’s rooftop deck in a slick blue suit and glossy cardinal tie, declaring the venue is going to be the mecca of college football
, reality told a starkly different story on Saturday night. The Trojans surrendered 504 total yards to No. 20 Oregon, extending a troubling pattern of big-game struggles in Year 5 of the Riley era. Despite bringing in defensive coordinator Gary Patterson during the offseason to shore up a unit that has repeatedly faltered against elite competition, USC’s defense yielded points on six of the Ducks’ final seven drives.
Desman Stephens Ejection and the Costly Fallout
The game’s most jarring sequence arrived early in the second quarter when USC linebacker Desman Stephens II delivered a late hit to the head of Oregon star quarterback Dante Moore. The collision forced Moore off the field on a stretcher before he was transported to a local hospital, triggering a tense on-field shoving match between both teams.
Stephens was ejected following the play, but the linebacker remained on the sideline during the second half, drawing sharp criticism. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning called the hit disgusting
after the final whistle. When questioned about why Stephens was permitted to stay on the bench after being tossed from the contest, Riley offered a blunt defense.
“Why? Because he’s on our football team.”
Lincoln Riley, USC head coach
Dylan Raiola and Oregon Capitalize on Defensive Lapses
Losing a starting quarterback would typically cripple an offense, but Oregon seamlessly shifted gears to backup Dylan Raiola. The replacement signal-caller picked apart the USC secondary for 289 passing yards and two touchdowns, while running back Jordon Davison gashed the front seven with a 45-yard burst early and punched in a game-sealing touchdown late.
The Trojans manufactured their own offensive output through quarterback Jayden Maiava, who accumulated 326 yards and two scores through the air while completing 23 of 42 pass attempts. Yet, the ground game stalled completely, averaging a meager 3.6 yards per carry. Special teams missteps compounded the offensive frustration when Caden Chittenden missed an early field goal wide right following a 13-play opening drive.
Dan Lanning Takes Aim After Landmark Victory
Even with the defensive vulnerabilities and procedural penalties, USC managed to keep the score tied entering the fourth quarter. But with the game hanging in the balance, Riley rolled the dice on a fourth-and-7 from his own 49-yard line with all three timeouts in his pocket. Maiava’s pass fell incomplete, allowing Oregon to drain 5:12 off the clock with an eight-play drive that put the contest out of reach.
During his postgame press conference, Dan Lanning delivered a sharp parting shot regarding regional recruiting and program direction.
“Three wins against these guys, I guess if you’re from this area and you’re interested in winning football games, you should go to Oregon. If you’re interested in going to a Chris Brown concert, you should go here.”
Dan Lanning, Oregon head coach
With the defeat, USC falls to 2-6 against ranked Big Ten opponents over the last two seasons and stares down an unforgiving conference slate featuring upcoming matchups against Penn State, Ohio State, and Indiana.
Worth a look
