Man, looking back at the USC Trojans football schedule 2024, it’s basically a fever dream. If you told a fan in August that they’d beat LSU and then struggle through the middle of the Big Ten slate, they’d probably call you crazy. But here we are. The transition to a new conference was always going to be a gut punch. Honestly, though? It was the way they lost some of those games that really stung for the Trojan faithful.
Lincoln Riley’s third year didn't go exactly to plan. They finished 7-6 overall. That’s a far cry from the playoff aspirations people usually have for this program. But the record doesn't tell the whole story. You’ve got to look at the close calls—the blown leads and the last-minute heartbreaks—to really understand what went down.
Breaking Down the USC Trojans Football Schedule 2024
The season kicked off with a massive statement. USC went into Las Vegas and took down LSU 27-20. Miller Moss looked like the real deal. He threw for 378 yards and led a game-winning drive that ended with a Woody Marks touchdown with only eight seconds left on the clock. It felt like the defense, under new coordinator D’Anton Lynn, had finally fixed its issues.
Then came the reality check.
The Big Ten Welcome Wagon
September 21st was the day things got real. USC traveled to the Big House to play Michigan. They led 24-20 late in the fourth quarter. Then, Kalel Mullings happened. Michigan went on an 89-yard drive, mostly on the ground, and scored with 37 seconds left to win 27-24. It was a classic "Welcome to the Big Ten" moment. Physicality won out over finesse.
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The schedule didn't get any easier from there:
- Wisconsin (Sept 28): A solid 38-21 win at the Coliseum where Ja'Kobi Lane really started to shine.
- Minnesota (Oct 5): A frustrating 24-17 loss on the road.
- Penn State (Oct 12): This one hurt. USC led 20-6 at halftime. They eventually lost 33-30 in overtime after Tyler Warren basically played every position for the Nittany Lions.
- Maryland (Oct 19): Another heartbreaker. A 29-28 loss where a blocked field goal attempt and some late-game defensive lapses cost them dearly.
Basically, the middle of the season was a masterclass in how to lose games by a single score. For a stretch there, it felt like USC was cursed in the fourth quarter.
The Late Season Turnaround and the Bowl Game
After the Maryland loss, things looked bleak. The USC Trojans football schedule 2024 looked like it might spiral into a losing season. But they managed to stabilize. They beat Rutgers 42-20 and handled Nebraska 28-20.
The UCLA game is always the big one, regardless of the record. Winning the Victory Bell 19-13 in a gritty, low-scoring affair at the Rose Bowl was a much-needed shot in the arm for the fan base. It wasn't pretty, but a win over the Bruins is a win.
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Ending on a High Note in Vegas
The season ended right where it started: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This time it was the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M.
This game was wild. Jayden Maiava, who had taken over the starting quarterback job late in the season, showed some serious guts. USC fell behind 24-7 in the third quarter. It looked like the season was going to end with a whimper. But Maiava led a furious comeback, eventually throwing a 7-yard touchdown to Kyle Ford with just seconds remaining to win it 35-31.
Ja’Kobi Lane was the MVP of that night, hauling in three touchdowns. It was a weirdly poetic way to end a season that started with a big win in the same building.
What We Learned About the Trojans
If you look at the stats, USC’s defense actually improved significantly under D’Anton Lynn. They went from giving up 34.4 points per game in 2023 to about 24.1 in 2024. That's a massive jump. The problem was the offense became inconsistent, and the team struggled to close out games.
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The Big Ten is a different beast. You can't just out-athlete people when you're playing in Minneapolis or Ann Arbor in the wind. The 4-5 conference record shows there's still a lot of work to do in terms of building depth and line-of-scrimmage strength.
Most experts agree that Lincoln Riley has the recruiting moving in the right direction, but the "soft" label that has dogged his teams since his Oklahoma days hasn't quite disappeared yet. The 2024 season was a bridge. It was the year they learned what it takes to survive a full Big Ten slate.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Watch the O-Line: Moving forward, USC's success depends almost entirely on whether they can recruit and develop elite offensive linemen who can handle Big Ten pass rushes.
- Monitor the Portal: With the quarterback room shifting, keep an eye on how Riley uses the transfer portal to fill gaps in the secondary and at linebacker.
- Check the 2025 Schedule: The lessons of 2024 will be put to the test immediately next year. Look for improvements in late-game management, which was the Achilles' heel this past season.
The 2024 season wasn't a failure, but it definitely wasn't a triumph either. It was a year of growing pains in a new neighborhood. Now, the goal is to make sure those pains lead to actual growth.
To keep track of how the roster is shaping up for the next run, you can head over to the official USC Athletics page for the latest updates on spring practice and recruitment.