NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The Oregon Ducks improved to 10-1 overall and 7-1 against their Big Ten Conference opponents Saturday night by handing the USC Trojans a 42-27 loss.
With this victory, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has backed his team to the College Football Playoff. The Ducks were ranked No. 7 at the latest reveal, moving up one spot from the previous week. Oregon would have been pitted against No. 10 Alabama, according to the latest release.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, center, calls instructions during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Eugene, Oregon. (AP Photo/Lydia Ely)
That would mean the Big Ten would have three teams in the College Football Playoff.
“I think the proof is in the pudding,” Lanning told reporters via ESPN. “We can beat you in a lot of ways, right? We can outplay you sometimes, right? We can force you to play the 18- or 16-point type of game, win in tough environments, in any weather, put the ball down, let’s go play football. That’s the kind of team we have.”
Lanning also noted the difficulty of the team’s schedule, comparing it to that of some SEC schools. Oregon will face the Washington Huskies to end the year.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning greets fans before an NCAA college football game against Southern California, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Eugene, Oregon. (AP Photo/Lydia Ely)
ARCH MANNING MAKES TEXAS FOOTBALL HISTORY IN LONGHORNS VICTORY AGAINST ARKANSAS
Ducks quarterback Dante Moore finished 22 of 30 with 257 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the victory. Oregon had a 28-14 lead over USC at halftime.
“At the end of the day, I kept telling the team that it was going to be an emotional game, because it was senior night, but also you can’t let emotions take over because with emotions comes negativity. So there was a lot going on in that game,” Moore said. “But I feel like we pushed ourselves from Monday to Friday to get the result we wanted.”
USC head coach Lincoln Riley lamented the team’s struggles as their College Football Playoff hopes were seemingly dashed.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (5) looks for an opening in the Southern California defense during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Eugene, Oregon. (AP Photo/Lydia Ely)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
“We’re disappointed, we didn’t play our best. We had some penalties that we didn’t get that definitely hurt us,” Riley said. “We had courage, we made a lot of plays, but in the end we were just short of a few plays.”
