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USC Flips Oregon Ducks 4-Star Commit Tomuhini Topui: Updated Recruiting Class Rankings

The USC Trojans have flipped the commitment of 4-star defensive lineman recruit Tomuhini Topui, who de-committed from the Oregon Ducks last week. Topui visited USC and coach Lincoln Riley the same day he de-committed from Oregon. Oregon's 2026 recruiting class now ranks No. 6 in the nation.

Bri Amaranthus

Nov 11, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, left, and Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning talk before a game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Nov 11, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, left, and Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning talk before a game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
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The USC Trojans have flipped the commitment of 4-star defensive lineman recruit Tomuhini Topui, who de-committed from the Oregon Ducks last week. Topui visited USC and coach Lincoln Riley the same day he de-committed from Oregon.

Oregon's 2026 recruiting class now ranks No. 6 in the nation and USC ranks No. 1 on the 247 Sports Composite. On3's recruiting class rankings have Oregon at No. 3 and USC at No. 2 behind No. 1 LSU Tigers.

USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, left, and Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning talk before a game at Autzen Stadium. Man
Nov 11, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, left, and Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning talk before a game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Topui posted his announcement on Instagram along with a report from On3's Hayes Fawcett.

The Trojans have been surging on the recruiting trail since hiring general manger Chad Bowden from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Topui is the second Oregon recruit to flip his commit to USC in the class of 2026. Oregon and coach Dan Lanning also lost four-star quarterback Jonas Williams to USC earlier this year.

Landing the 6-foot-2, 330-pound lineman Topui is a literal huge get for Riley and USC and exemplifies their efforts to keep elite California talent in California.

Tupui attends Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.). Also in his class at Mater Dei is five-star offensive lineman and Oregon commit Kodi Greene.

Is there a budding recruiting rivalry forming between Riley and Lanning as the two premiere west coast schools in the expanded Big Ten Conference?

USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley walks on the field before a game against the California Golden Bears at California Memor
Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley walks on the field before a game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

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Topui is the No. 100 overall recruit, the No. 13 defensive lineman, and the No. 15 prospect from the state of California, according to 247Sports' rankings.

For Bowen, it's a big splash in the right direction.

“History repeats itself. It always does, and if you look into fine details of how programs are built and how the place is built and when success has happened, that was a key part of USC being at the top. My plan and my vision is to bring that back and to take care of this state. The state deserves it," said Bowden.

The Ducks hold eight commitments in the 2026 class, headlined by Greene and five-star tight end Kendre Harrison. Oregon hopes to get good news from the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2026, five-star recruit Jared Curtis. Curtis has narrowed his decision to Oregon or the Georgia Bulldogs.

The Ducks are currently in spring football practices, leading up to their annual spring game in Autzen Stadium on April 26.

"What's great about football is every single day is a different challenge, right?" Lanning said after practice on Tuesday. "And you don't know what it's going to be when you get out of bed, right, when you come up here. What we can do to control it is our organization..."

Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark
Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

"Every day has different goals, different themes," Lanning continued. "Today, we focused a lot more on the red area, being a little bit tighter to the goal line and attacking that. Now we have to go watch the film and see how we executed it and where we were great. Then we need to keep building on that. And where we weren’t, we have to attack." 

Another date to circle on the calendar is when USC travels to Eugene to play Oregon on November 22. It will be the final home game of the season, meaning it is also senior day.

While USC is coming off a lackluster 2024 season, the Trojans have newfound momentum on the recruiting trail that is giving the Los Angeles fan base hope. 

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Bri Amaranthus
BRI AMARANTHUS

Bri Amaranthus is an Emmy-winning sports reporter with over 12 years of experience in television, radio, podcasting, and digital sports journalism. She has been with Sports Illustrated for four years, providing breaking news, exclusive interviews, and analysis on the NFL, college sports, and the NBA. Prior to joining SI, Bri hosted NBC Sports Northwest's prime-time television show, where she also served as the Oregon beat reporter and created content covering both the NBA and college sports. Throughout her career, Bri has achieved significant milestones, including covering major events like the NBA Finals, NFL playoffs, College Football Playoff, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NFL Draft, and the NFL Combine. She earned a D1 scholarship to play softball at the University of San Diego and won two state softball titles in high school in Oregon. In addition to her Emmy win for NBC's All-Star Coach special, she has received multiple Emmy nominations, highlighting her dedication and talent in sports journalism.

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