Oregon, USC in Recruiting Battle for Elite California Athlete

Top 2029 recruit Kuika Moaalii has offers from both Pac-12 powerhouses.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 12:19am

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A cubist-style illustration depicting a football player in mid-motion, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant shades of green, gold, and red, capturing the competitive nature of the recruiting battle between the two schools.The recruiting battle between Oregon and USC for a top California prospect reflects the ongoing rivalry between the two Pac-12 powers.Los Angeles Today

There is an intense recruiting battle brewing between the Oregon Ducks and USC Trojans for the commitment of class of 2029 athlete Kuika Moaalii, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound prospect from Bellflower, California. Both schools have already extended offers to Moaalii, who says Oregon was his 'dream school' growing up and that he was impressed by his recent visit to USC's campus and coaching staff.

Why it matters

Oregon and USC have long been recruiting rivals, especially when it comes to top prospects from Southern California. The Ducks have had success pulling talent from the region in recent years, but the Trojans have surged back in recruiting, landing the No. 1 class nationally in 2026. This battle for Moaalii could be an early indicator of which program is gaining the upper hand in West Coast recruiting.

The details

Moaalii, who plays multiple positions, said he loves Oregon's style of play and the school's green uniforms, while also praising USC's practice tempo, organization, and coaching staff. He plans to visit Eugene soon to check out the campus and facilities. The Trojans were able to flip 2027 offensive tackle recruit Drew Fielder from Oregon, a sign that USC may be regaining its recruiting edge in the region.

  • Moaalii received offers from both Oregon and USC in November 2023.
  • Moaalii recently visited USC's campus a few weeks ago.
  • Moaalii plans to visit Oregon's campus in the near future.

The players

Kuika Moaalii

A 6-foot-3, 205-pound athlete from Bellflower, California in the class of 2029 who has received offers from both Oregon and USC.

Dan Lanning

The head coach of the Oregon Ducks football team.

Lincoln Riley

The head coach of the USC Trojans football team.

Drew Fielder

A 4-star offensive tackle recruit from the class of 2027 who flipped his commitment from Oregon to USC.

Greg Biggins

A recruiting analyst for Rivals who spoke with Kuika Moaalii about his recruitment.

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What they’re saying

“Oregon was my dream school growing up. I loved watching them when I was younger. I like their style of play and my favorite color is green so I loved their uniforms.”

— Kuika Moaalii, Recruit

“I just visited USC a few weeks ago and loved it there. I really liked the tempo they practice with, how organized everything was and I like the coaching staff a lot.”

— Kuika Moaalii, Recruit

What’s next

Moaalii plans to visit Oregon's campus in the near future to get a closer look at the program and facilities.

The takeaway

This recruiting battle between Oregon and USC for Kuika Moaalii highlights the ongoing rivalry between the two Pac-12 powers, with both schools vying to land top talent from the fertile recruiting grounds of Southern California. The outcome could provide an early indication of which program is gaining the upper hand in West Coast recruiting.