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USC to face Missouri State in first FBS game, preserve unique legacy

IMG_7408by: Andy Backstrom10/02/24andybackstrom
USC HC Lincoln Riley
(Jason Parkhurst | USA TODAY Sports)

USC announced Wednesday it will open the 2025 season against Missouri State. Although Missouri State is currently part of the Missouri Valley Conference, competing in the FCS, the program is making the jump to the FBS and will participate in Conference USA for the 2025-26 athletic season.

The Trojans will remain as the only FBS team to have not played an FCS opponent, dating back to 1978 when Division I split into I-A (FBS) and I-AA (FCS).

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The first-ever meeting between USC and Missouri State will take place on Aug. 30, 2025, in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

USC is 99-24-8 all-time in season openers. Along the way, the Trojans have posted 36 shutout victories in those games. They even have a slightly better win percentage in season openers at home, where they are 70-16-7 in those contests.

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This season, however, USC kicked things off at a neutral site. The Trojans made a statement at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, defeating then-No. 13 LSU, 27-20. Head coach Lincoln Riley’s squad is off to a 3-1 start, with its lone loss coming at The Big House to now-No. 10 Michigan.

The success of quarterback Miller Moss has softened the blow of losing superstar Caleb Williams — the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and 2024 No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft — to the next level. Plus, D’Anton Lynn came over from UCLA to revamp the USC defense, and to say his presence has been felt would be an understatement.

USC is eying a bid to the College Football Playoff in 2024.

The Trojans will then start the 2025 campaign against Missouri State, which will be brand new to the FBS and Conference USA. To round out non-conference play next season, Riley’s USC is also scheduled to face Georgia Southern at home on Sept. 6 and Notre Dame on the road on Oct. 18. As for Big Ten play, the Trojans will get Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and UCLA at home, and they’ll play Illinois, Nebraska, Oregon and Purdue on the road.