After the conclusion of spring practices, the USC Trojans and coach Lincoln Riley are ready to head into the 2026 season. As a result of playing in a conference as tough as the Big Ten , next season will not be an easy one for the Trojans, with several tests along the way at home and on the road. Dec 30, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches from the sidelines against the TCU Horned Frogs in the first half during the Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images USC’s Toughest Opponents Recently, CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford ranked the toughest schedules in college, which had the Trojans with the eighth-hardest schedule. In USC’s 2026 campaign, some of the toughest opponents include Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, Washington, and Ohio State. The main factor to understand with these games is who the Trojans play at home and who they play on the road.…