Unlike last season, the USC Trojans will begin their schedule with three consecutive non-conference opponents. With USC’s rivalry series with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on hold for the time being, the Trojans are entering a year with high expectations and can look to earn three double-digit wins to begin the 2026 college football season. In addition to opening the 2026 season on Aug. 29 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum against the San Jose State Spartans, the Trojans are also set to face the Fresno State Bulldogs and Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns before opening their Big Ten slate on the road against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sept. 19. Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) and head coach Lincoln Riley react after the game against the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesWhile they lost 34-24 to Notre Dame in South Bend last season, USC dominated its two other non-conference opponents, the Missouri State Bears and the Georgia Southern Eagles, winning by a combined score of 132-33.Looking for another 3-0 start to the season under coach Lincoln Riley, here’s a breakdown of USC’s three non-conference opponents, ranked from easiest to hardest. 1. San Jose State SpartansSep 27, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; San Jose State Spartans quarterback Walker Eget (5) throws the football during the first quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images