We are less than 12 weeks away from the kickoff of the 2025 USC football season. On August 30, Lincoln Riley’s team will kick off the 2025 campaign at the Coliseum against Missouri State.
The Trojans will play a lot of big games this fall, but what is USC’s most critical matchup of the season? In a recent story, USC writer Chris Trevino of 247Sports made the argument for the Trojans’ October 11 game versus Michigan.
“Reminder: Yes, every game is critical, but we are looking for a crucial matchup in the context of USC’s whole season,” Trevino wrote. “Obviously, Oregon and Notre Dame are major games and would represent big wins, but we are looking for a little more nuance than just the best teams. That’s why the pick is the home matchup with Michigan, a game that carries both significance with timing and an optics standpoint. The Wolverines are not a clear-cut contender for the playoff this season but are in the hunt to be preseason Top 25 team and could be ranked when arriving in Los Angeles.
This will be a massive opportunity for a signature home win in the middle of the season, a springboard into a challenging second-half schedule. Also, a little revenge from last year’s last-second loss in the Big House would be nice. The Trojans will have notable advantages in playing on the West Coast, presumably facing a true freshman QB in Bryce Underwood and coming in rested off a bye week. If USC proves to be a better road team this fall it could be undefeated going into this game. A big win over a fellow blueblood, presumably on a big recruiting weekend, would be significant.”
Last year, the Trojans fell 27-24 to the Wolverines at the Big House on a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute. This year, USC will get Michigan at the Coliseum, and the Trojans will be looking for a little payback.