REDEMPTION FOR RAIOLA: SCARY INJURY LEADS TO A TEAM WIN IN HONOR OF MOORE

Matti Tenney - September 27, 2026

Photo via Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Oregon and USC fans hate each other. First meeting in 1915, these two former Pac-12 power houses have faced off 65 times and is one of few rivalries out West that have stood the test of conference realignment. USC holds the series all-time, 38-25-2, but after a dominant 2010’s it’s been the Ducks since 2019. We’ve seen CFB royalty like Marcus Mariota or Reggie Bush in this tale of two blue bloods, and this year’s edition did not disappoint.

USC opened the game with a solid 13-play drive, but Caden Chittenden would miss his first field goal attempt of the night. Oregon opened the scoring in the first quarter, sparking an early drive with a 45-yard burst from Jordon Davison that set up a Gage Hurych field goal. USC responded behind quarterback Jayden Maiava, who moved the chains on a key first-down conversion to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt before the Trojans were forced to punt, pinning Oregon at their own 7-yard line. Oregon would go 3-and-out, giving the Trojans the ball at their own 42. USC quickly capitalized on the field position, taking a 7–3 lead when Maiava connected with Wyatt for a 31-yard touchdown pass to start the second quarter.

The bad blood of this rivalry reared its ugly head a couple minutes later when Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was knocked unconscious on a slide following a first-down scramble. USC linebacker Desman Stephens II was ejected for targeting on the hit. Tensions boiled over immediately after, leading to a sideline-clearing altercation that resulted in blanket unsportsmanlike conduct penalties assessed to every player on both teams. As Moore lay on the turf waiting to be loaded into an ambulance and transported to LA County General, where he was later reported to have movement in all extremities, USC players taunted the Oregon bench, and broadcast cameras caught Stephens celebrating the hit with teammates. 

Dylan Raiola entered the game for the Ducks. The last time Raiola took the field against USC was in November of 2025, and it was cut short when Raiola broke his ankle and ended his season. He came to Oregon to learn and grow, and has grown a strong bond with Moore. He quickly capped off the emotional drive by completing a short touchdown pass to Evan Stewart on 2nd & goal. USC answered with a big run from King Miller, but the Ducks defense held on 3rd down to force a game-tying field goal at 10–10. Oregon pushed right back, using a circus catch on 3rd down by true freshman wideout Messiah Hampton, stepping in for Jeremiah McClellan, to extend the drive. Raiola marched Oregon deep into Trojan territory, but a 3rd & goal  stop on the goal line by USC with 20 seconds left in the half forced the Ducks to settle for a field goal, sending Oregon into the locker room with a 13–10 halftime lead.

Oregon came out aggressive in the third quarter as Dierre Hill took a screen pass 62 yards to flip the field and set up the Ducks at the USC 10-yard line. Hill punched it in on a pitch two plays later to extend the lead. USC countered with a drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown keeper from Maiava. Raiola responded by leading Oregon right back downfield, relying on another clutch play from Hill, who salvaged a broken 3rd-down play to reach the red zone before punching in his second rushing touchdown of the night. Maiava again engineered an answer for USC, but the Ducks defense stood tall on 3rd & 3, forcing the Trojans to take a 30-yard field goal.

USC struck early in the fourth quarter when Maiava rolled out on a sustained drive and connected with Tanook Hines for a game-tying touchdown. With eight minutes remaining, Raiola delivered a highlight-reel moment on 3rd down from the 29-yard line, standing tall under heavy pressure and lofting an endzone shot that Dakorien Moore elevated over his defender to pull down for a 34–27 Oregon lead. On the ensuing drive, USC reached midfield but faced a crucial 4th and 7. Oregon defensive back Brandon Finney Jr. broke up Maiava's pass to turn the ball over on downs. The Ducks capitalized on the momentum, converting a 4th down of their own on a drive that ended with Davison punching it in from the goal line to extend the lead to 41–27. USC made a desperate late push, but Maiava was intercepted in the end zone with eight seconds left, allowing Raiola to take the final snap in victory formation to seal the win.

Maiava and USC put up a good fight, sportsmanship concerns aside, and kept it close until the 4th quarter, but the Oregon run game was unstoppable when it mattered. Hill and Davison combined for a modest 129 yards, but 3 touchdowns gave the Ducks exactly what they needed. Undoubtedly, the story of the night was the redemption of Dylan Raiola. He finished the night 19-25 with 289 yards and 2 touchdowns. Beyond the stats, he took an emotional group and kept his composure, led by example, and secured the victory in enemy territory. People had questions about the Ducks after a close week 1 win over Boise State and a shocking loss to Oklahoma State, but a beat-down of Portland State followed by the resilient showing we saw Saturday night should help the folks in Eugene sleep a little easier.

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