The Big Ten just dropped the full 2026 football schedule, and for USC, it’s a gauntlet. Lincoln Riley's squad is gearing up for a 12-game slate featuring seven home matchups and five road trips. And make no mistake-this is a defining season for the Trojans.
Riley enters his fourth year at the helm in Los Angeles, and while last season’s 9-4 finish showed signs of a rebound, this year’s schedule leaves little room for error. After a winless road record in 2024, USC finally found its footing away from the Coliseum in 2025, picking up solid wins at Purdue and Nebraska. But a narrow 30-27 overtime loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl kept them from hitting double-digit wins-a benchmark that could be critical in 2026 with the College Football Playoff format still featuring 12 teams.
Let’s be clear: getting to 10 wins won’t be easy. The Trojans dodge their annual showdown with Notre Dame this year, which lightens the non-conference load a bit, but the Big Ten schedule is no joke. This is still a league where every week feels like a playoff audition.
USC opens the season with back-to-back home games against Fresno State and Louisiana-matchups that should help build early momentum. From there, the Trojans hit the road for their Big Ten debut at Rutgers on September 19. That trip kicks off a brutal stretch, including home games against Oregon and Washington, and a trip to Happy Valley to face Penn State-all before mid-October.
After a much-needed bye, USC heads to Madison to face Wisconsin, then returns home for a Halloween weekend clash with Ohio State. That’s the kind of two-week stretch that can define a season-and determine whether this team is playoff-worthy or just a tough out.
The Trojans get another break before the final push: road games at Indiana and crosstown rival UCLA, plus a home date with Maryland. That UCLA finale at the Rose Bowl on November 28 could have serious postseason implications, especially if both teams are in the mix for a Big Ten title game berth or a playoff spot.
Here’s how the full schedule shakes out:
USC Trojans 2026 Football Schedule
- Saturday, Aug. 29: Open
- Saturday, Sep. 5: vs. Fresno State
- Saturday, Sep. 12: vs. Louisiana
- Saturday, Sep. 19: at Rutgers
- Saturday, Sep. 26: vs.
Oregon
- Saturday, Oct. 3: vs.
Washington
- Saturday, Oct. 10: at Penn State
- BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 24: at Wisconsin
- Saturday, Oct. 31: vs. Ohio State
- BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 14: at Indiana
- Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. Maryland
- Saturday, Nov. 28: at UCLA
One game remains unannounced-likely a Week 0 non-conference matchup. If that comes to fruition, USC would benefit from two bye weeks. That’s no small advantage in a season where depth, rest, and recovery could be the difference between contending and collapsing.
The pieces are in place for a compelling year in Southern California. The Trojans have the talent, the coaching, and now the stage.
But in the Big Ten, there are no easy weeks. If USC wants to punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff, it’ll need to navigate one of the most demanding schedules in the country-and prove it can win the big ones when it matters most.