No. 15 USC can’t overcome mistakes, falls to No. 7 Oregon

Another big game, another big stink.

Another loaded season, another lost season.

Four years after Lincoln Riley arrived at USC amid gaudy promises to return the football program to national prominence, well, two words.

Still waiting.

Needing a win at Oregon’s Autzen Stadium on Saturday to have a chance at their first College Football Playoff berth, the Trojans once again fell short, fell deep and basically fell on their faces.

Still waiting.

EUGENE, Ore. — The last time he made it here, to the doorstep of the College Football Playoff, Lincoln Riley could only watch as USC’s hopes slipped away with a single hamstring tweak. Without its Heisman-winning quarterback healthy, USC fell painfully short, left to wonder over frustrating seasons that followed what might have been.

It would take Riley nearly three years — and plenty of ups and downs in between — to return to that same place with USC, only to have the door slammed shut once again, this time in a 42-27 loss to No. 7 Oregon.

With its playoff hopes dashed by a third defeat, barring an unlikely sequence of events, USC (9-3) appears to be heading to a second-tier bowl game, while the Ducks are one of three Big Ten teams likely to host a home playoff matchup. That’s an especially bitter pill to swallow, considering the progress Riley has trumpeted this season, four years into his tenure at USC.

No. 7 Oregon 42, No. 15 USC 27, end of game

USC started on its 26 after the USC turnover on downs.

Noah Whittington ran for one yard and USC called timeout with 2:19 remaining. Whittington ran for eight yards. USC was called for pass interference and illegal hands to the face.

The two-minute timeout was triggered.

On first down, Whittington ran for one yard to the USC 49.

The Trojans burned their final timeout.

Whittington ran for no gain. On third-and-nine, Whittington ran for four yards and protested USC wasn’t called for an obvious face mask on the play.

On fourth-and-five with 18 seconds left, Oregon called timeout.

Oregon punted to the end zone.

USC took one snap and ran out the clock.

No. 7 Oregon 42, No. 15 USC 27, 2:24 left in fourth quarter

USC started on its 25 after the touchback.

Jayden Maiava passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for five yards. Maiava passed to King Miller for two yards. On third-and-three, Miller ran for no gain. On fourth-and-three, Maiava heaved a ball up field and Ja’Kobi Lane pulled in a 32-yard catch.

Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for four yards. On second-and-six at the Oregon 32 with 3:34 remaining, the Ducks called timeout. Maiava passed to Walker Lyons for six yards and a first down.

Maiava’s pass in the end zone intended for Lane was incomplete. Maiava’s pass intended for Zacharias Williams was incomplete. On third-and-10 at the Oregon 26, Maiava passed under pressure to Lemon, who could not catch the ball

On fourth-and-10 at the Oregon 26, USC called timeout.

Maiava’s pass intended for Lemon was incomplete and the Trojans turned the ball over on downs with 2:24 left in the game.

No. 7 Oregon 42, No. 15 USC 27, 5:30 left in fourth quarter

Oregon started on its 21 after a 21-yard kickoff return.

Dante Moore passed to Jamari Johnson for 11 yards. Noah Whittington ran for six yards. Moore tossed an incomplete pass under pressure. On third-and-four at the Oregon 38, Moore passed to Malik Benson for 10 yards.

Noah Whittington ran for two yards. Moore passed to Kenyon Sadiq, who jumped over one defender and then was hit out of bounds after gaining seven yards. Jordon Davison ran for two yards and a first down.

Davison ran for two yards. Dierre Hill Jr. ran for seven yards. On third-and-one, Moore faked a handoff and passed to Jamari Johnson for eight yads and a first down.

Moore’s pass intended for Benson was incomplete, but USC was called for pass interference. Whittingon ran for a nine-yard touchdown.

Oregon hit the extra point.

No. 7 Oregon 35, No. 15 USC 27, 11:33 left in fourth quarter

USC started on its 42.

