As USC and Oregon enter the high-stakes Saturday matchup, the off-field mind games have already started. With a program record of completing 90% of passes against Minnesota, Dante Moore comes in with momentum. He gave an honest verdict on the USC game and is all set to crush Lincoln Riley’s only hope to make it to the playoffs, aiming to hand them a tough loss.

Moore recorded 2,190 yards with 21 touchdowns and five interceptions this year, earning a 72.5 QBR, which ranks him 28th nationally. It wasn’t all smooth, as his inconsistencies against Big Ten opponent Indiana were evident, as he was sacked six times and threw two interceptions. Facing USC, that’s something Moore doesn’t want to repeat. He’s ensuring that even his team prioritizes consistency over who they are fighting.

“I’ve done it before in games where I made the moment bigger than it really was, and it affected me and caused me not to play as well as I can. This is just the same nameless, faceless opponent,” Duck’s assistant Joe Lorig quoted Moore’s words. “We’re going to play Oregon versus Oregon, and we want to walk out of here. Want to know, and you know what, regardless of what happens after that, we’re gonna line up next week, and we’re gonna be saying the same thing.”

Holding the no. 15 spot in college football rankings, Lincoln Riley’s team is already on the verge of missing the playoffs, and one loss against Oregon will end it for them. Oregon’s resume already looks strong with four straight wins since its loss to Indiana. Furthermore, history is also favoring Dante Moore’s plea, as USC has won only once at Autzen Stadium in its last five trips since 2007.

Things might turn in Oregon’s favor. The USC defense has been terrible against the run, ranking 119th nationally in success rate against the run and 126th in EPA per rush allowed. So, if Oregon stays healthy, Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr. might run the ball a lot against USC. On top of it, USC hasn’t played well on the road this season.

Even though their defense stayed intact against teams like Iowa, their offense struggled with Jayden Maiava, especially playing away from home. Dan Lanning is 22-2 at home with Oregon. So, the home advantage can be a significant factor.

With that, even their pass defense is the best in the nation, allowing just 127.3 yards per game. So, going by that, if Jayden Maiava threw for just 127 yards, that would be his lowest game of the season. This shows how well Oregon shuts down its opponents. Now, that kind of backing for Dante Moore’s team looks ready to take down USC with Dan Lanning’s true agenda.

Dan Lanning gets real on his plans for Oregon

With USC’s game, another significant development is happening in Eugene. Marcus Mariota entered the Oregon Ducks Athletic Hall of Fame at the age of 32, marking another milestone for the program. The former Heisman Trophy winner and 11-year NFL veteran continues influencing Dan Lanning’s team, and the team even leans on his legacy, keeping program icons involved.

“I mean, players who have played here in the past. They come back and they give so much, and we just want him (Marcus) to know we want him to be a part of what we’re doing and to get the opportunity to honor a guy like Marcus,” Lanning said.

Lanning also praised Mariota’s success at both the college and NFL levels, reinforcing why the program is leaning towards him. “He’s very deserving, obviously had an unbelievable career here and then an unbelievable career in the NFL, but we’re glad that they want to be a part of what’s going on here at Oregon and, uh, continue to have a sense of pride in the fact that they got to play here,” Lanning added.

It’s Mariota’s excellence that shaped great QBs in Oregon like Dillon Gabriel and Bo Nix. Even recruits outside the QB room get involved with Mariota, like 4-star RB Tradarian Ball, who shared pictures with him on X, calling him a legend.

Now his record speaks for itself: with a Heisman win and guiding Oregon to 36 wins, he is a true legend. Now, let’s wait and see if all his efforts help Dante Moore land Oregon a win against USC.