Why USC football fans shouldn't fear Dakorien Moore committing to Oregon

Dan Lanning reeled in his third five-star commitment on July 4 and moved Oregon's 2025 football recruiting class to No. 3 in composite rankings. Dakorien Moore, the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2025 class, did his best to drag out the suspense of his new pledge. Pete Thamel crashed the parade an hour prior, but either way, Moore selected the Ducks over Texas, LSU, and Ohio State.

The Longhorns were heavy favorites to land Moore, a Duncanville (TX) native, and USC was never in contention. However, many Trojans fans are upset with seeing a rival program make a recruiting splash. Perhaps more aggravating is the Oregon fans and recruiting analysts boasting on social media. Either way, we don't think Oregon's 2025 recruiting class will shake out as planned.

Ducks fans are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Lanning will undoubtedly finish the 2025 college football recruiting cycle, but we wonder if Moore will remain a member. The dynamic wideout was previously committed to LSU and commented that playing ball in Baton Rouge was always his dream. Moore's dreams apparently changed when he reopened his recruitment in mid-May.

Moore fits the model of a high-profile recruit who uses his early collegiate pledge to drive attention and leverage bigger NIL offers. After initially committing to the Tigers on August 12, Moore was in Austin for an official visit September 16-17 and then visited Eugene in February. Perhaps more relevant is the receiver's comment that selecting the Longhorns would "make [his mom's] world."

The Moores have many family members in Austin, a city his mother has longed to call home.

What does this have to do with USC fans?

Trojan football fans currently engaged in a back-and-forth with Oregon fans on Twitter/X and Facebook will likely have the last word. There is presently little to brag about regarding Lincoln Riley's 17th-ranked recruiting class. However, the USC head coach remains on target to sign the nation's No. 2 quarterback and is well in the hunt to sign five-star defensive lineman Elijah Griffin.

Riley has plenty of time before the early national signing day (December 4) to move his program's 2025 class up the ranks. Oregon will likely finish ahead of USC in the recruiting cycle, but Riley had a much larger uphill battle when he took over the Trojans. Lanning inherited Mario Cristobal recruiting classes that ranked No. 11 (2022), No. 6 (2021), and No. 12 (2020). Such is a much better situation than what Riley inherited from Clay Helton.

Success on the field will continue to influence football recruit's decisions. Thus, the Trojans must navigate their difficult schedule and defy expectations in 2024. Pete Carroll did just that when he led Troy to college football's first dynasty of the millennium.

As for Moore, we're betting he will sign with the Longhorns before or on early signing day. Despite his commitment to Oregon, On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine lists Texas as the heavy favorite (58.7%) to sign Moore.

When Moore's flip occurs, USC fans will pull out the receipts and post them on social media in retaliation toward Ducks fans.