The University of Southern California has released its full slate of opponents for the 2026‑27 men’s basketball season, a schedule that blends familiar conference battles with a series of high‑stakes nonconference tests.
A Revamped Nonconference Slate
A marquee early‑season matchup will see the Trojans travel to South Lake Tahoe on November 8 to face Wichita State, marking the first meeting between the programs in over a decade.
Later that month, the team will head to Thousand Palms, California, for the 2026 Acrisure Series, where it will meet South Carolina on November 25 and Utah State on November 26.
Both games in the series are slated for 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time and will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, giving national audiences a chance to follow the Trojans’ preparations.
The schedule arrives as head coach Eric Musselman begins his third year at the helm, the third coach in USC history to take the reins after the program endured two consecutive NCAA Tournament misses.
Musselman, known for his fast‑paced, defensive‑oriented systems, has framed the upcoming season as a pivotal step toward restoring the Trojans’ presence in March Madness, the ultimate goal for a program that last danced in 2023.
Fans and analysts alike are watching closely, aware that the nonconference slate not only offers opportunities for signature wins but also serves as a litmus test for the team’s chemistry under Musselman’s leadership.