2026 Oregon vs 2026 USC

Oregon
3–2 · 21.0 (12th of 138)
vs
USC
6–1 · SP+ 14.4 (21st of 138)

Hypothetical

Oregon by 0.1

50% to win

High confidence — 4 games in — see our accuracy

Hypothetical forecast · SBR sbr-2r

Why this number

OregonPreseason baseline +26.5In-season results −5.9
USCPreseason baseline +19.1In-season results −1.1
USC home field +2.5

How they're built

0–100 percentile · higher is stronger

Compare the whole profile, then explore each dimension.

2026 Oregon Offense · SP+ 2026: 38.2, 93rd percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Oregon Defense · SP+ 2026: 17.4, 87th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Oregon Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.3, 80th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Oregon Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 303.2 pts, 99th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Oregon Experience · returning production 2026: 75% returning, 88th percentile (2026 roster)2026 USC Offense · SP+ 2026: 38.5, 94th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 USC Defense · SP+ 2026: 24.2, 61st percentile (2026 season to date)2026 USC Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.1, 50th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 USC Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 310.7 pts, 100th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 USC Experience · returning production 2026: 59% returning, 70th percentile (2026 roster)0100Offense · SP+ 2026Defense · SP+ 2026Special teams · SP+ 2026Recruiting · 2026 signing classExperience · returning production 2026
  • 2026 Oregon Offense · SP+ 2026: 38.2, 93rd percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 USC Offense · SP+ 2026: 38.5, 94th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Oregon Defense · SP+ 2026: 17.4, 87th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 USC Defense · SP+ 2026: 24.2, 61st percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Oregon Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.3, 80th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 USC Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.1, 50th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Oregon Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 303.2 pts, 99th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 USC Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 310.7 pts, 100th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Oregon Experience · returning production 2026: 75% returning, 88th percentile (2026 roster)
  • 2026 USC Experience · returning production 2026: 59% returning, 70th percentile (2026 roster)
Emphasize a team

Offensive production relative to that season’s field. Compare an offense with the opposing defense in the scouting report.

Recruiting and experience add context; the five axes aren't equal weights in the forecast.

The numbers behind the profiles

Measure2026 Oregon2026 USC
Offensive / play0.1753rd percentile0.3190th percentile
PPA allowed / play−0.0377th percentile0.1426th percentile
Points per game41.091st percentile5 games36.478th percentile7 games
per game22.058th percentile5 games25.142nd percentile7 games

Programs don't stand still

SP+ percentile among FBS teams, by season. The marked point is each compared season.

2026 Oregon2026 USC
Oregon 2026: 92nd percentileUSC 2026: 85th percentile2000200520102015202020250255075100

Momentum

Oregon→ steady (−7 pctl over 3 seasons)
USC→ steady (+2 pctl over 3 seasons)

Talent in, results out

Recruiting-class percentile feeding each roster, compared with its SP+ result.

2026 Oregon
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
97th percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
92nd percentile
Matching its talent (−5)
2026 USC
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
93rd percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
85th percentile
Matching its talent (−8)

Campus distance

740 miles apart

There's more to the matchup.

Supporting context, ready when you want it.

In the trenches · both directions
MatchupO-lineD-line
2026 Oregon OL vs 2026 USC DL313.2 lbs276.7 lbs
2026 USC OL vs 2026 Oregon DL318.6 lbs308.9 lbs

2026 Oregon line yards 3.06 · 2026 USC stuff rate 17.2%

2026 USC line yards 3.15 · 2026 Oregon stuff rate 19.5%

Fans swear big lines win games. They're half right — big-line teams do win more, but only because good programs recruit big linemen. Once we account for talent and last season, line size adds nothing to the prediction. Across 11 seasons, no measurable effect on margin.

Roster size is context. It isn't a forecast advantage.

Backtested effect: 0.42 pts at 1σ.

Head-to-head · Oregon leads 12–6 since 2000

Oregon has won 5 straight

SeasonScoreVenue
2026Oregon 41–27 USCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum · USC home
2025Oregon 42–27 USCAutzen Stadium · Oregon home
2023Oregon 36–27 USCAutzen Stadium · Oregon home
2020Oregon 31–24 USCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum · USC home
2019Oregon 56–24 USCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum · USC home
2016Oregon 20–45 USCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum · USC home
2015Oregon 48–28 USCAutzen Stadium · Oregon home
2012Oregon 62–51 USCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum · USC home
2011Oregon 35–38 USCAutzen Stadium · Oregon home
2010Oregon 53–32 USCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum · USC home
2009Oregon 47–20 USCAutzen Stadium · Oregon home
2008Oregon 10–44 USCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum · USC home
2007Oregon 24–17 USCAutzen Stadium · Oregon home
2006Oregon 10–35 USCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum · USC home
2005Oregon 13–45 USCAutzen Stadium · Oregon home
2002Oregon 33–44 USCAutzen Stadium · Oregon home
2001Oregon 24–22 USCAutzen Stadium · Oregon home
2000Oregon 28–17 USCUSC home
Coaching & program context
2026 Oregon

HC

  • Dan Lanning

OC

  • Drew Mehringer

career average +28.0 SP+ offense

Scheme: Pro spread (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Pass-heavy, up-tempo (threw on 52% of its run–pass plays, 87th percentile of 2026 FBS; 70.4 plays a game, 72nd percentile)

DC

  • Chris Hampton

career average +19.6 SP+ defense

Scheme: Multiple (listed on Wikipedia)

2026 USC

HC

  • Lincoln Riley

OC

  • Luke Huard

career average +28.1 SP+ offense

Scheme: Power raid (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Pass-heavy, up-tempo (threw on 49% of its run–pass plays, 74th percentile of 2026 FBS; 70.9 plays a game, 75th percentile)

DC

  • Gary Patterson

no career track record on file

Scheme: 4–2–5 (listed on Wikipedia)

A new coordinator feels like it should swing a game. Across 11 seasons, the change doesn't move the final margin beyond what the roster already tells us. Shown as context, not a factor in our number.

Run-heavy team meets a defense that can't stop the run — feels like extra points waiting. Across 7 seasons the matchup adds nothing beyond what the two ratings already say; if anything the point estimate leans the other way.

Scouting reports

No upcoming game between these teams is on the schedule.

Share this matchup

Pasting the link anywhere unfurls the graphic automatically.