USC Trojans Set to Face Fresno State in Rare Friday Night Opener on Labor Day Weekend
The USC Trojans are set to play a Friday night game on Labor Day weekend against Fresno State, marking a rare Friday September game for the Trojans. The matchup is scheduled for September 4th at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with the official time yet to be determined. Fox will broadcast the game, kicking off week one of the college football season.
Both USC and Fresno State will be playing rare Friday openers, with Fresno State facing a power conference opponent on the road for the fourth consecutive year. This will be the Bulldogs' third time facing a Big Ten representative since 2023. The upcoming game will also see Matt Entz coaching against Lincoln Riley for the first time, with Entz previously coaching under Riley at USC.
Fresno State had a successful 2025 season, finishing with a 9-4 record and winning the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl. Entz, who joined Fresno State after a successful stint at North Dakota State and a season at USC, became one of the few Bulldog coaches to win nine or more games in his first season. The upcoming matchup between USC and Fresno State promises to be an exciting start to the college football season.