The last meeting wasn't close. Oregon beat USC 42-27 in Eugene this past November, with Moore throwing for 257 yards and two scores to knock the Trojans out of the College Football Playoff picture. USC gets this one at home, in prime time on a Friday night, and that alone changes the complexion — Riley's defense, upgraded this offseason with Gary Patterson running the show, hasn't had to hold up against this Oregon offense with the crowd on its side.
USC's defense is still the swing factor. Every road loss under Riley the last few years has featured the unit bleeding 30-plus points, and that trend is exactly what let Oregon pull away last time. Patterson's arrival is meant to fix that, and a home crowd against a Big Ten favorite is as good a proving ground as any. If the Trojans' front seven can slow down an Oregon offense that's been running through a stacked offensive line and defensive front, this flips from a rematch into a statement win.
For Oregon, the story is continuity. Dan Lanning's roster kept its best pieces instead of losing them to the draft, and Moore's familiarity with the offense should only sharpen things up by late September. The question mark is what's behind him — Dylan Raiola transferred in from Nebraska this offseason and is expected to compete for reps, though for now this is still Moore's team.
Whichever way this goes, it's a real measuring-stick game for both programs' Big Ten and Playoff ambitions. USC is chasing its first CFP bid under Riley, and a win over a top-6 Oregon team at home would be the loudest possible answer to the doubts about this defense. Oregon, meanwhile, gets a chance to prove last year's win wasn't just a home-field story.