The Big Ten released their schedule of opponents for the next 5 seasons yesterday. This was an updated release after Washington and Oregon recently joined the Big Ten after USC and UCLA announced in 2022.
To view the full release of USC opponents go here, and to watch our reaction on the Salute To Troy Podcast go here.
But now let’s have some fun and give our way to early USC Trojans 2024 schedule prediction with end-of-season results. How will SC fare?
The exact dates have yet to be announced, so these projections are not in any order that will be played.
| Opponent | Location | Predicted Result |
|---|---|---|
| LSU (Neutral Site) | Las Vegas, Nev | Win |
| San Jose State | Los Angeles, CA | Win |
| Notre Dame | Los Angeles, CA | Win |
| Nebraska | Los Angeles, CA | Win |
| Penn State | Los Angeles, CA | Win |
| Rutgers | Los Angeles, CA | Win |
| Wisconsin | Los Angeles, CA | Win |
| Maryland | College Park, MD | Win |
| Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | Loss |
| Minnesota | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN | Win |
| Washington | Seattle, WA | Win |
| UCLA | Pasadena, CA | Win |
USC Trojans 2024 Schedule Prediction: 11-1
USC has a pretty brutal schedule in 2024. Not only do they get some of the best Big Ten schools in Michigan, Penn State, Washington, and Wisconsin, but they also have a really tough non-conference schedule as they face LSU and Notre Dame. Plus, the always legendary Cross-Town rivalry Victory Bell game.
Things can change over the course of a year, but at this moment in time, there are really only two “gimmie” games on the entire schedule: San Jose State and Rutgers.
All of that being said, I still really like SC’s chances to roll through this schedule and put together a really memorable season. However, if Caleb Williams heads to the NFL like he is most likely to do, they will turn to either Miller Moss or Malachi Nelson to lead Lincon Riley’s offense.
The defense, as it does right now, will certainly have plenty of question marks. Will Alex Grinch remain the defensive coordinator in 2024? Answers to these questions will certainly change the outcome of these predictions.
Lincoln Riley has yet to lose at home as the SC head football coach. That trend continues in 2024.
If SC can improve their run defense, I think they will be able to hang just fine with the likes of Michigan. However, it didn’t feel right to predict a perfect season right out of the gate, and playing at the Big House brings its own set of challenges besides just the opponent.
The great thing about this schedule is its strength. The CFP will be expanding to 12 teams next year, already improving the Trojans odds of making the dance, but a schedule like this allows a larger margin for error. Even with 2 losses, SC should still be very in the mix for the CFP, something that has never been achievable in the PAC-12.