USC, UCLA get good news from Big Ten football schedule makers

The Big Ten football schedule makers did USC and UCLA one small favor.

Neither team will make back-to-back conference trips in 2026 without a bye week in between as part of the schedules released Tuesday.

USC gets a bye between a road game against Penn State on Oct. 10 and a road game against Wisconsin on Oct. 24. UCLA gets a bye between a road game at Maryland on Sept. 26 and a road game against Oregon on Oct. 10.

The Trojans also get a bye before a road showdown against defending national champion Indiana on Nov. 14. USC gets that second bye by virtue of starting the season on Aug. 29 against an opponent to be determined after its longstanding series against Notre Dame was discontinued, at least for the time being.

USC’s most notable games at the Coliseum include ones against Oregon on Sept. 26 and Ohio State on Oct. 31. The Trojans’ nonconference schedule includes home games against Fresno State on Sept. 5 and Louisiana on Sept. 12. 

UCLA will enjoy a home-heavy schedule in its first season under coach Bob Chesney, wherever that home might be. The Bruins are trying to move their home games from the Rose Bowl to SoFi Stadium, though a judge or arbitrator could have the final say about that after the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the City of Pasadena sued UCLA for an anticipatory breach of contract.

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After starting the season at California on Sept. 5, UCLA’s seven home games will include one against San Diego State on Sept. 12 and a rare Halloween nonconference game against Nevada. Players who like to keep their body clocks in rhythm may like that the Bruins leave the Pacific time zone only once over the first eight games of the season, for their trip to face Maryland.

Chesney’s Bruins will make a trip to play Oregon on Oct. 10. It will be familiar territory for a coach who took James Madison to play the Ducks at Autzen Stadium during the opening round of the College Football Playoff.

UCLA’s most difficult stretch will come at the end of the regular season. After playing at Michigan on Nov. 21, the Bruins return home to face USC in the cross-town rivalry on Nov. 28.

The Big Ten championship game is Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

USC

Aug. 29 – TBD

Sept. 5 – Fresno State

Sept. 12 – Louisiana

Sept. 19 – at Rutgers

Sept. 26 – Oregon

Oct. 3 – Washington

Oct. 10 – at Penn State

Oct. 17 – BYE

Oct. 24 – at Wisconsin

Oct. 31 – Ohio State

Nov. 7 – BYE

Nov. 14 – at Indiana

Nov. 21 – Maryland

Nov. 28 – at UCLA

UCLA

Sept 5 – at Cal

Sept. 12 – San Diego State

Sept. 19 – Purdue

Sept. 26 – at Maryland

Oct. 3 – BYE

Oct. 10 – at Oregon

Oct. 17 – Wisconsin

Oct. 24 – Michigan State

Oct. 31 – Nevada

Nov. 7 – at Minnesota

Nov. 14 – Illinois

Nov. 21 – at Michigan

Nov. 28 – USC