Jayden Maiava pass intended for Makai Lemon was incomplete, but Oregon was called for pass interference.

Maiava passed to Ja’Kobi Lane along the left sideline and he was out of bounds, but Oregon was called for pass interference.

King Miller ran for two yards. Maiava passed to Miller for 14 yards. Bryan Jackson ran for three ayrds. Maiava passed to Lake McRee for a nine-yard touchdown.

USC went for two. Maiava faked a handoff, but Walker Lyons dropped a pass in the back of the end zone.

No. 7 Oregon 35, No. 15 USC 21, 13:35 left in fourth quarter

Oregon started on its 33.

Jordon Davison ran for five yards as time expired in the third quarter. Davison ran for a loss of four after Oregon nearly drew a pre-snap penalty. Dante Moore dropped the ball after it appeared he was hit by a teammate and he lost 12 on the play.

On fourth-and-21, Oregon punted. Makai Lemon returned the ball four yards to the USC 42.

No. 7 Oregon 35, No. 15 USC 21, 12 seconds left in third quarter

USC started on its 18, after the Oregon kicker slipped and the ball dribbled up field.

Jayden Maiava passed to Lake McRee for 13 yards. King Miller ran for three yards. Maiava’s pass intended for Makai Lemon was off target and incomplete. On third-and-seven, Moore fell in collapsing pocket, had the ball stripped and USC recovered for a loss of nine yards.

USC lined up to punt and Oregon was called for roughing the kicker.

Oregon still took over possession.

No. 7 Oregon 35, No. 15 USC 21, 2:13 left in third quarter

Oregon started on its 25 after the touchback.

Noah Whittington ran for 13 yards and then five yards. Dante Moore passed to Jeremiah McClellan for 10 yards. Dierre Hill Jr. ran for 11 yards to the USC 36.

Hill ran for four yards. Whittington ran for four yards and an Oregon lineman was treated for an injury after the play. On third-and-two, Moore passed to Sadiq Kenyon for a 28-yard touchdown. Oregon hit the extra point.

No. 7 Oregon 28, No. 15 USC 21, 5:50 left in third quarter

USC’s defense came up with a big interception that set up a much-needed Trojans touchdown.

USC started on its 48 after the pick and penalty.

King Miller ran for two yards. Jayden Maiava passed to Makai Lemon for nine yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass, but Oregon was called for pass interference.

Maiava ran for six yards to the Oregon 20. Maiava passed to Lemon for one yard. Miller ran for one yard. On fourth-and-two, Maiava ran for seven yards. Bryan Jackson ran for three yards. Maiava passed to Lemon for a four-yard touchdown.

USC hit the extra point and trimmed Oregon’s lead.

No. 7 Oregon 28, No. 15 USC 14, 11:01 left in third quarter

Oregon started on its 45 after the interception.

Dante Moore passed to Kenyon Sadiq for five yards. Noah Whittington ran for five yards.

Moore tossed a pass across the middle that was tipped and intercepted by Kennedy Urlacher, who returned it to the Oregon 36, but USC was called for holding on the return.

No. 7 Oregon 28, No. 15 USC 14, 11:37 left in third quarter

USC started on its 45.

King Miller ran for no gain. Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Makai Lemon and another intended for Lake McRee.

On fourth-and-10 at the Oregon 45, Maiava was under pressure and tossed a pass that was intercepted by the Ducks’ Jadon Canady.

No. 7 Oregon 28, No. 15 USC 14, 12:08 left in third quarter

Oregon started on its 25 after the touchback.

Dierre Hill Jr. ran for six yards. Dante Moore tossed an incomplete pass. Moore tossed another incomplete pass, but USC was called for an offsides penalty.

