USC’s 2026 Football Schedule: Coast-to-Coast Battles and a Coliseum Packed With Big Ten Showdowns
The Big Ten era is officially underway for USC, and the Trojans’ 2026 football schedule is a coast-to-coast gauntlet that blends tradition with new rivalries, familiar foes with first-time matchups, and more than a few long flights in between.
USC will kick off its 2026 campaign with a Week Zero game on August 29 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The opponent?
Still TBD. But it sets the stage for a three-game homestand that should give Trojan fans plenty to be excited about early.
Nonconference Warm-Up: Familiar Faces and First-Time Visitors
The first confirmed opponent is Fresno State, coming to town on September 5. The Bulldogs are no strangers to the Coliseum - this will be their fifth visit all-time.
Fresno State is now led by Matt Entz, a former USC assistant who coached linebackers and served as assistant head coach for defense. USC owns a commanding 4-1 record against the Bulldogs (5-1 before a vacated win), and the Trojans have historically dominated Mountain West programs, going 37-1-1 (39-1-1 including vacated results).
A week later, on September 12, the Trojans will meet Louisiana for the first time. The Ragin’ Cajuns, under head coach Michael Desormeaux, will bring their Sun Belt style to the Coliseum, marking just the second time USC has faced a team from that conference.
The last time? A 55-6 rout of Arkansas State back in 2015.
Big Ten Debut: From Piscataway to Pasadena
Then the real test begins.
USC’s first official Big Ten game as a full-time member sends the Trojans on a cross-country trek to Rutgers on September 19. The only prior meeting between the two came in 2024, a 42-20 win for USC at home. This trip to Piscataway and SHI Stadium will be a new experience, and a true East Coast welcome to Big Ten football.
The Coliseum gets its first taste of Big Ten conference play the following week when Oregon comes to town on September 26. While the Ducks are a familiar rival from Pac-12 days, the stakes are different now. Oregon got the better of USC last season with a 42-27 win in Eugene, but the Trojans still hold a 38-24-2 edge in the all-time series (39-24-2 including vacated wins).
Washington follows on October 3, continuing a stretch of heavyweight matchups. USC leads the series 51-32-4 (52-32-4 with vacated), but the Huskies edged the Trojans 26-21 in Seattle in 2024. This one will be circled on both calendars - two proud programs, now battling for Big Ten supremacy.
Road Warriors: Penn State, Wisconsin, and a Halloween Clash with the Buckeyes
October 10 brings another cross-country flight, this time to Happy Valley to face Penn State. It’s been over three decades since USC last visited Beaver Stadium - 1994, to be exact.
The series is tight, with USC holding a 6-5 edge, though the Nittany Lions claimed the most recent meeting in 2024, a 33-30 overtime thriller in Los Angeles. Adding intrigue is new Penn State head coach Matt Campbell, who takes over one of the Big Ten’s most tradition-rich programs.
After a well-timed bye on October 17, the Trojans head to Madison to face Wisconsin on October 24. The Badgers are always a tough out at Camp Randall, but USC has had the upper hand historically, winning seven of eight matchups, including a 38-21 win in 2024.
Then comes a Halloween showdown that needs no hype: Ohio State at the Coliseum on October 31. It’s been a while since these two bluebloods squared off - their last meeting came in the 2017 Cotton Bowl, a 24-7 Buckeyes win. USC leads the all-time series 13-10-1, and you can bet the Coliseum will be rocking for this one.
Finishing Strong: Indiana, Maryland, and the Crosstown Classic
After another bye week on November 7, USC heads to Bloomington to take on the reigning national champions, Indiana, on November 14. Yes, you read that right - Indiana. The Hoosiers have turned heads, and the Trojans will look to stay perfect in the all-time series (4-0) when they visit Memorial Stadium for the first time since a 21-0 win in 1981.
The final home game of the season comes on November 21 against Maryland - another first-time Coliseum visitor. The Terrapins stunned USC in 2024 with a 29-28 win, so there’s a bit of revenge on the table here. USC trails 0-1 in the all-time series.
And then, as always, the season ends with the battle for Los Angeles. USC will face UCLA on November 28 at the Rose Bowl in a rivalry that needs no introduction. The Bruins have a new head coach in Bob Chesney, and while the Trojans lead the series 52-34-7 (54-34-7 including vacated wins), recent years have proven that anything can happen in this one.
Looking Ahead: Big Ten Title Game on the Horizon
The Big Ten Championship Game is set for December 5, featuring the top two teams in the overall conference standings. With no divisions in play, every game matters - and tiebreaking procedures will be announced down the line.
So buckle up, Trojan fans. The 2026 schedule is a high-stakes, high-mileage journey through the new Big Ten landscape. From Piscataway to Pasadena, from Happy Valley to Hollywood, USC is about to find out what life in the nation’s premier football conference is really all about.