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Moore leaves after a second-quarter hit
The incident occurred with a little more than 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Oregon was four points behind when Moore ran beyond the first-down line and slid. USC linebacker Desman Stephens II struck him in the head during the tackle, and Moore remained on the field.
Players from both teams became involved in an altercation before staff separated them. Officials reviewed the play, assessed a targeting penalty and ejected Stephens. Moore was placed on a stretcher, moved into an ambulance and transported to a hospital, according to Annenberg Media. Raiola then took over Oregon’s offense.
Stephens’s celebrations around the incident drew criticism during NBC’s halftime coverage, including from analyst Chris Simms. USC coach Lincoln Riley said afterward that he had not seen the celebrations. Stephens’s ejection left the Trojans without the linebacker for the rest of the game.
Raiola delivers in relief
Raiola, a transfer from Nebraska with experience starting in the Big Ten, threw a touchdown two plays after entering. The teams had combined for only 10 points before Moore’s departure, but both offenses began producing more before halftime. Oregon continued to move the ball with its replacement quarterback directing the attack.
The decisive fourth-quarter passing play was a 29-yard touchdown from Raiola to receiver Dakorien Moore. It put Oregon ahead 34–27, giving the Ducks their first lead of the quarter. Oregon ultimately finished with 41 points and a 14-point winning margin. Evan Stewart and running back Jordon Davison also contributed as Raiola worked with an offense built around the starting quarterback.
USC produces yards but cannot finish the job
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava passed for 326 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, on 42 attempts. Freshman receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt led his receiving options with seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. The Trojans had substantial production through the air even as Oregon’s passing game found openings against their secondary.
Running back King Miller added 74 yards on 13 carries. Those contributions were not enough to overcome Oregon’s late advantage. The defeat came in USC’s first game against a ranked opponent that season, a significant test for a team facing an extended stretch of demanding conference opponents.
Oregon opens its Big Ten schedule with a road win
The September 26 trip to USC was Oregon’s Big Ten opener. The conference had assigned the matchup a 4:30 p.m. Pacific kickoff on NBC, with the Ducks beginning their league schedule on the road at the Coliseum.
For USC, the next scheduled opponent was Washington, also at the Coliseum, with a 4:30 p.m. Pacific kickoff the following week. Penn State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio State were among the other opponents still ahead after the loss to Oregon.