Is USC playing today? Trojans football schedule, next game after Week 10 bye -

After opening the season 6-1, Southern California appeared to be at least in the mix and in conversation on the College Football Playoff radar ahead of the selection committee’s first rankings release.

Then came a loss to unranked Wisconsin, reigniting questions about Lincoln Riley’s future in Los Angeles. A week later, however, the Trojans responded with a season-defining victory over then-No. 2 Ohio State, securing their first top-five win under Riley and thrusting themselves back into the CFP conversation.

Now on their second bye week of the season, USC sits at 7-2 but remains a long shot for the 12-team playoff. Despite the statement win over the Buckeyes, the Trojans debuted at No. 20 in the committee’s first CFP rankings, leaving them little margin for error down the stretch.

Watch select USC football games with Fubo (free trial)

Jayden Maiava has been one of the top quarterbacks this season, both in the country and in the Big Ten. The 6-foot-4 quarterback ranks sixth nationally with 2,524 yards and eighth with 20 touchdowns, while completing 66.9% of his passes.

Here’s when the Trojans are set to return, including a look at USC’s remaining schedule:

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College football’s most electric game-day entrances in photos

From tunnel runs and touching signs to mascots, marching bands and White Outs, these college football entrances help define the game-day experience.

Above, The Sooner Schooner takes the field before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Oklahoma won 14-6.

(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

From tunnel runs and touching signs to mascots, marching bands and White Outs, these college football entrances help define the game-day experience.

Above, The Sooner Schooner takes the field before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the New Mexico Lobos at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Oklahoma won 14-6.

(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

Colorado Buffaloes live mascot Ralphie VII “Brandy” runs onto the field prior to the game between the Weber State Wildcats and the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on September 12, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado.

(Andrew Wevers, Getty Images)

Osceola and Renegade run the center of the field to plant the spear ahead of kickoff of the Florida State Seminoles game against the SMU Mustangs on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026.

(Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democr, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Penn State players emerge for the iconic White Out entrance as fireworks illuminate Beaver Stadium.

(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Missouri Tigers defensive end Aidan Dubbert enters the field before the game against the Florida Gators at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.

(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

A general overall view as Southern California Trojans players enter the field before the game against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The UCLA Bruins prepare to run onto the field for their game against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on September 05, 2026 in Berkeley, California.

(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

Texas Longhorns mascot Bevo XV arrives at the stadium before the game against the Texas State Bobcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 05, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

(Tim Warner, Getty Images)

Houston Cougars alumni Wilbert Brown and Antowain Smith lead the Houston Cougars out of the tunnel prior to a game against the Southern Jaguars at TDECU Stadium on September 12, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

(Zach Del Bello, Getty Images)

Devaughn Eka and Journey Tonga of the Brigham Young Cougars carry flags as they run onto the field before their game against the Utah Tech Trailblazers at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 5, 2026 in Provo, Utah.

(Chris Gardner, Getty Images)

Mississippi State safety Boogie Johnson enters the stadium before a college football game between Mississippi State and Alabama at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Alabama defeated Mississippi State 56-23.

(Ayrton Breckenridge/Clarion Ledg, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)

The Michigan Wolverines enters the field before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium.

(Rick Osentoski, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The Masked Rider leads the Texas Tech Red Raiders onto the field prior to a game against the Abilene Christian Wildcats at Galaxy Stadium on September 05, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas.

(Josh Hedges, Getty Images)

Michigan State Spartans defenders Keahnist Thompson, Kenny Soares Jr. and Nikai Martinez enter the stadium before their game against Illinois at Spartan Stadium.

(Dale Young, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The California Golden Bears walk through the tunnel for the game against the Clemson Tigers at California Memorial Stadium on September 25, 2026 in Berkeley, California.

(Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

Lane Kiffin of the Louisiana State Tigers enters the field before the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Oxford, Mississippi.

(Justin Ford, Getty Images)

Hall Schmidt of the UCLA Bruins leads his teammates onto the field carrying the flag of the United States before a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Rose Bowl Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Pasadena, California.

(Kevin Terrell, Getty Images)

A general view of new Ryan Field as the Northwestern Wildcats enter the field prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 02, 2026 in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern unveils their new $875 million, 35,000 seat Ryan Field after two years of construction.

(Daniel Bartel, Getty Images)

South Carolina Gamecocks enter the field before a football game .a at Williams-Brice Stadium on September 12, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina.

(David Jensen, Getty Images)

Head coach Greg Schiano of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights leads his team onto the field ahead of the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at SHI Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Piscataway, New Jersey.

(Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images)

Does USC football play today?

No, USC is on its second bye week of the 2026 season. The Trojans return to action next week in Week 11 when they travel to No. 4 Indiana.

The Trojans’ trip to Bloomington will mark the first meeting between the programs since USC joined the Big Ten in 2024. It will also be the first matchup between USC and Indiana since 1982, when the Trojans picked up a 28-7 win to extend their all-time series lead to 4-0.

As a two-loss team, USC enters the season’s final stretch with little room for error in its College Football Playoff pursuit. The Trojans were ranked No. 20 in the selection committee’s first CFP rankings of the season, making them the fourth-highest-ranked Big Ten team in the overall CFP top 25. A win against Indiana — which has needed overtime each of the last two weeks against Michigan and Minnesota — would certainly improve USC’s CFP ranking, though that wouldn’t come until the committee’s Nov. 17 ranking edition.

USC football schedule 2026

Below is a look at USC’s schedule for 2026, including past scores and future available kickoff times and TV channel information:

Saturday, Aug. 29: USC 42, San Jose State 26
Friday, Sept. 4: USC 39, Fresno State 0
Saturday, Sept. 12: USC 49, Louisiana 30
Saturday, Sept. 19: USC 42, Rutgers 35 *
Saturday, Sept. 26: No. 21 Oregon 41, USC 27 *
Saturday, Oct. 3: USC 25, Washington 21 *
Saturday, Oct. 10: USC 31, Penn State 23 *
Saturday, Oct. 24: Wisconsin 24, USC 7 *
Saturday, Oct. 31: USC 30, No. 2 Ohio State 18 *
Saturday, Nov. 14: at No. 4 Indiana | 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS (Fubo) *
Saturday, Nov. 21: vs. Maryland
Saturday, Nov. 28: at No. 5 UCLA *

* Denotes Big Ten game

Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports’ new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts and Spotify.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is USC playing today? Trojans football schedule, next game after Week 10 bye

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