One of the great appeals of the "Ducks vs Them" series is that each one shows how a victory came to be, the fuel and the motivation that inspired it.
In Monday night's Game 11 cinematic recap, Dan Lanning stands up before his team on Monday and delivers a spoken obituary of the USC program.
He holds up the weekly press release from the USC athletic department, highlighting the accomplishments of the past and the Trojan tradition.
"They're talking about all the (expletive) they used to have," Lanning said to his team. "That (expletive) don't happen no more. So don't tell me what happened in 1999. It's 2025."
In the locker room before the game he told them, “They’re living off their history. Matt Leinart, he ain’t walking through there. Reggie Bush, he ain’t gonna show up.”
“Understand something. Why are you wearing black? You’re going to a Trojan funeral.”
Whether it was fair, or selective or hypocritical (the Ducks honored 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota before the game) it was effective. His team showed impeccable focus overcoming a daunting run of injuries and shifts in momentum to take the game away from the No. 15 Trojans.
Rivalry games demand a different energy
The theme of "One More Round" resonated with the team. They were prepared for the demands of each moment. When they needed the energy for a critical drive or a crucial stop or big play, they summoned it.
Malik Benson's punt return, Jadon Canaday's interception and USC transfer Bear Alexander's disruptive play in the middle showed how well the Oregon staff had used the portal this season. Oregon couldn't have won that game without them.
The challenge now is to find the same focus and resolve for a road game at Husky Stadium with a battered two deep against a team that resents Oregon the way the Ducks feel jealousy and hatred for USC.
In rivalry games, it's personal. A team has to be prepared for the composure that environment demands, the intensity it brings out in the opponent.