Oregon bagged a convincing 41-27 road win against the #12 USC Trojans on Saturday, but man, it came at a brutal cost. Early in the game, Ducks quarterback Dante Moore got absolutely rocked by USC linebacker Desman Stephens II with a violent late hit that sent Moore off on a backboard, neck brace and all. You could feel the tension ignite instantly, players from both sides had to be pulled apart. After the clock hit zero, Ducks head coach Dan Lanning absolutely let loose.
The “Disgusting” Hit and Lanning’s Fury
Lanning didn’t mince words after Moore’s injury. He called the Stephens hit “disgusting,” making it crystal clear, “I don’t think you’d ever see that from our players.” That’s throwing down the gauntlet! Good news for Moore, he’s in concussion protocol but appears to have dodged serious injury. Backup Dylan Raiola stepped up big time, leading the Ducks to victory and he’ll be holding down the fort until Moore’s return. As for Stephens, word is he got hit with a one-game suspension from his own team. It’s a start, but that play was just nasty. The whole scene, with players needing separation early on, showed how quickly things can boil over in a rivalry game like that.
Lanning’s Scorched Earth Take on USC’s “Hollywood” Vibe
But Lanning wasn’t done just talking about the hit; he took aim directly at Lincoln Riley and the whole USC program. Get this: Lanning said it took Oregon showing up to actually fill the Los Angeles Coliseum! “It’s hard to play in a tough environment,” Lanning told reporters. “I watched three of their TV games and I haven’t seen a game packed yet. It was packed tonight. So I guess when the Ducks show up, that’s how you fill up the Coliseum, and we got to take advantage of that.” Ouch. He wasn’t finished either. Lanning then straight-up flexed his perfect 3-0 record against the Trojans since he rolled into Eugene, reinforcing the gap between the two programs. And then came the real dagger, slamming USC’s Hollywood image by suggesting they care more about glitz and concerts than actual football. “Three wins against these guys,” Lanning said. “I guess if you’re interested in winning football games and you’re from this area, you should go to Oregon. If you want to go to a Chris Brown concert, you should go here.” Can you believe that? He basically told recruits to pick Oregon if they want to win games, and pick USC if they want to party. That’s a direct shot at their entire program identity.
This dominant win puts Oregon at 3-1, and it’s a huge statement after a rough start, including struggles in Week 1 against Boise State and an upset loss to Oklahoma State in Week 2. Lanning clearly lit a fire under the Ducks. With Raiola stepping up and Moore avoiding major injury, Oregon looks locked in now, charging hard into the heart of its Big Ten slate. USC’s got some serious soul searching to do after Lanning’s verbal assault and that tough loss. It’s gonna be wild to watch these teams for the rest of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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