Moore passed to Hill for five yards. Jordon Davison ran for three yards. On third-and-two, USC faked a run and Moore passed to Kenyon Sadiq for 10 yards, but Oregon was called for holding and a loss of 10 yards. Davison ran for one yard. On fourth-and-one, Oregon tried a trick play snapping to Roger Saleapaga while Moore faked motioning to the sideline for instructions. The USC defense caught it, tackling the Saleapaga for no gain and forcing a turnover on downs.

Huge stop for the USC defense with the Trojans trailing by two touchdowns.

No. 7 Oregon 28, No. 15 USC 14, start of third quarter

Oregon received the opening kickoff.

No. 7 Oregon 28, No. 15 USC 14, eight seconds left in second quarter

USC started on its 25 after the touchback.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Ja’Kobi Lane. Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for 51 yards.

Kimg Miller ran for a loss of five yards. On second-and-15 at the Oregon 29, Maiava ran for 12 yards. On third-and-three, Maiava passed to Lake McRee for nine yards.

On first-and-goal at the Oregon 8, Makai Lemon ran for no gain. Lemon took the ball on a sweep and ran for a loss of two yards. On third-and-goal at the Oregon 10, Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Lane.

Ryon Sayeri missed a 27-yard field goal to close the drive.

Dante Moore took a knee to run out the first half clock. Oregon will receive the kickoff to open the second half.

No. 7 Oregon 28, No. 15 USC 14, 1:52 left in second quarter

Oregon started on its 44.

Noah Whittington ran for 17 yards and then five yards before Dante Moore passed to Whittington for eight yards. Jordan Davison ran for six yards and then one yard. On third-and-three at the USC 34, Moore passed to Malik Benson for 30 yards. Benson was then called for unsportsmanlike conduct and a loss of 15 yards.

On first down at the USC 19, Whittington ran for no gain. Moore passed to Whittington for two yards. Moore passed to Whittington and there was an Oregon face mask penalty. On third-and-23, Whittington ran for six yards.

On fourth-and-17, Oregon’s Atticus Sappington missed a 44-yard field goal but there was a flag on the play and USC was called for a personal foul after Desman Stephens II landed on an Oregon lineman’s back while trying to contest the kick. The penalty extended Oregon’s drive.

On first down at the USC 13, Moore ran for nine yards to the USC 4 and the two-minute timeout was triggered. Moore evaded pressure and tossed an incomplete pass but Oregon was called for false start.

On second-and-six, Whittington ran for eight yards to the USC 1. Bryce Boettcher ran for a one-yard touchdown. The Oregon extra point was good.

No. 7 Oregon 21, No. 15 USC 14, 7:53 left in second quarter

Jayden Maiava had been flirting with tossing an interception for multiple drives before disaster finally hit for USC.

The Trojans started on their 25 after the fair catch on the kickoff.

Maiava’s pass deep intended for Makai Lemon sailed long and fell incomplete. King Miller ran for five yards. Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for 16 yards.

Maiava passed to Hines for six yards. A snap sailed high and Maiava recovered it for a loss of nine yards. On third-and-13, Maiava was hit as he threw into traffic and Oregon’s Ify Obidegwu intercepted it the Ducks’ 27. There was a flag on the play. USC was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and the ball was moved to the Oregon 44.

No. 7 Oregon 21, No. 15 USC 14, 10:11 left in second quarter

Oregon started on its 16 after the punt.

Jayden Maiava tossed an incomplete pass to a portion of the field where there as no receiver. Maiava passed to Makai Lemon for a one-yard loss. Maiava passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for a 17-yard gain.

King Miller ran for three yards and then one yard. On third-and-seven, Maiava under-threw Makai Lemon and the pass was nearly intercepted.

Sam Johnson punted 49 yards and Oregon’s Malik Benson returned it 85 yards for a touchdown.

The Ducks hit the extra point.

No. 15 USC 14, No. 7 Oregon 14, 12:44 left in second quarter

Oregon started on its 25 after the touchback.

Dante Moore passed to Noah Whittington for eight yards and Jeremiah McClellan for 23 yards.

