LOS ANGELES — On its best days, with a big game on tap during prime time and a highly ranked opponent in town, the L.A. Memorial Coliseum is capable of roaring to life and turning into one of the more intimidating venues on the West Coast.
Everything was set up for that to be the case on Saturday evening, as No. 20 Oregon arrived for its Big Ten opener with its back against the wall—a team with all the hallmarks of a national title contender but staring at the prospect of a 2–2 start to the season. Many billed the contest as a referendum for Lincoln Riley’s tenure with the Trojans, adding further stakes to a conference game which was circled long ago.
