LOS ANGELES, CA — Once again, the USC Trojans were unable to secure a win away from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
No. 15 USC entered its Saturday top-25 ranked matchup against No. 7 Oregon severely depleted on defense, with key starters Bishop Fitzgerald, Kamari Ramsey, and Elijah Paige all sidelined. Their absence proved costly, as the Trojans surrendered 436 total yards, including 257 passing yards, in a 42–27 defeat that effectively ended their College Football Playoff hopes.
Special teams issues compounded the defensive struggles. USC’s kick-coverage unit gave up an 85-yard kickoff return touchdown to Malik Benson, and several penalties set up additional Oregon scoring opportunities. Across every phase, the Ducks capitalized on USC’s mistakes.
Offensively, the Trojans had bright moments, particularly up front, but quarterback Jayden Maiava endured a mixed outing. He completed 25 of 43 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions, matching his season-high from October 18th vs. No. 9 Notre Dame.
USC’s receiving corps again powered the offense, with Tanook Hines turning in a breakout performance. He led all receivers with 141 yards on eight catches and two touchdowns, while Makai Lemon added two touchdowns of his own and even tossed a touchdown pass to Hines in the second quarter.
Ja’Kobi Lane also remained a consistent contributor, finishing with 108 receiving yards.
With the loss, the Trojans turn their attention to their final regular-season game: a rivalry matchup at home against UCLA. A win would secure a 9–3 finish—an improvement from last year’s 7–6 campaign—and lock for another bowl appearance.
Lincoln Riley and No. 15 USC fell to No. 7 Oregon 42-27 Saturday night at Autzen Stadium to drop to 8-3 on the 2025 CFB season – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
Despite frustration among the fanbase over the lack of recent College Football Playoff berths, USC head coach Lincoln Riley remains firmly in place for 2026 and beyond. Riley has transformed the program’s culture, delivering three straight bowl appearances and producing NFL-caliber talent at a rapid rate.
And the future remains bright. USC’s 2026 recruiting class, currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, features elite incoming talent that will join an already explosive offense and a defensive foundation expected to include standouts like Fitzgerald, Ramsey, and Jahkeem Stewart. For USC, the long-term outlook continues to trend upward.
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