USC, UCLA Get Favorable Big Ten Football Schedules

Neither team will face back-to-back conference road games without a bye week in between.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 7:55pm

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The Big Ten football schedule makers gave USC and UCLA a break in their 2026 schedules. Neither team will have to play consecutive conference road games without a bye week in between. USC gets a bye between road games at Penn State and Wisconsin, while UCLA gets a bye between road trips to Maryland and Oregon.

Why it matters

Back-to-back conference road games can be grueling for college football teams, so the scheduling accommodations from the Big Ten will help USC and UCLA manage their travel and preparation. This is especially important for UCLA, which is trying to move its home games from the Rose Bowl to SoFi Stadium, potentially creating more road games.

The details

USC's schedule includes home games against Oregon, Ohio State, Fresno State, and Louisiana. The Trojans also get a bye before a road showdown against defending national champion Indiana. UCLA will enjoy a home-heavy schedule in Bob Chesney's first season as head coach, with seven home games including against San Diego State and Nevada. The Bruins' toughest stretch comes at the end of the season with a road game at Michigan followed by the crosstown rivalry against USC.

  • USC starts the season on August 29 against an opponent to be determined.
  • The Big Ten championship game is on December 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The players

USC

A college football program that competes in the Big Ten conference.

UCLA

A college football program that competes in the Big Ten conference.

Bob Chesney

The new head coach of the UCLA Bruins football team.

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The takeaway

The favorable Big Ten schedules for USC and UCLA will help the programs manage their travel and preparation, especially with UCLA potentially moving its home games to SoFi Stadium. This scheduling accommodation from the conference could give the Los Angeles schools an advantage as they look to compete for Big Ten titles.