We love the fact we get to continue working with our friends at Ducks Wire as conference partners. USC and Oregon have not played a football game since Ducks Wire came into existence. This year’s game will be the first … and it will not be the last. That’s good, but USC fans aren’t exactly thrilled to have Oregon as a conference neighbor in the Big Ten.
It’s not a secret that USC’s move to the Big Ten — when it happened in 2022 — had seemingly given the Trojans freedom from Oregon. That, plus the reality of competing in a better conference with more resources, was going to give USC a long-term competitive advantage against the Ducks. Now that unique advantage will not exist.
To be clear, however, USC fans will tell you (and they’re right!) that USC should be better than Oregon regardless of circumstances.
Oregon fans, of course, are loving that they get to stay in the same conference with the Trojans.
Reactions on social media were colorful and emotional, as you might expect:
OREGON FANS ARE THRILLED
Inject this into my veins. This shows how far Oregon has come along as a program that a blue blood who isn’t a rival was this concerned about Oregon. https://t.co/NvcyPASEmq
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 3, 2023
WHO CARES?
This doesn’t make sense to me. I’d much rather deal with Oregon than the B1G.
Now, they still must recruit against Oregon and then face a much better conference.
It all sounds quite cowardly and illogical, if true.
USC fans, is your program truly this soft? https://t.co/1YH9FjuQMJ
— Aaron J. Fentress (@AaronJFentress) August 3, 2023
CHESS
USC actively trying to keep Oregon out of the Big Ten is as big of a compliment as the Trojans could possibly pay to the Ducks https://t.co/XMfhOqNSI7
— Marc Grandi (@MarcGrandi) August 3, 2023
WHATEVER
For all of USC’s posturing, the Trojans actively trying to keep Oregon out of the Big Ten sums it up nicely. https://t.co/XxQwOVOJb8
— Cameron Soran (@cameronsoran) August 3, 2023
SWC COMPARISON
I wonder if this is how Arkansas feels rejoining with Texas after so many years away from them from the fall of the Southwest conference? https://t.co/X1QvOoATt3
— JS (@Jsmeth_) August 3, 2023
THIS IS CRAZY TALK
This is appalling. I know SC is sick of Oregon beating them but Oregon’s premier rival is Washington. And to think SC would be so vain as to veto Oregon. Meanwhile the Ducks & Huskies are briefly putting off their mutual disdain & are now temporarily pals for the long haul.
— Rogue JimC🇺🇸🇺🇦🦆 (@rogueJimC) August 3, 2023
NOVEMBER 11, 2023
The USC/Oregon game this year is going to be amazing. Usually you get hostility when one team leaves for another conference. But you never get this kind of hostility when both leave…., for the same conference.
— John Larson (@JLar1982) August 3, 2023
GOOD POINT
The only thing Oregon has on USC as right now is facilities. That’s going to change soon. After that the only thing they will be able to offer is swag on recruiting trips
— Just A Thought (@dougiefuresh) August 3, 2023