Dan vs. Lincoln: Latest on Oregon-USC Recruiting Battles

Oregon and USC are by far the top programs on the West Coast. While USC went through a few down years, they're now recruiting like a contender again. Whether it holds beyond this season remains to be seen, but for now, it looks like they've figured things out. As a result, the recruiting battles between Oregon and USC are heating up. Here are some of the key head-to-head matchups—and where each program stands in the race.

4-star OLB Talanoa Ili

Early on, it looked like Oregon was going to be tough to beat in this recruitment, but after a couple of visits to USC, the Trojans have emerged as the team to beat. If you read my article on predicting the 2026 class, I mentioned that I liked the way things were trending for USC, and since then, multiple crystal ball predictions have come in for him to land there. It's still unclear when he plans to commit, but Oregon will get the final official visit and is also working to get him back on campus this spring. For now, though, USC clearly has the momentum.

4-star DB Davon Benjamin

Like Ili, Benjamin was another recruit Oregon looked strong for early on. The Ducks are still in a solid spot, but USC has shot back up his list, and right now, Oregon and USC are clearly the top two contenders in his recruitment. It’s neck and neck between the two. He hasn’t visited in a while, but I expect him to make it out to campus at some point this spring. As of now, he doesn’t have any official visits scheduled.

5-star CB Brandon Arrington

Arrington will be back in Eugene for the Spring Game, which is a positive sign for the Ducks, because right now they appear to be sitting third at best. USC is likely in the top one or two spots, although I haven't confirmed that. I like USC’s position better than Oregon’s at the moment, but that upcoming visit could easily shift things. The Ducks are also set to get the final official visit in this recruitment.

5-star QB Ryder Lyons

As of now, Oregon looks like the team to beat for Lyons. However, with Jared Curtis set to commit in the next couple of weeks, his decision could have a big impact on Lyons' recruitment. It’s possible Oregon lands both, but I’d be pretty surprised if that happens. If the Ducks miss on Curtis, Lyons becomes a can't-miss target, and Oregon would be very tough to beat. USC is currently behind Oregon, but he's back on the Trojans' campus today, and in recruiting, things can change fast.

5-star CB Elbert Hill

Hill will be back on campus this weekend, and heading into the visit I still think Oregon has a slight edge. USC has emerged a lot more after his last visit to the Trojans, but they seem to be running third or fourth. Ohio State and Alabama are other serious contenders in this recruitment, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Hill land at any of those schools.

5-star EDGE Richard Wesley

Oregon and USC were the front-runners after his reclassification, but since then he’s taken visits to Texas, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M—schools that are all in the mix now. From what I’ve heard, though, I think Oregon actually holds a slight edge at the moment. A visit back to Eugene is in the works, and I'll work on confirming when it happens. As it stands now, Oregon seems to have the slight lead, but USC and the rest of the pack aren’t too far behind.

4-star WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt

USC offered Dixon-Wyatt later than most other contending programs, but they’ve still managed to spark his interest. That said, Oregon is currently in a better position than the Trojans. Ohio State is another major contender, but right now the Ducks appear to be ahead of USC for one of the top wide receivers on the West Coast. Oregon is also set to get the final official visit in his recruitment.

5-star OT Kodi Greene

The Oregon commit still seems locked in, but as long as other visits are being taken, there’s at least some reason for concern. Texas is also involved, but USC looks like the bigger threat to pull off a flip. I still really like the Ducks to keep this one in the fold, but with visits still happening, it’s a situation worth monitoring.