The teams that will be part of USC’s football schedule for the upcoming season were revealed on Wednesday.
The Trojans are set to kick off their season at the Coliseum against San Jose State on August 29. This game replaces the matchup with Notre Dame, which has been taken off the schedule.
The game was moved to an early date because USC has two bye weeks integrated into their lineup. To play at home during Week 0, the team required a waiver from the NCAA, as they initially planned to compete overseas or at a neutral venue. San Jose State emerged as a suitable opponent, which also allows the Spartans to add an extra game against Hawaii this season. They will be playing a 13-game schedule for the first time since 2017.
Aside from the pandemic-altered 2020 season, this will mark the first time since World War II that USC doesn’t face Notre Dame. Discussions aimed at continuing their rivalry stalled in December, leading to an indefinite suspension of their matchups.
The Trojans seem to be in a favorable position; they hold a 6-0 record against San Jose State, with all the matches played in the Coliseum. The last time they played, USC triumphed over the Spartans with a score of 56-28 in their season opener for 2023.
San Jose State has had a mixed record of 10-15 and is under the guidance of coach Ken Niutarolo, who has a history with Navy. After leaving the Midshipmen, Niutarolo spent a year as UCLA’s director of instruction in 2023, when the Bruins managed to beat the Trojans at the Coliseum, before taking on the role at San Jose State. In his first season, he led the team to the Hawaii Bowl, but they struggled last year, finishing with a 3-9 record.
Given that teams from the Mountain West Conference have a mixed performance of 1-1 and 39-0 against USC (along with two wins being forfeited due to NCAA penalties), the Spartans face significant challenges as they head back to the Coliseum.
USC will continue its home schedule with a game against Fresno State on September 5, followed by another home match against Louisiana State on September 12. It’s an advantageous start for the Trojans, who will play five of their first six games at home.
