USC Trojans Shift Attention to Preparing for Challenging Big Ten Schedule

As spring training comes to a close, coach Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans look ahead to a deceptively difficult 2026 schedule as expectations continue to rise and College Football Playoff hopes are at an all time high.

Aug 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley talks with Southern California Trojans quarterback Husan Longstreet (4) in the second half against the Missouri State Bears at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

With spring training camp coming to a close, the USC Trojans now shift their focus from building internal development to facing their external reality. The 2026 season is coming into view, and it's not forgiving.

In a recent strength-of-schedule ranking by College Football News’ Pete Fiutak, the Trojans are projected to have the fourth-hardest schedule in the Big Ten. That ranking doesn’t just reflect difficulty. It highlights a deceptively difficult path for a team expected to take the next step.

Despite a rough end to last season, USC enters the year with real momentum after a 9-4 finish in 2025. Coach Lincoln Riley and general manager Chad Bowden were able to assemble the No. 1-ranked recruiting class out of the 2026 cycle. Major changes were also made on the coaching staff, headlined by the hiring of former TCU head coach Gary Patterson to be the new defensive coordinator. The table is set for the Trojans to leap into the College Football Playoff conversation.

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

With the College Football Playoff still at 12 teams, the Trojans likely need at least 10 wins to break through. The problem? The schedule doesn’t offer many clean paths to get there. Last season, three Big Ten teams were ranked in the top five entering the playoffs: the Ohio State Buckeyes, Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks. All three of those teams are on the Trojans' upcoming schedule. Those three games alone will make or break USC's season, leaving little margin for error.

Oregon Ducks Game Sets the Tone for the Season

If there’s one game that defines USC’s season before it fully begins, it’s Oregon on Sept. 26. It’s more than just a conference opener. It’s a measuring stick. USC hasn’t beaten Oregon since 2016. Last season’s 42-27 loss in Eugene effectively ended the Trojans’ playoff hopes. This time, the Ducks come to Los Angeles, but the stakes feel just as high. An early win would immediately reshape USC’s Big Ten outlook. A loss? It could reinforce the same doubts that have lingered for nearly a decade.

Nov 11, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, left, and Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning talk before a game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

There’s also a recruiting edge to this rivalry. USC has made significant moves in California, landing five-star athlete Honor Fa’alave-Johnson and four-star cornerback Danny Lang, while flipping offensive lineman Drew Fielder from Oregon. The Trojans are gaining ground off the field, but that momentum hasn’t translated on Saturdays yet. This game is about changing that narrative. USC doesn’t just need to compete, they need to prove it can win.

No Break Against the Big Ten’s Best

Even beyond Oregon, USC’s schedule is loaded with proven contenders and elite defenses. The Trojans face the last two national champions in Indiana and Ohio State. Both programs bring high-level quarterback play, including Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Indiana’s Josh Hoover, setting up potential offensive duels. But the real challenge may come from the defenses.

Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Ohio State, Indiana, and the Iowa Hawkeyes all finished among the top five in the Big Ten in points and total defense last season. The Penn State Nittany Lions add another layer of difficulty with a revamped staff led by head coach Matt Campbell and former Trojans defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, who knows USC’s personnel as well as anyone.

What makes this schedule deceptively difficult is how that Big Ten schedule comes at the Trojans like a freight train. The season starts out manageable, with three of their first four games coming against teams that won five or fewer games last season. Then, once that conference schedule kicks in, there are no guaranteed wins or matchups where USC will be heavily favored.

Riley may have his most talented roster since coming to Southern California, but in his fifth year, he may also be facing his toughest test since joining the Trojans as well.

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