USC rounds out 2026 schedule with Week Zero game against in-state opponent

USC will open the season on Aug. 29 with a familiar opponent, facing San José State for the seventh time in program history. It also marks the second meeting between the schools in the Lincoln Riley era, as the Trojans once again welcome their in‑state foe to Los Angeles.

San José State slides into the spot previously occupied by Notre Dame, as the long‑running USC–Irish series pauses for now. The Trojans enter the matchup a perfect 6–0 all‑time against the Spartans, most recently posting a 56–28 win in 2023 behind Heisman winner Caleb Williams, who threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns. That game also marked USC’s final season in the Pac‑12.

The Spartans are coming off a 3–9 season, including a 2–6 mark in Mountain West play. They’ll remain one of the league’s holdovers in 2026 as several conference rivals depart for the newly formed Pac‑12, leaving San José State among the programs carrying the Mountain West forward.

With the addition of the Week Zero matchup, USC gains an extra bye week on its 2026 slate. The Trojans’ non‑conference schedule now features Fresno State, Louisiana, and San José State, giving them a three‑game out‑of‑league lineup before diving into Big Ten play.

USC will have to navigate one of the toughest conference schedules in the Big Ten this season with a six-game stretch that features Oregon, Washington, at Penn State, at Wisconsin, Ohio State and at Indiana. That stretch will likely determine whether the Trojans are in the mix for a CFP berth. The opening non-conference slate and conference opener against Rutgers should give USC great momentum going into the meat of the schedule.