USC Football 2026 Schedule Outlook and Analysis

The Good

The Trojans only leave Los Angeles once until mid-October.

It's a long trip to the other side of the country to face Rutgers, but if USC is any good, that has to be a win. It won't be easy after that, but Oregon and Washington have to come to the Coliseum.

Yeah, Ohio State is on the slate, but that's in LA, too. However ...

The Bad

There's no break from late September until the weekend before Thanksgiving. Okay, technically, there is, with a week off in mid-October, but game after game after game will be trying.

Oregon, Washington, at Penn State, at Wisconsin, Ohio State, at Indiana... oof. (At least there's no Notre Dame now.)

What Big Ten Teams USC Will Miss

Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue.

This is a problem. Illinois and Iowa are good, and missing Michigan is always great, but USC isn't missing any of the big Big Ten stars from last year.

USC’s Best and Worst Case Scenarios in 2026

Best Case: Just get to 10-2

Yeah, going to Indiana in mid-November for a Los Angeles team is concerning, and having to face Oregon and Ohio State hurts, and for just about 100 teams, there are at least eight wins on this schedule.

But USC finds it early, takes care of the former Pac-12 foes in Los Angeles, at least splits the Ohio State and Indiana games, and it gets to 10-2 with a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Worst Case: The Trojans never get going

They can't get by Oregon early, struggle in a loss to Washington, and things don't get any better.

They have problems with the road games at Penn State and Wisconsin, and then it all falls apart against Ohio State and Indiana.

In the worst-case scenario, the program will have already started to look for a new coach before the loss at UCLA.

USC Football 2026 Schedule

Aug 29 To Be Determined
Sept 5 Fresno State
Sept 12 Louisiana
Sept 19 at Rutgers
Sept 26 Oregon
Oct 3 Washington
Oct 10 at Penn State
Oct 17 OPEN DATE
Oct 24 at Wisconsin
Oct 31 Ohio State
Nov 7 OPEN DATE
Nov 14 at Indiana
Nov 21 Maryland
Nov 28 at UCLA

Games That Will Decide USC’s Season

1. Oregon, Sept. 26
If you want to be a player, this is it. USC hasn't beaten Oregon since 2016, but do this in the Big Ten home opener ... Game On, Fight On.

2. Ohio State, Oct. 31
USC beat the Buckeyes in 2009, but things are a wee bit different now. With the overall goal to get to the College Football Playoff, the Trojans should be okay if they beat Oregon and Ohio State, because up after the Buckeyes is ...

3. at Indiana, Nov. 14
The last time Indiana beat USC? Never.