USC football views Oregon as critical game, rivalries differ
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 19, 2026, 3:04 PM
Last updated Aug 19, 2026
USC football identifies Oregon as a key game for the upcoming season, emphasizing its importance over traditional rivalries like UCLA and Notre Dame. While the Trojans see UCLA as their main rival, a win against Oregon is viewed as essential for improving the program’s status on the West Coast. The need to succeed against Oregon stems from a desire to restore USC's competitive edge, as head coach Lincoln Riley's past success at Oklahoma has not been mirrored since his arrival. With Notre Dame out of the current schedule, the focus will remain on the Ducks as a crucial matchup for USC’s future performance.
- •USC considers Oregon the most important game this season.
- •Rivalries with UCLA and Notre Dame remain significant.
- •Lincoln Riley is under pressure to improve USC's performance.
- •Oregon represents a major challenge for USC's aspirations.
- 3:04 PMYahoo Sports — For USC football, rivalries and important games are not the same
"Who is - and isn't - a true rival for USC football? That question and its answer might matter to some people, but it shouldn't be the focus
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