On Wednesday, USC football officially announced its 2025 schedule. The Trojans cannot be unhappy with the 12-game slate they received, with the home game against Michigan being the crown jewel. Just for the sake of comparison, let’s recall how the 2024 schedule was laid out, beginning in Week 1:
“The USC Trojans face off with the LSU Tigers. Two teams that sent shockwaves across the landscape when they hired sitting head coaches from top-tier jobs. Brian Kelly left Notre Dame for the Bayou and Lincoln Riley jetted from Oklahoma to sunny Los Angeles. These two teams are embarking on a new era after both lost their Heisman-winning quarterbacks to the NFL draft this past offseason.
“The Trojans continue their nonconference schedule with a matchup against the Utah State Aggies on Sept. 7 before an open week. On Sept. 21 USC opens their Big Ten schedule with a trip to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines. They return home to host the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten home opener.”
USC had to play LSU, Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, and Washington last year. If you compare those five games to the toughest games on USC’s schedule this year, you’ll see that 2025 is easier than 2024.
Here is the Trojans’ slate:
Vs Missouri State Bears, August 30
The Trojans will open the season at home against Missouri State, which will be playing its first game as an FBS program after making the jump up from the FCS level.
Vs Georgia Southern Eagles, September 6
Clay Helton was USC’s head coach for nearly six years. Now, he will return to the Coliseum with his new school, Georgia Southern.
At Purdue Boilermakers, September 13
The Trojans’ first road game of 2025 will be a trip to West Lafayette, Indiana, to take on Purdue. The Boilermakers were the worst team in the entire Power Four this season, and will have a new coach next season. That new coach will be former UNLV head coach Barry Odom, who coached USC quarterback Jayden Maiava when he was with the Rebels in 2023.
Vs Michigan State, September 20
Trojans vs. Spartans in the Coliseum. Jonathan Smith comes back to a place he coached when he led Oregon State against USC in the Pac-12.
USC’s first true tough game of the season comes at the end of September, when the Trojans travel to face Illinois. It will be the teams’ first meeting since the 2008 Rose Bowl.
Idle week, October 4
The Trojans will have a week off before beginning a grueling October slate. It’s a lot better to get an idle week in October than in September, which is what the Trojans had in 2024. Off weeks in September aren’t really beneficial. Teams need to develop a rhythm and then get a week off in the middle of the season. USC gets that in 2025.
Vs Michigan Wolverines, October 11
After last season’s instant classic in Ann Arbor, the Trojans will get a rematch against the Wolverines, this time in Los Angeles.
The Trojans will travel to take on Notre Dame in the annual installment of college football’s greatest intersectional rivalry. USC will be looking for its first victory in South Bend since 2011.
Idle week, October 25
The Trojans will have another off week in October, this one sandwiched in between two Midwest road trips. USC gets multiple weeks off in October. This second off week should enable the Trojans to be fresh for the November stretch run.
At Nebraska Cornhuskers, November 1
One of three conference rematches from this past season on USC’s 2025 schedule, the Trojans will look to make it 5-0 against Nebraska this century when they travel to Lincoln.
The only two private schools in the Big Ten will square off in a rematch of the 1996 Rose Bowl.
Vs Iowa Hawkeyes, November 15
Once again, the Trojans will not leave the West Coast after November 1. Up next, USC will welcome Iowa to the Coliseum in a rematch of both the 2003 Orange Bowl and the 2019 Holiday Bowl.
At Oregon Ducks, November 22
USC’s final road trip of the 2025 season will be its shortest, as the Trojans will fly up the coast to take on Oregon. USC has dropped three straight against its foe from up north, and has not won in Eugene since 2011.
Vs UCLA Bruins, November 29
For the first time in a decade, the crosstown showdown returns to Thanksgiving weekend. The Trojans will wrap up the 2025 regular season by welcoming UCLA to the Coliseum.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football 2025 schedule features home game vs Michigan
