Big Ten Announces USC's Conference Opponents in 2024 and 2025

The USC Trojans and their fans know what the first two years of their Big Ten conference schedule look like. Several big-time Big Ten programs are set to visit the Coliseum in the next two seasons.

Big Ten Scheduling

There are 11 protected rivalries that will take place every season. USC vs UCLA is one of those protected rivalries.

There will be nine conference games each year for every team.

The Big Ten has also done away with divisions, similar to what the Pac-12 did recently. The top two teams in the conference will face off in the Big Ten Football Championship Game.

The scheduling model guarantees that every Big Ten team will play every other Big Ten team at least once every two years. But there will also be some teams on the schedule in back-to-back seasons. For USC in 2024 and 2025, the Trojans will take on both Penn State and Wisconsin both years.

USC’s 2024 Schedule

Sept. 1 vs LSU

The Trojans will meet the Tigers at Allegiant Stadium for a Sunday kickoff in the Vegas Kickoff Classic. USC and LSU have met just twice previously. LSU picked up a 23-3 win in Los Angeles in 1984. USC won 17-12 in Baton Rouge on its way to an undefeated season in 1979.

Sept. 7 vs San Jose State

USC and San Jose State have played just five times but the frequency is picking up. The Trojans won 30-7 to start the 2021 season and the two teams will line it up again this fall to kick off the 2023 season. USC is 5-0 against San Jose State all time. The Trojans posted a 56-3 win in 2009 and back-to-back wins in 2000 and 2001. The 21-10 win in 2001 was the first game and win for head coach Pete Carroll at USC.

Nov. 30 vs Notre Dame

USC gets a home game against Notre Dame to end the 2024 season. The Trojans will hopefully be riding a two-game winning streak in the series after a visit to South Bend scheduled for October of this coming season.

Big Ten Conference Games Without Dates

Dates for the remaining conference matchups will be announced later this year.

@ UCLA

You may have already heard of this rivalry. The Trojans and Bruins will continue to play every year as Big Ten rivals.

@ Penn State

This will be the 11th meeting between USC and Penn State. The Trojans hold a 6-4 advantage. The Trojans are riding a three-game winning streak over the Nittany Lions. The past two wins came in the 2009 and 2017 Rose Bowls. This would be USC’s first visit to Penn State since 1994. The Trojans and Nittany Lions played a four-game, home-and-home series in the early 1990’s. USC won both its home games in 1990 and 1991. Penn State won both its home games in 1993 and 1994. The programs then split wins in two Kickoff Classics. Penn State won in 1996. USC won in 2000.

Wisconsin

USC is 6-1 all-time against Wisconsin. The Badgers managed a 23-21 win in the 2015 Holiday Bowl. Prior to that, the two teams hadn’t played since 1966. That game was a 38-3 USC win in the Coliseum.

Iowa

USC is 7-3 all-time against Iowa. The teams last played in the 2019 Holiday Bowl with the Hawkeyes winning 49-24. That broke a six-game winning streak for the Trojans in this series. Iowa last played in the Coliseum in 1976 and received a 55-0 beating from USC.

Michigan

USC is 6-4 against Michigan and each of the past seven meetings have come in the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines swept a home-and-home series against the Trojans in 1957 and 1958. USC is on a three-game winning streak against Michigan with Rose Bowl wins in 1990, 2004 and 2007.

@ Maryland

Unless something happens in terms of a bowl game of playoff game this season, the 2024 matchup will be the first time these two programs meet. It’s fitting that in the year Oregon comes off the USC schedule as a conference opponent, the Trojans will travel to the other school that can wear some, let’s say, interesting uniform combinations.

@ Northwestern

USC is a perfect 5-0 against Northwestern all time. The teams last played in the 1996 Rose Bowl, a 41-32 win for the Trojans. USC’s last trip to Evanston took place in 1968.

@ Purdue

USC is 3-1 against Purdue. This will be just the second trip for the Trojans to West Lafayette. USC won there 31-13 in 1976.

Illinois

USC is 11-2 all-time against Illinois. The Trojans’ last win was a blowout in the 2008 Rose Bowl game. Both of Illinois’ wins against USC came in Los Angeles. One came in 1935 and the other came in 1989.

USC’s 2025 Big Ten Opponents

USC will face Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State and UCLA at home.

The Trojans will travel to Minnesota, Ohio State, Rutgers and Wisconsin. 

Penn State, UCLA and Wisconsin are the three Big Ten opponents USC will play both in 2024 and 2025.