When Dillon Moore fired a 23-yard strike to J. McClellan late in the second quarter, the crowd at Autzen Stadium didn’t just roar—they held their breath. It was November 22, 2025, and the Oregon Ducks weren’t just winning—they were dismantling the College Football Playoff dreams of the USC Trojans, 42-27. The game, a brutal, beautiful collision of speed and strategy, didn’t just decide a conference matchup. It rewrote the postseason narrative overnight.
How a Penalties and Punts Changed Everything
It wasn’t just Moore’s two touchdown passes that did it. It was the chaos USC couldn’t control. With 7:57 left in the second quarter, I. Obidegwu picked off a pass from J. Maiava at Oregon’s 30-yard line. The Ducks turned it into a 14-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Bryce Boettcher diving over the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown. But the real turning point came minutes earlier.On a 44-yard field goal attempt by Atticus Sappington, the ball clanged off the upright. Normally, that’s a turnover on downs. But USC was flagged for offside—a rare, costly mistake. Suddenly, Oregon had a first down. They didn’t just survive; they capitalized. That drive, extended by a penalty no one saw coming, gave them a 28-14 lead at halftime. And just like that, USC’s momentum evaporated.
Malik Benson’s 85-Yard Thunderclap
USC had clawed back to 21-14 early in the third quarter after a crisp 12-yard TD pass from R. Sayeri to Jordan Davidson. The Trojans smelled an upset. Then came the punt.
At 11:03 in the third, Malik Benson fielded the ball at Oregon’s 15-yard line. He didn’t just run—he exploded. Eighty-five yards. One cut. One juked defender. One deafening roar from the stands. The score jumped to 35-21. USC’s defense, already gassed, looked stunned. No one on the field had time to react. It was the kind of play that doesn’t just score points—it shatters morale.
Moore’s Poise Under Pressure
Dillon Moore didn’t throw for 300 yards. He didn’t need to. His two touchdown passes—both perfectly timed, both delivered with ice in his veins—were all Oregon needed. He completed 18 of 25 attempts, avoiding sacks despite USC’s blitz-heavy scheme. His connection with Noah Whittington was surgical: 8 yards, then 23 yards, then a 14-yard dart in the fourth quarter that set up Kenyon City’s pylon-touchdown. Moore wasn’t flashy. He was efficient. And in a game where mistakes were magnified, that was lethal.
Meanwhile, USC’s offense, once so dynamic, sputtered. Walker Lions, their tight end, was targeted only twice. Aaron Flowers made a key pass breakup, but it wasn’t enough. The Trojans managed just 302 total yards—half of Oregon’s output. And when it mattered most, their red zone efficiency dropped to 33%.
Why This Loss Crushes USC’s Playoff Chances
Before kickoff, USC was a borderline top-10 team with a resume that included wins over Notre Dame and Washington. Now? They’re a 9-3 team with two losses in their final three games. The College Football Playoff selection committee doesn’t just look at records—they look at strength of schedule, quality wins, and momentum. Oregon’s win over them? That’s a resume-killer. And it came on the road against a top-six team.
ESPN Australia’s recap on November 23 called it “a death blow.” CBS Sports’ play-by-play data showed USC’s average drive length after halftime: 2.3 plays. That’s not a collapse. That’s a disintegration.
Meanwhile, Oregon—now 10-2, with wins over Oregon State, Washington, and USC—solidified their spot in the top six. They’re not just in the conversation. They’re the team that just knocked the most likely challenger out of it.
What’s Next for Both Teams
Oregon heads into the Big Ten Championship on December 7 as the clear favorite in the West Division. A win there, and they’re likely in the playoff. Even if they lose, their strength of schedule and signature win over USC will keep them in the top four.
USC? They’re headed to the Holiday Bowl on December 27, likely against a Big 12 opponent. But the real damage is psychological. Can a team that lost to Oregon by 15 points—after being up 14-7 early—convince a committee they belong among the elite? The answer, for now, is no.
Historical Echoes: When Upsets Reshape Seasons
This wasn’t the first time a ranked team’s playoff hopes died in Eugene. In 2019, Alabama lost here and never recovered. In 2016, Washington’s loss to Oregon ended their national title dreams. Autzen Stadium has become a graveyard for postseason aspirations. And now, USC joins the list.
The Ducks didn’t win because they were better. They won because they made fewer mistakes, capitalized on every break, and had a quarterback who didn’t blink when the lights were brightest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Dillon Moore’s performance compare to his previous games this season?
Moore threw for 241 yards and 2 TDs against USC—his second-best outing of the season. He had thrown for 287 yards and 3 TDs against Washington in October, but this game was more efficient: just one interception and zero sacks taken. His passer rating of 158.4 was his highest since Week 3, and his third-down conversion rate (8 of 12) was critical in sustaining drives.
Why was USC’s offense so ineffective in the second half?
Oregon’s defensive line, led by linebacker I. Obidegwu and defensive end J. Toney, applied consistent pressure without blitzing. USC’s offensive line gave up 6 sacks total, and their running game was held to just 58 yards after halftime. The Trojans also committed three penalties on key drives, including a holding call that wiped out a 22-yard gain in the third quarter.
What impact does this loss have on USC’s recruiting?
The loss could hurt USC’s ability to land top-10 recruits, especially among 5-star QBs and offensive linemen who were eyeing a playoff push. Coaches are already seeing a drop in interest from elite prospects who want to compete for titles. One 4-star recruit from California told ESPN he’s now reconsidering his commitment, saying, “I wanted to play for a team that could win it all.”
Did the Big Ten affiliation affect the game’s intensity?
Yes. Though USC joined the Big Ten in 2024, many fans still saw this as a Pac-12 rivalry. The emotional stakes were higher than usual. Oregon players said they treated it like a “legacy game.” The Big Ten Network’s broadcast noted record viewership for a non-championship game in November, with over 4.2 million households tuning in—the highest for a Ducks-Trojans matchup since 2014.
What’s the significance of the 85-yard punt return by Malik Benson?
It was the longest punt return for a touchdown by an Oregon player since 2018, and only the third 80+ yard return in Autzen Stadium history. It also marked the first time since 2021 that a team scored on a punt return against USC. The play shifted the game’s momentum so dramatically that USC’s coach admitted afterward, “We stopped believing after that.”
Could USC still make the playoff with a win in the bowl game?
No. Even a dominant bowl win won’t erase the loss to Oregon. The selection committee has made it clear: beating a top-six team on the road is a requirement for playoff consideration. USC’s only remaining win over a top-10 team was against Washington, who’s now ranked 18th. Oregon’s win over them was the only true signature victory in the Pac-12 this season.
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