LOS ANGELES — Next October, by the looks of it, will shape up as one of the stranger months in recent memory for the USC football program.
USC’s official 2025 schedule was revealed on Wednesday, solidifying the dates of previously announced nonconference and Big Ten matchups. With it, too, came an intriguing development: two bye weeks in the same month, sandwiched around a grueling October back-to-back against Michigan at the Coliseum and at Notre Dame in South Bend.
It’s a slightly more favorable slate overall than what the Trojans faced in 2024, travelling immediately to Las Vegas to take on then-13th-ranked LSU in their season opener. But USC’s schedule next fall is still ripe with marquee matchups, including that October gauntlet and a late-season collision with Oregon in Eugene.
Here’s a breakdown of USC’s coming season, with teams listed with their current 2024 records and a note on each matchup.
2025
Aug. 30: USC vs. Missouri State (8-4, 6-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference)
USC narrowly avoids its non-FCS scheduling streak, as Missouri State will become an FBS program in 2025.
Sept. 6: USC vs. Georgia Southern (8-4, 6-2 Sun Belt)
The long-awaited reunion with former Trojans head coach Clay Helton will come.
Sept. 13: USC at Purdue (1-11, 0-9 Big Ten)
A pretty easy first road trip for USC against the worst program in the conference.
Sept. 20: USC vs. Michigan State (5-7, 3-6 Big Ten)
The Trojans will likely face Downey High product Aidan Chiles at QB, who struggled in his first year with the Spartans.
Sept. 27: USC at Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten)
The Fighting Illini were a surprising Big Ten standout in 2024.
BYE
Oct. 11: USC vs. Michigan (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten)
The rematch of USC’s first regular-season loss in 2024, and first-ever Big Ten matchup.
Oct. 18: USC at Notre Dame (11-1)
The rematch of USC’s last regular-season loss in 2024.
BYE
Nov. 1: USC at Nebraska (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten)
All signs point to another quarterback duel between USC’s Jayden Maiava and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola.
Nov. 8: USC vs. Northwestern (4-8, 2-7 Big Ten)
The Wildcats cratered in 2024 after an 8-5 season in 2023.
Nov. 15: USC vs. Iowa (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten)
A welcome back-to-back home matchup before one of the biggest games of Lincoln Riley’s USC career.
Nov. 22: USC at Oregon (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten)
The showdown that could define USC’s progress as a program.
Nov. 29: USC vs. UCLA (5-7, 3-6 Big Ten)
USC has won seven of the last 10 meetings but lost the past two times they played at the Coliseum.