USC’s Lincoln Riley Points to Game-Changing Moment in Loss to Oregon
The seventh-ranked Oregon Ducks beat No. 15 USC 42–27, keeping their College Football Playoff hopes alive while eliminating the Trojans from contention. After the game, USC head coach Lincoln Riley pinpointed the stretch he believed shifted the matchup firmly in Oregon’s favor.
Riley Identifies Turning Point
Riley said the game felt evenly matched for much of the night, but a specific sequence proved decisive. He cited the penalty on USC’s missed field goal attempt, followed by Oregon scoring and USC failing to capitalize on its next opportunity. He also highlighted the Ducks’ big punt return as part of that same momentum swing.
According to Riley, both offenses and defenses traded big plays throughout, but Oregon made the critical ones during that short span. In his view, that sequence was ultimately the difference.
A Hard-Fought Game Despite USC’s Injuries
Riley praised his undermanned roster for battling throughout the night, saying the Trojans were close to breaking through. He felt the matchup resembled a showdown between two elite teams and that USC was only a few plays from beating anyone.
Special Teams Mistakes Prove Costly
Riley explained that the costly punt return resulted from a low line-drive kick paired with USC’s poorest coverage effort of the day. Oregon took advantage of the space created, and Riley acknowledged how damaging that single play became against such a strong offense.
He also defended his kicker, noting he has been one of the nation’s best and simply hit the ball off the upright.
Offensive Struggles Against Oregon’s Defensive Front
Riley said USC missed several blocking assignments and had difficulty handling Oregon’s strong defensive line, which limited their success in the run game. Injuries—including to J’Onre Reed, Kilian, and the absence of Paige—also affected the offense. Still, Tanook Hines, Ja’Kobi, and Lem produced important plays downfield.
Young Defenders Step Up
Riley praised USC’s young defenders for their physicality and effort, though he acknowledged a few costly communication errors. Overall, he felt they held up well against a potent Oregon offense.
On the Running-Into-the-Kicker Call
Riley described the penalty as a judgment call that could have gone either way. He also lamented uncharacteristic penalties that hurt USC at critical moments, saying the team made aggressive plays but ultimately fell a few key moments short.
Oregon will finish its regular season on Nov. 29 against Washington.
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