USC’s Big Ten Gauntlet Is Here — And It Might Be the Key to March

The Big Ten didn’t hand USC a welcome basket. They handed them a travel itinerary and a test. A real one.

When the 2025–26 conference slate dropped, one thing stood out immediately: there are no breathers. This isn’t just a tough schedule — it’s a gauntlet. And the real question for Trojan fans isn’t “Is it hard?” It’s:

“Could this grind actually set USC up for March?”

The Road Run: No Breaks, No Excuses

Here’s the full order of USC’s Big Ten away games:

1. at Nebraska

2. at UCLA

3. at Minnesota

4. at Michigan State

5. at Michigan

6. at Northwestern

7. at Illinois

8. at Ohio State

9. at Penn State

Nine road tests. Nine different gyms. Nine different types of pressure. From snowy Midwest gyms to East Coast energy to local rivalry chaos, the Big Ten schedule is designed to stretch a team thin — and build something stronger in the process.

Why This Is a Gauntlet (and Why That Might Be Good)

1. Styles on styles
The Big Ten makes you solve different problems every night. You need to defend shooters in one gym and wrestle on the glass in the next. USC’s length and athleticism on the wings should travel.

2. Body blows before March
The middle stretch — at Minnesota, at Michigan State, at Michigan, at Northwestern, at Illinois — is a durability exam. Come out of that run with composure and identity, and you’ve got the spine of a protected-seed résumé.

3. NET and seeding upside
Tough road wins (and even competitive road losses) can help your tournament profile. A rugged schedule raises your ceiling if you stack the right performances.

4. Real-time growth
By late February, great teams know exactly who they are. This slate forces USC to answer the big questions early: late-clock execution, foul discipline, defensive rebounding, and bench trust.

The Full Home Slate: Galen Center Will Be Loud

While the road schedule is brutal, USC’s home games offer no relief — and a lot of firepower. Here’s who’s coming to Galen Center in Big Ten play:

1. Washington

2. Oregon

3. Maryland

4. Purdue

5. Iowa

6. Rutgers

7. Indiana

8. Wisconsin

9. UCLA

That means fans will get to see Caitlin Clark’s former team in Iowa, the East Coast energy of Maryland and Rutgers, and of course, the rivalry matchup vs UCLA in Galen — where emotions will be high.

Add in matchups against teams like Indiana, Purdue, and Oregon, and you’ve got a home schedule that features a mix of physicality, elite guard play, and tournament-tested programs. The Galen crowd is going to matter this season — USC will need that home-court edge.

Matchups That Intrigue Me the Most

Let’s talk about the matchups I personally can’t wait for — not just because of rankings or hype, but because of the stories, the questions, and the styles involved.

• at UCLA
  The rivalry always hits. But this year, it’s in Pauley — and it’s the first stop after opening at Nebraska. The energy will be sky-high.

• at Michigan and at Michigan State
  Two physical programs that know how to defend. I want to see how USC handles back-to-back Big Ten brawls on the road.

• at Ohio State
  One of the toughest environments in the league. Can USC stay composed and close in Columbus?

• vs Maryland
  Maryland has 11 guards. Eleven. I’m so curious what their system looks like. Are they going five-out? Pressing for 40 minutes? It’s going to be chaos — and I need to see how USC handles it.

• at Penn State
  Kiyomi McMiller’s flash and Gracie Merkle’s size — that’s a fascinating one-two punch. What does that team look like when it clicks? What’s their identity?

There’s not a “down game” on this schedule. And that’s exactly what makes it so dangerous — and so exciting.

What USC Must Bring Every Night

• Defensive rebounding as non-negotiable
  You can’t win the Big Ten if you don’t finish possessions.

• Foul discipline
  Frontcourt depth has to last through February.

• Pace control
  Start halves strong — quiet the crowd early.

• Bench minutes that matter
  You can’t wait until March to trust your rotation. They need meaningful reps now.

Why I’m Optimistic

USC’s identity — athleticism, length, and switchability — fits the Big Ten fight. But this year’s roster goes even deeper.

You’ve got Jazzy Davidson, a freshman who already plays with poise beyond her years. She brings elite creation, vision, and a natural feel for the moment — a perfect fit for USC’s up-tempo attack.

Kennedy Smith might still be flying under the national radar, but she shouldn't be. She is, by far, one of the best defenders in the country. Her length, instincts, and physicality allow her to guard multiple positions — and she takes pride in shutting people down. She’s the type of player who flips a game by taking away your best option.

Kara Dunn adds instant offense. She’s explosive off the dribble, strong around the rim, and never afraid to take big shots. She brings a scoring mentality and physical edge that fits perfectly into Big Ten basketball.

Londynn Jones and Rian Forestier give USC the spacing it needs to unlock the offense. Both are confident three-point shooters with quick releases and high basketball IQ. When they’re hitting, it stretches defenses and creates more driving lanes for USC’s playmakers.

Malia Samuels, now in her third year at USC, brings the dog mentality this team thrives on. She’s not just a strong defender — she’s by far one of the best on-ball defenders in the country. Her ability to pressure the ball without fouling, her communication, and her confidence in late-game moments make her one of USC’s most reliable veterans. And she’s improving offensively, becoming more consistent as a shooter and playmaker.

Dayana Mendes adds length and versatility to USC’s backcourt. At 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3, she brings uncommon size for a guard and could give USC valuable flexibility on both ends. As a freshman at Washington State, she was named to the WCC All-Freshman Team and earned Freshman of the Week honors twice, averaging 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in just 18.5 minutes per game. She tallied four double-doubles, scored in double figures 11 times, and had a career-high 16 points against Saint Mary’s. With her size, athleticism, and growth potential, she’s another intriguing piece in an already deep and dynamic rotation.

In the frontcourt, Yakiya Milton brings rim protection, rebounding, and serious upside as an athlete. Vivian Iwuchukwu and Laura Williams add length, toughness, and interior size. And Gerda Raulusaitytė gives USC international experience, pick-and-pop range, and the ability to stretch the floor from the forward spot.

With Coach Lindsay Gottlieb leading the way, USC has the kind of depth most programs dream of. And that’s what makes them dangerous. They don’t just have pieces — they have answers. On both ends.

This schedule becomes training camp for March.

One thing Coach Gottlieb always emphasizes is not peaking too soon. And this schedule — when paired with a stacked non-conference slate — sets USC up to peak at exactly the right time. By the time March arrives, this team will have faced every type of opponent: guard-heavy squads, back-to-the-basket post teams, transition track meets, deliberate halfcourt grinders, inside-out shooting attacks — you name it. The schedule is a chessboard of styles. And by enduring it, USC won’t just be tested — they’ll be prepared. For anything. Anywhere. In March.

Let’s Talk It Through —

I break it all down with Matt — game-by-game — in our newest video on the channel:

Video: Could USC’s Toughest Schedule Set Them Up for March Madness Success?
Watch here: Click link below

Final Word

The Big Ten didn’t hand USC a runway.
They handed them fire.
But USC was built for it.

This schedule could break some teams. But it could forge USC into a team that walks into March — and never blinks.

Gauntlet accepted. Fight On.