USC’s inaugural full run through the Big Ten just got a little clearer - and the Trojans might have caught a break.
The Big Ten officially released its 2026 football schedule Tuesday, and for USC, it’s a slate that’s as intriguing as it is demanding. It opens with a Week 0 nonconference matchup on August 29, giving the Trojans a head start on the rest of the country and a valuable second bye week later in the season - a strategic advantage in what promises to be a grueling Big Ten campaign.
Now, we don’t yet know who will fill the void left by Notre Dame, whose historic rivalry with USC was put on ice in December. But whoever the Trojans line up against in Week 0 will need to meet one of the NCAA’s exemption requirements - either playing in Hawaiʻi later in the year, competing abroad, or qualifying as a marquee matchup. That’s the price of early action, and USC seems willing to pay it.
After that opener, USC wraps up its nonconference slate with two home games: Fresno State on September 5 and Louisiana at Lafayette on September 12. Then it’s straight into the fire - seven consecutive weeks of football, starting with a cross-country trip to Rutgers on September 19.
The Big Ten portion of the schedule doesn’t ease in gently. USC returns home to host back-to-back games against familiar foes from its Pac-12 days - Oregon on September 26 and Washington on October 3. Both programs made the jump to the Big Ten alongside USC, and both figure to be early-season litmus tests for Lincoln Riley’s squad.
From there, it’s off to Happy Valley to face a rebuilding Penn State on October 10, followed by a well-timed bye week before heading to Madison to take on Wisconsin on October 24. That’s a stretch that will test USC’s depth and durability, especially with the physical brand of football the Big Ten is known for.
Then comes the marquee matchup: Ohio State at the Coliseum on Halloween night. It’s a national spotlight game, and one that could define USC’s season. The Buckeyes are a perennial playoff threat, and matching up with them at home - with a bye week on the other side - is about as favorable as it gets.
After that second bye, USC heads to Indiana on November 14 to face the defending national champions. Yes, Indiana. Both teams will be coming off rest, and with College Football Playoff stakes potentially on the line, it’s a matchup that could carry massive implications.
The Trojans then return to Los Angeles to host Maryland on November 21 before closing the regular season with a crosstown showdown against UCLA on November 28. The location of that game is still up in the air as the Bruins continue to navigate a legal dispute with the Rose Bowl, but the rivalry will go on - venue or not.
What stands out most about the schedule is its structure. The toughest opponents - Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana - are spaced out, giving USC time to reset between heavyweight bouts.
The most daunting two-game stretch - Ohio State and Indiana, both undefeated in Big Ten play last year - is split by a bye week. That’s a luxury not every contender gets.
And with the No. 1 recruiting class in the country and a new defensive coordinator in place, there’s no shortage of optimism around the program. But make no mistake: navigating the Big Ten is no small task. USC will need to prove it can handle the physicality, the travel, and the week-in, week-out grind that defines this conference.
Still, with two bye weeks, a front-loaded nonconference slate, and a schedule that avoids stacking elite opponents, the path is there. Now it’s on Riley and the Trojans to walk it - and maybe, just maybe, punch their first-ever ticket to the College Football Playoff.