Ducks could troll USC with game captains – but it wouldn't be the flex they think it is

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There's an idea floating around amongst Oregon football fans for the game this weekend vs USC on social media that I think is really funny. FanSided Oregon site AutzenZoo even wrote an article about it called "Ducks have a perfect opportunity to troll the Trojans in Top 25 clash."

The idea, in essence, is to make Bear Alexander, Emmanuel Pregnon, Matayo Uiagalelei and Gary Bryant Jr. the Oregon captains on Saturday. Alexander, Pregnon and Bryant Jr. are all former Trojans who were lured to Eugene, and Uiagalelei is a top EDGE rusher out of St. John Bosco in Southern California that many Trojan fans thought was headed to USC before he committed to Oregon in 2022.

I mean, go ahead Oregon, if you want. It would certainly entertain the internet. But if you really think that's going to somehow get in the heads of anyone on the USC football team, you're sorely mistaken. The Trojan is not bothered by the captaincies of a Duck. It really wouldn't be the flex you think it is.

Here's why.

Most USC people are happy for Gary Bryant Jr.

I really don't think there are any Trojan fans, coaches, or players who are still bitter at Gary Bryant Jr of all people for leaving for Oregon.

He was a Clay Helton recruit who was a rotational receiver at best (in 2021) and then took a backseat when Lincoln Riley came to town and brought a lot of wide receiver talent with him. No one blamed him for redshirting and leaving town, he just wasn't a fit anymore. He invested 3 years in the USC program and tried to make it work.

Trojan fans tend to be happy for players who honestly try to make it work at USC and then find success elsewhere. They know USC is not a fit for everybody.

On the players side, who is even still around that played with Bryant Jr? Lake McRee?

If Gary Bryant Jr gets announced as a captain, I think the honest response from everyone is going to be "good for him" or nothing at all.

People are sad Pregnon left, but USC's O-Line is fine without him

Emmanuel Pregnon was a tough player to lose, but again, I don't think anyone affiliated with USC is bitter at him for leaving at this point.

At the time, USC's offensive line coach Josh Henson was not getting the most out of the Trojans' offensive line talent. In contrast, Oregon has been incredible at pumping out offensive linemen that go in the first round of the NFL draft. With one year of eligibility left, who can blame Pregnon for making a business decision for his NFL future?

Plus, new O-Line coach Zach Hanson has developed USC's young offensive line talent very well, and they are one of the best units in the nation this season. They have a ton of depth as well; they've navigated injuries to left tackle Elijah Paige and center Killian O'Connor this season. They're just fine without Pregnon.

If both sides are succeeding, there's no need to harbor bitterness.

Bear Alexander is just being Bear Alexander

Big whoop, Bear Alexander is having a mediocre year at Oregon. He's basically having the same season he had at USC in 2022. We do not care.

Remember, Bear Alexander left Georgia after winning a national championship there his freshman season in 2022. If you're not happy in Athens as a defensive lineman, you're probably not going to be happy anywhere.

Congratulations Oregon, you're the latest shiny program that's caught Alexander's attention. Maybe it was the 6,700 uniform combinations (or so). I wouldn't get too comfortable having him around, especially since he still hasn't created much NFL draft stock for himself. Are you so sure he's going to be in Eugene next season? I'm not!

We may be a little annoyed with Bear Alexander, but it's not some big credit to Oregon that they recruited him. Talk to me when he stays more than 1 season and actually becomes a star.

Matayo Uiagalelei: a message board fantasy

Why do we have any reason to be mad at Matayo Uiagalelei? He was an Oregon commit all the way.

He was never at any point committed to USC. Lincoln Riley recruited him to play tight end, because of course 2022 Lincoln Riley did. He wanted all his best players on the offensive side of the ball back then.

If anything, Uiagalelei is the casualty of a bygone era. USC didn't have its California recruiting figured out back then, they were too focused on offense, and they were letting Oregon get most of the good players from the Southern California region. But USC has the No. 1 recruiting class coming to campus in 2026; this is not 2022 anymore.

Lincoln Riley's attitude toward departing players

Earlier in the season after the Nebraska game, Lincoln Riley shared a nice moment with Cornhuskers cornerback Ceyair Wright.

Wright played at USC for 3 seasons and started some games for Riley in 2022 and 2023. But both seasons Wright lost his starting job, and he left the football team midseason in 2023. He transferred to Nebraska that offseason.

Since joining the Huskers, Wright has become a captain for one of the best secondaries in the entire country. The Huskers have a top-5 pass defense largely due to Wright's leadership.

But Riley did not react with jealousy or pettiness toward Wright because Nebraska turned out to be a better home for him than USC. He instead told Wright he was proud of him for developing into an NFL prospect.

With a leader and tone setter like Riley, who seems to not be jealous when his former players succeed, why would anyone at USC feel angry at former Trojans?

Oregon's reign of terror ending?

Oregon has had their fun. They may have more fun on Saturday. But their reign of terror over West Coast football could be coming to an end.

With USC bringing in the aforementioned No. 1 recruiting class in 2026, Oregon's foothold on Southern California recruiting is shrinking. USC has also proven on the field this season that they can win Big Ten football games against good opponents, and that the Trojans' staff is getting really good at developing homegrown talent. That means less players leaving USC to go to places like Oregon, too.

And all of that ultimately means, Oregon should be very worried that USC is going to resume its winning ways over the Ducks pretty soon. USC is 38-23-2 all time against Oregon.

So sure. Tease us about past recruiting failures, offensive line development failures, and some guy who wasn't even satisfied by winning a national championship. It's all in the past, guys. And what's more important is the future:

USC could make those captaincy choices look a lot more like insecurity and a lot less like superiority in the very near future.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Oregon football fans suggest Ducks pick former USC players as captains

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