The Big Ten football schedule makers did USC and UCLA one small favor. Neither team will make back-to-back conference trips in 2026 without a bye week in between as part of the schedules released Tuesday.

The Bruins’ 2026 schedule, released by the Big Ten Conference on Tuesday, features their home opener Sept. 12 vs. San Diego State and hosting rival USC on Nov. 28.

The Big Ten became the final Power Four conference to unveil its schedule for the 2026 college football season when it released on Tuesday the full slate for its 18 members. One game in particular stands above the rest with reigning conference and national champion Indiana set to host Ohio State on Oct.

Whether the games will be played at the Rose Bowl or SoFi Stadium remains to be determined, but the Bruins will have a full football schedule next season.

The ancient rivals’ haggling over future matchups, and the eventual decision to cancel the 2026 game, forced the Trojans to find a 12th opponent. That, in turn, prompted a delay in the Big Ten’s schedule rollout by more than a month, to Tuesday — well after the SEC schedule was revealed in early December.

Illinois faces the No. 2 UCLA Bruins after Cearah Parchment scored 25 points in Illinois' 81-75 loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers.