Top 3 matchups for USC Trojans football in 2024

The USC Trojans enter the 2024-25 season hoping to turn things around after their down year last year. Despite a strong offensive attack, the Trojans' defense was once again a problem. It doomed them in many games and they finished the year with a record of 8-5.

As this new season begins, the program enters its first year in the Big Ten Conference. With this move, the Trojans will be playing against some of the biggest powerhouses in college football. But which encounters seem to be the most exciting at the start of the year? Here are the top three matchups on the Trojans' 2024 schedule.

3. Oct. 12, vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

The Trojans' game against Penn State is the best they will have at home this year. USC will get a chance to get a strong opponent into its building to see how things work in this new conference. The Big Ten is arguably the second-best conference in college football, so every matchup will likely be intense. A win over Penn State will likely give the Trojans a successful season.

2. September 1st vs. LSU Tigers (Las Vegas)

This is the neutral-site game on the Trojans' schedule and they get to open their year against SEC powerhouse LSU in Las Vegas. Emotions will likely run high in this contest, but it's a good challenge for the Trojans to start with. LSU should be one of the better teams in the country again this season, so this will be a tough test to see how good USC will be this year.

1. September 21, @ Michigan Wolverines

Heading to Ann Arbor as the Big Ten's first road game is a tall order, but one the Trojans will fully embrace. This will give the Trojans a taste of the conference. At the start of the season they face the defending champions in their own stadium and immediately present them with a real challenge. If the Trojans can get a win in this game, it could set the tone for the rest of the year.

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