The betting market has taken another turn on Oregon’s trip to USC, and the Ducks are now favored again heading into Saturday’s game at the Coliseum.
DraftKings listed Oregon as a 3-point favorite midway through the week, a sharp move from where things stood earlier. The Ducks were initially seen as a 5.5-point favorite in the buildup to the 2026 season, then the line swung toward USC early this week, with Oregon showing up as a 1.5-point underdog Sunday morning.
That shift comes on the heels of Oregon’s 39-31 loss at Oklahoma State two weekends ago, followed by an 84-0 win over Portland State last Friday night. USC, meanwhile, has opened 4-0.
Dan Lanning said earlier this week that this one carries real weight.
"It's certainly not just another game. This is a significant game against a really good team, an undefeated team," said Dan Lanning earlier this week
"The environment is going to be unbelievable there at the Coliseum. Coach Riley's teams are always really hard to stop offensively. They've got a lot of great players that are playing at a high level."
Lanning also made clear that blowing out Portland State doesn’t tell the whole story about where Oregon is right now. The Ducks got the response they wanted after the Oklahoma State loss, but the coach said the focus quickly turned to what comes next.
"They enjoyed this win, but they're hungry for what's next," Lanning said.
What’s next is Oregon’s first true road test against USC under Lanning, and a matchup with an unbeaten Trojans team.
Dante Moore pointed to the Ducks’ week of work as the biggest takeaway from the Portland State game.
"This game showed how we practiced this week," Moore said. "We're going to keep carrying this momentum."
Moore said the loss in Stillwater pushed Oregon to examine its preparation, accountability and leadership. Against Portland State, the Ducks put together what he called their cleanest and most complete outing of the season.
"A win is a win. No matter the opponent," Moore said.
Evan Stewart called the Portland State result a "good bounce-back game," while also stressing that Oregon still believes it has another gear to hit.
The Ducks will get a chance to show it against a USC team they’ve handled well in recent years. Lanning’s Oregon teams are 2-0 against the Trojans, with both of those wins coming in Eugene. Oregon took last season’s meeting 42-27 after beating USC 36-27 in 2023.
Overall, the Ducks have won four straight against USC, including the last two in Los Angeles. The Trojans’ most recent victory in the series came in 2016, when they beat Oregon 45-20 at the Coliseum. Oregon has won eight of the last 10 meetings.
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Oregon Is Bringing Back A Look USC Fans Wont Forget
A familiar Oregon look is coming back for the USC game, and it is one Ducks fans will recognize immediately. The program announced it will break out its Stormtrooper combination, the all-white set with green numbers, white pants and a silver helmet topped with white feathers, a clean and sharp look that has become one of the more memorable entries in Oregons long uniform rotation.
The timing adds a little extra edge to it, too, because Oregon has worn a similar version before, including in a 2025 game and in its 2012 meeting with USC. For a matchup that already carries its own history, the Ducks are leaning into a visual that tends to travel well, and one that USC fans have seen before from this side of the rivalry. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Now Has One More USC Threat To Worry About
As Oregon turns its attention to USC, there is at least some uncertainty on the Trojans defensive front. Lincoln Riley offered an update on Jahkeem Stewarts status ahead of Saturdays matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, noting that the defensive tackle has been sidelined all season by a foot injury but is moving forward in his recovery.
For the Ducks, the timing matters because Stewarts progress adds another name to the list of USC variables to monitor before the September 26 meeting. Even without him on the field so far, the possibility of his return not being far off gives the Trojans a little more intrigue entering a game that already carries plenty of weight for Oregon. [Read more 🡒]
Dante Moore Gives Oregon Real Reason To Believe Before USC
Before Oregon turns to USC, Dante Moore has already given the Ducks a dose of momentum they can feel good about. Against Portland State, the quarterback was sharp from the start, completing 19 of 23 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns in the first half while putting together one of the better performances among Power Four passers in Week 3.
The showing earned Moore a spot on PFFs Big Ten Team of the Week and nudged him into a more encouraging national conversation, with a 78.7 overall grade that leaves room for more. USC is next, and for Moore it brings another chance to build on the early-season progress and keep climbing in a matchup that should say plenty about where his game stands. [Read more 🡒]