USC football players react to morning kickoff to start 2020 season

USC football will have to navigate a morning start, but excitement overrides everything.

The 2020 USC football schedule was announced on Saturday morning with a slightly unexpected twist: Trojan fans will have to wake up early again on Nov. 7 to watch the season opener.

USC is slated to play Arizona State to start the campaign with kickoff at 9:00 a.m.

If you’re a morning person and can’t understand why that’s a bit of a worry, FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff laid it out. Urban Meyer posited the players will be getting a wake-up call at 4:30 a.m.

CHECK OUT: USC’s full 2020 schedule revealed

Herm Edwards welcomed the early morning start as an old guy, but he and Clay Helton acknowledged the difficulty of getting their players ready.

Essentially, that opening game will be a test of who managed their offseason hurdles best, both in terms of preparing through COVID-19 and in planning for an early morning start.

USC football players, coaches and fans are excited for the opening matchup

Despite the early kickoff, excitement was a more prevalent response to the schedule release.

Starting offensive lineman Jalen McKenzie embraced the challenge.

Defensive lineman Connor Murphy shared more direct sentiments.

Former Trojan quarterback Matt Leinart, who now features on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, was pumped about the matchup between Pac-12 South contenders.

USC Director of High School Relations Armond Hawkins is just looking forward to a family affair.

For those who aren’t aware, Armond Hawkins is the brother of former USC safety and current ASU defensive backs coach Chris Hawkins.

Undoubtedly the best responses to any announcement are the memes. It wasn’t any different on Saturday.

Who knows, the Pac-12 may have found a new brand to champion.

MORE: USC has ground to cover recruiting J.T. Tuimoloau

Whether you’re already writing a grocery list to prepare breakfast burritos for Nov. 7 or dreading the sound of your alarm on that first Saturday of USC football, it’s almost back.