As the USC Trojans head into the 2026 season, they need to be ready to go every week to take advantage of the opportunities in front of them and put themselves in a position to compete near the top of the Big Ten.  If the Trojans really want to compete at the top of the Big Ten, there is one team that USC cannot afford to overlook next season.  Southern California coach Lincoln Riley looks for answers against Oregon during the second half touchdown Nov. 22, 2025. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Rutgers Scarlet Knights In the Big Ten conference, there are no easy games, which means that the Trojans must be prepared every week. On USC’s 2026 schedule, one opponent that they cannot afford to overlook is the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. With Rutgers on the schedule, there are two key reasons why the Trojans cannot look past them.…