Oregon aiming to extend win streak vs. USC in series history

Oregon aiming to extend win streak vs. USC in series history

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Oregon aiming to extend win streak vs. USC in series history

With each passing year, the rivalry between the Oregon Ducks and the USC Trojans only gets more heated. It starts on the recruiting trail, where the Ducks and Trojans are consistently battling each other, and when they finally meet on the field, it's always an all-out war.

Dan Lanning and Lincoln Riley have only fueled the fire. From USC reclaiming the recruiting edge in California to Lanning's pregame speech last year about the Trojans relying on their history, it's easy to say that while the two sides may respect each other's talent, they don't like each other.

It's a rivalry. As Lanning said in his Monday press conference, "It's certainly not just another game."

That falls in line with Oregon's recent success over USC in the series history. The Trojans are a more historic winning program, claiming 11 national championships and holding a 38-24-2 advantage in the series against the Ducks. However, the Ducks have won the last four matchups between the two programs, two of which came in Eugene and twice in Los Angeles.

Now, as the Ducks prepare to travel to Los Angeles to renew the rivalry between the former Pac-12 foes, the history between the programs is top of mind, and the winner this Saturday can claim West Coast superiority.

Recent Meetings

Oregon wide receiver Malik Benson carries the ball amid a tackle from USC safety Christian Pierce as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on Nov. 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

Oregon hasn't played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 2020, when the Ducks, then led by Mario Cristobal, beat the Trojans to win the 2020 Pac-12 Championship in a crowdless venue. This time around, the Coliseum is sold out and will be packed with Ducks and Trojans fans for a game that could determine Oregon's ceiling this season.

Bo Nix led Oregon to a 36-27 victory over USC in Eugene in 2023, throwing for 412 yards and four touchdowns, while Bucky Irving added 118 yards rushing and a score. The Ducks harassed former Heisman winner Caleb Williams, holding him to just a 55.9% completion percentage and sacking him three times. That was the first meeting between Lanning and Riley, both of whom took over their respective programs that season.

Last year, Oregon prevailed in Eugene, winning 42-27. Both quarterbacks in that game, Dante Moore and Jayden Maiava, return for the encore this Saturday. Moore threw for 257 yards and a pair of touchdowns with an interception, while Maiava topped 300 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

The difference, however, was Oregon's execution on the ground and on special teams. Noah Whittington rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown, and Malik Benson returned a punt for a touchdown on senior day.

USC's Historical Dominance

University of Southern California's Reggie Bush runs past University of Oregon's Justin Phinisee (L) during the first quarter in Eugene, Oregon, September 24, 2005. Oregon guard Paluni Ma Sun Jr. (77) helps clear the way. USC is the nation's top-ranked team. REUTERS/Richard Clement

Despite winning its last two games in Los Angeles, the Coliseum has been a house of horrors for Oregon historically against the Trojans. Oregon is just 9-24-1 on the road against USC. The Trojans and Ducks first met in 1915, which the Ducks won in a 34-0 shutout.

After the initial loss, USC won the next eight matchups in the series by a combined score of 257-21, which included six shutouts. The Trojans dominated the series until 1997, at one point beating the Ducks or tying in 12 consecutive contests. The programs even met in 1985 for the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan, which the Trojans won, 20-6. USC won 15 of 17 games in the series from 1972 until 1993.

The Trojans owned the 1970s, winning three national championships and stomping through the Ducks. USC won two more championships in 2003 and 2004, the latter of which was later vacated, and built itself into the program to beat and the place to be on the West Coast.

Storm LA

Nov 3, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Kenjon Barner (24) scores a touchdown as Southern California Trojans nose tackle Antwaun Woods (99) and safety Jawanza Starling (29) defend in the third quarter at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Things changed in the late 90s and after the turn of the century. Oregon invested more in football and rattled off four wins from 1998 to 2001. The Ducks are 11-6 against the Trojans since 2000.

Joey Harrington kicked off the century with a big win on the road against USC, winning 28-17 in 2000. Harrington threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns against a USC team that finished just 5-7. From there, the series was more back-and-forth, with neither program putting together a winning streak larger than three games until Oregon's current four-game streak.

Perhaps Oregon's most infamous victory in the series came back in 2012 on the same field the Ducks will play on Saturday. The Ducks, wearing all white in the "Storm LA" game, won a thrilling 62-51 shootout against the Trojans, with Marcus Mariota dueling USC's Matt Barkley. However, neither quarterback was the biggest star of the show.

Oregon running back Kenjon Barner etched his name into Oregon history by rushing for 321 yards and five touchdowns, setting the program record for most rushing yards and touchdowns in a single game. That record still holds to this day, and nobody has come close to breaking it since CJ Verdell rushed for 257 yards against Washington State in 2019.

What's at Stake?

Oregon offensive lineman Ziyare Addison, left, celebrates a touchdown by Oregon wide receiver Messiah Hampton as the Oregon Ducks host the Portland State Vikings on Sept. 18, 2026, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

The Ducks' win in 2012 was a major turning point in the series. Although the Ducks had appeared in the BCS National Championship Game in 2011, Oregon was still viewed by some as second to USC when it came to elite programs on the West Coast. Now, although Oregon is still searching for its first championship, the playing field is much more even between the two programs, both on the field and on the recruiting trail.

Oregon is 8-2 against the Trojans in the last 10 meetings, dating back to 2009, and Lanning has won both games against Riley's Trojans since they first met in 2023.

The Ducks will try to "Storm LA" again on Saturday in a desperate search for a win, not only to boost recruiting efforts in Southern California, but to avoid falling to 2-2 and rebound from an awful Week 2 loss at Oklahoma State. USC is a perfect 4-0 this season, but survived a scare last week on the road against lowly Rutgers.

Oregon has never won five in a row against USC, so Saturday could be a historic day for the Ducks in Los Angeles. The Ducks and Trojans are set to kick off at 4:30 p.m. PT this Saturday from the Coliseum, with the game airing live on NBC.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon aiming to extend win streak vs. USC in series history

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