On Wednesday, USC men’s and women’s basketball unveiled their full conference schedules for the 2026-27 season, which looks to be a pivotal stretch of time for both programs after disappointing 2025-26 campaigns.

The men’s squad struggled against a powerhouse Big Ten slate last season, going just 7-13 in conference play for the second straight year. Meanwhile, the women’s team earned an even .500 record at 9-9 — better than their men counterparts, but a major step down from their 16-1 conference record a year prior.

Both squads have dreams of deep NCAA Tournament runs, but they’ll need to take care of business in the Big Ten before getting the chance to make those dreams a reality. Here’s a look at some of the most pivotal conference matchups that await the Trojans.

Men’s Basketball

Jan. 8: Rutgers

While a matchup at Rutgers isn’t too daunting by itself, USC’s Jan. 8 stop in New Jersey will serve as its fourth consecutive road game, a trial no other Big Ten team faces this season. The Trojans’ bout with the Scarlet Knights will follow trips to Purdue, Indiana and Maryland, all within the span of 10 days.

USC has struggled on the road since joining the Big Ten two seasons ago, winning just four of its 10 away games in last year’s conference slate by an average of fewer than 3 points. If the Trojans can manage to return unscathed from a grueling two-week road trip, they’ll be in much better shape for the rest of Big Ten play than they were a season ago.

Jan. 23: Michigan

Coming off winning the 2026 national championship in April, Michigan is set to travel to Galen Center on Jan. 23 to face USC for the third time since the Trojans joined the conference. Head Coach Eric Musselman’s squad fared poorly in the teams’ previous two meetings, including a 30-point blowout loss in Ann Arbor last season.

Though the Wolverines look different from their championship-winning team — their coach and three best players all left for the NBA — they still project among the top squads in the conference and will be one of USC’s toughest opponents at home. Win or lose, this matchup should indicate whether the Trojans have what it takes to compete with the nation’s best.

Jan. 27: Illinois

Just four days later, USC will find itself in Illinois, staring down a Fighting Illini team that made the 2026 Final Four and looks poised to do so again this season. Similar to Michigan, the Trojans will need to shake off some bad memories from a year ago, when Illinois stormed Galen Center for a 101-65 blowout.

USC’s Jan. 27 date in Urbana-Champaign will be one of its last major tests of the regular season, as its remaining slate mainly consists of the Big Ten’s weaker opponents. An upset over the Illini would be a massive boost to the Trojans’ postseason resume. But even with a loss, they would still have plenty of time to stack up some wins before Selection Sunday.

Women’s Basketball

Jan. 30: Michigan

This year, USC has the privilege of hosting four of the Big Ten’s top five teams from the 2025-26 season, including a Jan. 30 bout with Michigan. Though the women’s squad hasn’t historically struggled against the Wolverines to the same extent as the men’s, they still have a score to settle following last year’s 73-67 defeat.

With a plethora of strong returners from its Elite Eight run, Michigan has a case for the preseason No. 1 team in the Big Ten, making this matchup all the more important for the Trojans. Regardless of who wins, these two squads could very likely end up meeting again in the Big Ten Tournament — if not the NCAA Tournament down the road.

Feb. 11: Iowa

The last time USC played in Iowa City, Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb and company trudged home with a 76-69 loss — the only blemish on an otherwise perfect regular-season conference record. While the Trojans already got their revenge last season, earning a major upset over the then-No. 8 Hawkeyes, they certainly wouldn’t mind breaking the Carver-Hawkeye Arena curse as well.

Last year, USC was nothing short of abysmal on the road, mustering a 3-8 record in away games compared to a 12-4 record at home. With a late-season win against one of the best teams in the conference, the Trojans’ road woes could be reversed for good.

Feb. 25: UCLA

Following two embarrassing losses to crosstown rival UCLA last season, in which the Bruins outscored USC by a combined 57 points, the Trojans need a rivalry win now more than ever. The two squads will face off twice during the regular season: at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 7 and at Galen Center on Feb. 25.

Though it won’t be the regular-season finale — that title belongs to a Feb. 28 game at Oregon — USC’s second matchup with UCLA is easily the most important game on the calendar. After the Bruins won their first NCAA championship last season, the Trojans are ready to regain their spot as the premier women’s basketball team in Los Angeles, and a win Feb. 25 could very well make it official.