Oregon Football: 5 Reasons for All Duck Fans to Hate USC

The second that the 2011 season ended, fans and media began to focus in on the November 3rd game between Oregon and USC. Many believe that this will feature two of the top 10 or even top 5 teams in the nation and both will be undefeated. 

The best part about these two teams going up against each other is that with them being in separate divisions in the Pac-12, the nation is likely in store for a rematch in the Pac-12 title game. 

Over the past few years, Oregon has continued to improve and while USC dealt with NCAA sanctions, the Ducks took over USC's perch at the top of the conference. With a close win in Autzen Stadium last year, the Trojans announced to the Ducks and the nation that they are back and ready to regain the top spot.

For Oregon fans there is no love lost when it comes to USC. Duck fans have always had a distaste for USC and this year it may reach a new height. 

As we wait patiently for the calender to turn to November, here are five reasons for Duck fans to dislike USC more than ever. 

Joe Penkala is a B/R National Featured Columnist who covers college football. You can contact him @joepenkala.

Matt Barkley

Since Matt Barkley was a freshmen, he has had a strong confidence in himself and while to fans of USC it comes across as being confident, to everyone else it is arrogance. 

In his first year, Barkley downplayed the Autzen crowd and encouraged them to make as much noise as possible. While the plan backfired in his first season, Barkley did win his last game at Autzen last year. 

This year Barkley has returned for his final year and it is clear that he is one of the biggest villains coming into this season for Duck fans. 

Lane Kiffin

Lane Kiffin is the kind of person that people generally have not had to search hard for reasons to dislike him. Since leaving Oakland, Kiffin has been a lightning rod for criticism and much of it has been deserved. 

While Kiffin does have a track record of making waves, since moving to USC he has been relatively quiet. But still, by being the head of the USC program, Kiffin will always be under fire from other programs.

Last Year's Game

Many Duck fans are still fuming after last year. The Ducks came out and played their worst half of the season and it ended up costing them the game after they came up three points short. 

After the win, USC celebrated at great length on the Autzen Stadium turf and for fans that were there at the game, the Trojan fight song may have been burned into your memory.

Only Threat to Dethrone Ducks

When you have reached a level of success like the Ducks have, you still have a level of distaste for your rivals but you begin to be bothered by teams that are a threat to your success.

Oregon has won the conference title for the past three years but this year USC is bowl eligible and provides the Ducks with a huge challenge if they hope to make it four. When you look at the conference as a whole, USC is the only serious threat that the Ducks appear to have facing them in their quest for a fourth straight title. 

They Are Still USC

Above everything else, they are still USC which is enough of a reason for Duck fans to hate the Trojans. The Trojans were the big kid on the block for long enough that many teams, including the Ducks, took their beatings on a annual basis and couldn't do much about it. 

Since Chip Kelly has arrived at Oregon, the tables have turned and Kelly has helped dish out some big time beatings on the Trojans. But one thing that everyone can agree on is that this year's game with USC will be his biggest challenge against them to date.