Both teams’ starting centers are out with injuries. Oregon’s backup punter was called for an illegal snap. On first-and-15 at the USC 49, Moore passed to Whittington for four yards. Moore’s pass popped out of the hands of his intended receiver. On third-and-11, Moore tossed another incomplete pass.

Oregon punted to the USC 16.

No. 15 USC 14, No. 7 Oregon 14, 14:52 left in second quarter

USC started on its 25 after the touchback.

Makai Lemon ran for one yard. Jayden Maiava passed to Tanook Hines for 40 yards, but Hines lost 15 yards after getting an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

King Miller ran for one yard to the Oregon 48. Maiava’s pass intended for Ja’Kobi Lane was incomplete, but Oregon was called for pass interference on the play, moving the ball to the USC 37.

Maiava passed to Lemon for nine yards as time expired in the first quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, Maiava tossed the ball to Lemon and Lemon passed to Hines for a 24-yard touchdown.

Ryon Sayeri hit the extra point.

No. 7 Oregon 14, No. 15 USC 7, 1:32 left in first quarter

Oregon started on its 47 after USC’s punt return penalty.

Noah Whittington ran for seven yards. Dante Moore was pressured by USC’s defense and tossed an incomplete pass intended for Whittington. On third-and-three, Moore passed to Jamari Johnson for 15 yards.

Moore tossed an incomplete pass. Moore rolled out from pressure and passed to Kenyon Sadiq, moving the ball to the USC 31.

Jordan Davison ran the ball three yards before a timeout was triggered while an Oregon offensive lineman was treated for an injury. As play resumed, Oregon burned a timeout to avoid a delay of game penalty. Davison ran for nine yards and another two yards to the USC 8.

Moore passe to Kenyon Sadiq for an eight-yard touchdown. The Ducks hit the extra point.

No. 15 USC 7, No. 7 Oregon 7, 6:12 left in first quarter

USC started on its 25 after the kickoff.

Jayden Maiava passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for 11 yards. Maiava’s pass to Walker Lyons was bobbled and nearly intercepted before falling incomplete. King Miller ran for two yards. USC center Kilian O’Connor was injured on the play and walked with some assistance off the field.

On third-and-eight, Maiava was under pressure and tried to toss a high arching screen pass to Lane, but he couldn’t pull in a one-handed catch and the ball fell incomplete.

USC punted to the Oregon 18 and Prophet Brown hit the punt returner even though he called for a fair catch. The penalty cost USC 15 yards and gave Oregon the ball at its 47.

No. 15 USC 7, No. 7 Oregon 7, 7:08 left in first quarter

USC kicked the ball out of bounds at the Ducks’ 3, triggering a penalty, and Oregon started at its 35.

Noah Whittingham ran for three yards. Dante Moore passed to Malik Benson for 24 yards and then went back to Benson for three yards, moving the ball to the USC 35.

Moore passed to Jeremiah McClellan for 20 yards. Dierre Hill Jr. ran for four yards. And Jordan Davison ran for an 11-yard touchdown. The Ducks hit the extra point.

No. 15 USC 7, No. 7 Oregon 0, 9:58 left in first quarter

USC started on it 25 after a touchback.

Jayden Maiava was flushed from the pocket and tossed an incomplete pass intended for Makai Lemon before passing to Lemon for four yards. Maiava then passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for 27 yards.

Maiava passed to King Miller for a loss of one yard before Miller ran for four yards. Maiava tossed an incomplete pass but Oregon was called for a substation penalty. Bryan Jackson ran for six yards and a first down, moving to the Oregon 30.

Maiava tossed an incomplete pass intended for Lane. Maiava passed to Lane for 16 yards. Miller ran four yards and then two yards.

Maiava closed the drive by passing to Lemon for an eight-yard touchdown.

Ryon Sayeri hit the extra point.

