Big Ten announces USC's 2024-28 conference schedule

A new era of USC football will begin in 2024 as the Trojans are moving to the Big Ten conference. The league revealed the conference schedules for all teams for 2024-28 on Friday.

These will be important years for the USC program as the Trojans attempt to show that they can compete with the best of the best in the Big Ten. USC has long had one of the top programs in the country, but its last national title came in 2007.

As the Trojans go from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, they should be able to stay elite. USC will bring in more money in the Big Ten, which played a big role in its decision to leave. The Trojans will join UCLA, Oregon and Washington as current Pac-12 schools who will begin competing in the Big Ten in 2024. USC will attempt to join programs like Michigan and Ohio State at the top of the league as Big Ten contenders and national title contenders.

USC’s Big Ten schedule from 2024-2028

2024

• Home: Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Wisconsin
• Away: Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, UCLA

2025

• Home: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, UCLA
• Away: Illinois, Nebraska, Oregon, Purdue

2026

• Home: Maryland, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington
• Away: Indiana, Penn State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, UCLA

2027

• Home: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, UCLA
• Away: Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Washington

2028

• Home: Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue
• Away: Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Oregon, UCLA

Schedule recap

USC will have some big games right away as it transitions to the Big Ten. In Year 1, the Trojans will host Penn State and also have to play at Michigan. Both of those teams could be ranked in the top 10 when the matchups against USC take place.

The Trojans will face Michigan and Penn State three times over the next five years, but will play Ohio State only twice. The first meeting with the Buckeyes won’t take place until the 2026 season.

USC will face rival UCLA every year. It is good to see that rivalry continuing, even with the two teams changing leagues. The Trojans are likely to have a new quarterback as they make the move to the Big Ten. Heisman winner Caleb Williams, who is having another excellent season in 2023, is expected to be drafted No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. Even if Williams does turn pro, the Trojans should have plenty enough talent to continue to compete at a high level.