Why Transfer Lineman Bear Alexander is Thriving at Oregon After Rocky USC Exit

Ex-USC Trojans defensive lineman Bear Alexander is excelling with the No. 2 Oregon Ducks, anchoring a top-five passing defense and raising questions about what the Trojans let slip away. Alexander started his career with the Georgia Bulldogs before transferring to USC and then Oregon.

Oct 14, 2023; South Bend, Indiana, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley talks on his headset in the third quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images | Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

The one that got away is now making noise in Eugene. Former USC defensive lineman Bear Alexander, once projected to be a centerpiece in the Trojans’ defensive rebuild, has quickly found new life as a disruptive force for No. 2 Oregon.

His latest performance came on one of the biggest stages of the season—a 30–24 double-overtime victory over No. 7 Penn State.

Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Bear Alexander celebrates a fumble recovery as the Oregon Ducks host the Oregon State Beavers Sept. 20, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In that game, Alexander logged five tackles and anchored a Ducks’ pass rush that smothered quarterback Drew Allar, holding the Nittany Lions to just 137 passing yards.

It’s not just one game. Through five weeks, Alexander has become a steady contributor on a defensive front that’s helped Oregon climb to fifth nationally in passing defense, holding opponents to just 123.4 yards per game.

Sep 20, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Bear Alexander (1) celebrates after a fumble recovery against the Oregon State Beavers with his teammates during the fourth quarter of the game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Lining up alongside future NFL prospect Matayo Uiagalelei, he has 18 total tackles, a half-sack, and a fumble recovery, proving that his move north wasn’t just a change of scenery—it was a career reset.

A Promising Start at USC That Faded Fast

Alexander’s rise in Eugene is made more striking by how suddenly his USC story unraveled. After transferring from Georgia in 2023, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound tackle looked like a future star.

His sophomore year in cardinal and gold produced 47 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two pass deflections.

Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans defensive lineman Bear Alexander (90) gestures during the third quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

At just 20 years old, he was flashing the kind of interior dominance USC hadn’t seen in years, and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn envisioned him as a building block moving forward.

But 2024 never got off the ground. A nagging hamstring injury limited Alexander’s snaps early in the season.

Even as coaches praised his development behind the scenes, he didn’t start any of USC’s first three games and played sparingly—28 snaps in Week 1, 20 the next, and 21 in a loss to Michigan.

Oct 28, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; USC Trojans defensive lineman Bear Alexander (90) gestures during the third quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Then came the public frustrations. Alexander and his family voiced displeasure on social media, and within days his guardian, Tony Jones, confirmed to The Los Angeles Times that the relationship with USC was “severed.”

Asked if the split was about playing time, Jones told the Times, “100%.” Alexander would redshirt the remainder of the season to preserve eligibility, finishing the year with just five tackles.

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A Big Ten Rivalry Turned Personal

Now comes the part USC fans can’t ignore. Alexander didn’t just leave the program—he landed at a Big Ten rival.

Oregon’s defense has been one of the nation’s most disciplined units, and Alexander is once again playing starter-level reps in high-leverage situations.

Sep 20, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Bear Alexander (1) recovers a fumble by the Oregon State Beavers during the fourth quarter of the game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

His ability to eat up double teams and plug the interior has been central to Oregon’s identity, especially in games like the Penn State win.

That success raises an uncomfortable question in Los Angeles: how did USC let this happen?

Aug 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts during the game against the Missouri State Bears at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

A once-promising All-Pac-12 caliber talent is now thriving elsewhere, while the Trojans’ defense remains outside the top 50 nationally in yards allowed.

For a team that spent the offseason promising defensive growth, seeing Alexander blossom in Eugene is a painful reminder of what could have been.

November 22: A Date to Circle

The story could still come full circle. On Nov. 22, Oregon hosts USC in a matchup that could carry enormous stakes in the Big Ten championship race and even College Football Playoff seeding.

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

If Alexander continues on this trajectory, that game will carry a subplot with personal weight: the defensive tackle USC couldn’t keep versus the offense he once practiced against every day.

For USC coach Lincoln Riley, it’s an unavoidable reality. Losing players to the portal is part of today’s college football landscape.

But watching one of the most talented linemen in recent USC history line up against his former team—on the road, in a game that could decide the Trojans’ season—is the kind of twist no coach or fan wants to see.

Sep 30, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley during the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Chet Strange-Imagn Images | Chet Strange-Imagn Images

Alexander has moved on. He’s producing, thriving, and playing with the edge of someone out to prove he was undervalued.

USC, meanwhile, is left to watch from the outside, knowing a piece of its defensive foundation is now fueling a rival’s championship hopes.