No. 15 USC 0, No. 7 Oregon 0, start of first quarter

USC won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.

Kickoff is set for about 12:45 p.m. on CBS.

Last month, in the span of a single half, USC’s top two running backs were lost to serious injuries. For Eli Sanders, the knee injury he suffered against Michigan prematurely ended his season. For Waymond Jordan, ankle surgery meant missing most of the Trojans’ critical stretch run.

It made for a particularly cruel one-two punch. Through the first six games, the Trojans duo had been a top-10 rushing attack in the nation, trending toward the best rushing season USC had seen in two decades. Then, in less than an hour’s time, a promising start had been derailed by injury.

“That could almost be a death sentence,” coach Lincoln Riley said Wednesday.

Welcome back to the Times of Troy newsletter. Hopefully, by the time you read this, you will have finally dried off. Or maybe it’s still pouring rain where you are. But whatever the weather, things are looking pretty sunny for Lincoln Riley and USC right now.

The Trojans are now just two wins away from a trip to the College Football Playoff. But the bigger statement Saturday, while rallying in the rain to beat a team like Iowa, wasn’t so much about this season, but rather the program’s trajectory after next week’s marquee matchup at No. 8 Oregon.

Riley said later that he sensed this shift at halftime, just as the team’s Playoff hopes were hanging by a thread. His Trojans were trailing Iowa, 21-10, once again having succumbed to the same slow start that plagued them the last two games. They’d been outplayed, outworked, outsmarted. The run defense was awful. The offense was stuck in the mud.

When Lincoln Riley first landed in Los Angeles, his audacious plan to remake a lacking USC roster on the fly revolved almost entirely around the transfer portal. The Trojans brought in two dozen transfers ahead of his debut season, including their top two running backs, three of their top four receivers, six starters on defense and, of course, a Heisman-winning quarterback.

The plan worked quite well for Riley and Co. at the time. USC won 11 games in 2022 and fell just short of the College Football Playoff.

But it didn’t go as planned over the next two seasons. Riley and his staff relied almost as heavily on quick fixes in the portal — but without the same results.

They were battered, they were bruised, they were soaking wet and covered in stereotypes.

They’re not tough enough. They’re not resilient enough. They’re not Big Ten-enough.

Late in the second quarter Saturday afternoon at the Coliseum, a USC football team fighting for a playoff berth was being smothered by the worst of its national perceptions.

It was wilting under the weather and the weight of a team from Iowa.

When a third consecutive second-half turnaround was finally complete, Lincoln Riley leaped into the air, his arms spread wide to the heavens. The last three rain-soaked hours, for USC and its coach, had swung wildly from frustration to elation, with little in between. His defense had nearly unraveled at the hands of Iowa’s sputtering offense. His team’s College Football Playoff hopes had nearly washed away with the rain.

Yet this moment, as the Trojans’ defense put the final touches on a 26-21 win over Iowa, was nothing short of a euphoric, season-shifting one for USC and its coach.

“Culture win right there, man, if there ever was one,” Riley said.

Before he took the reins at USC, Lincoln Riley had a reputation as something of a road warrior. It wasn’t until his third season at Oklahoma that Riley’s team had lost a true road game with him as head coach. During five years with the Sooners, he won 17 of 21 on the road.

But four years into his tenure as the Trojans’ coach, Riley’s once-sterling road reputation feels like a relic of a past life. Until USC won at Nebraska earlier this month, Riley hadn’t beaten a team on the road that finished better than .500 since November 2022, when his Trojans toppled UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Otherwise, outside of L.A., USC’s only road victory against a quality team under Riley came against Oregon State … in his fourth game leading the Trojans.

Never have the stakes been so high for Riley than they are this week, as No. 15 USC heads to No. 8 Oregon with its College Football Playoff hopes hinging on a huge road victory. Still, it’s hard to ignore how starkly different Riley’s Trojans have looked when challenged away from home.