The USC Trojans enter this upcoming season with a schedule that can either provide them a clear path to the College Football Playoff or be the reason for another failed year. It will be up to Lincoln Riley and this talented roster to decide what they want to make out of the 2026 season.
Here is my ranking of the USC Trojans' opponents from easiest to toughest:
12. San Jose State Spartans
USC Trojans should get off to a similar start as they did last season, looking like one of the best offenses in the country. I expect Riley and USC to have a field day against San Jose State.
11. Fresno State Bulldogs
Fresno State will be another non-conference match that the Trojans should run up the score on. This will be a game that the Trojans can hopefully get everyone involved in and give the younger guys more
experience. The talent gap in this match should propel the Trojans to victory by a wide margin.
10. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
This will be the first-ever match between the two teams. The Trojans should handle business vs. Louisiana, but out of their non-conference games, this will be the toughest match. I could see this match being closer than it should be, as the Trojans prepare for Big Ten play. The Ragin' Cajuns were a different team once Lunch Winfield took over towards the end of the season. With his dual-threat ability, he could give the Trojans' defense their first challenge. However I expect the offense to clear the way to victory.
9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers has some exciting talent on offense, with their running back being the best in the Big Ten, Antwan Raymond. They couple that with having an NFL-caliber receiver in KJ Duff. Unfortunately for Rutgers, those two stars can't do everything on the field. There is a big talent gap between USC and Rutgers; I expect the Trojans to win that early match convincingly.
8. Maryland Terrapins
Malik Washington had some growing pains his freshman year, but he showed he was capable of lighting it up in the passing game. If the Trojans' defense takes him lightly, he could make them pay. The Trojans' offense should run away with this one convincingly, as the Terrapins' defense does not have enough to stack up against the talent USC has.
7.UCLA Bruins
Bob Chesney has injected some great energy into the UCLA Bruins. The early return on the coaching change has been great so far. The games vs the Trojans have always been closer than they should be; this season, I could see the Bruins giving the Trojans a close one.
6. Wisconsin Badgers
Last season started off in disastrous fashion, but Luke Fickell was able to right the ship and build some momentum. The Badgers have an elite defense that gave other Big Ten teams fits last year; this season, however, he may have found his answer at quarterback in Colton Joseph. Wisconsin, regardless of that, is a tough place to play on the road.
5. Washington Huskies
The Huskies did lose a lot of talent but with their head coach Jedd Fisch, and Demond WIlliams a otentail Heisman cnaidate, the Huskies are no team the Trojans can roll over. Thankfully, the Trojans will have home-field advantage, but at their best, the Huskies can put up points with USC.
4. Penn State Nittany Lions
Matt Campbell is kicking off year 1 of his new era with the Nittany Lions. He is a proven winner and a coach who can get Penn State back to matching its program standard. This team is still very talented, and unfortunately for the Trojans, they have to face Penn State for their white-out game. That environment is as hostile as it gets.
3. Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are fresh off a title team, and the Trojans are lucky they don't have to face last year's squad. Yet still, the Hoosiers are returning many starters, and Curt Cignetti is one of the best coaches in the country. He has every reason to be as cocky as he is. His team and he back up the confidence. The Trojans will have to be on their A-game in Week 12.
2. Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks are the Trojans' heated rival, but it comes to a point when the Trojans have to get this rivalry back in order. The Ducks have a roster very comparable to the Buckeyes, and Dante Moore is returning for a reason. Dan Lanning is confident in his squad this season. Week 5 could very well be the Trojans' most important game of the season. At bare minimum, it will be their 2nd toughest game of the year.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the consensus best team in the country. It may seem like they lost a lot of talent to the NFL, but this is a rinse-and-repeat program. The Buckeyes will enter this season with one of the best rosters in college football. They have the best player in college football, Jeremiah Smith, who will make second-year former Heisman finalist Julian Sayin never wrong. The Buckeyes will be the Trojans' toughest match since joining the Big Ten.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Micah Huff's ranking of USC's 2026 opponents from easiest to toughest
