(Photo by Nick Ut - AP)

Sat, Sep 5 San Jose State 3:30 pm

The Spartans of San Jose State have a football program on the rise, fielding a 20-17 record the past three seasons that included one bowl game win. Head coach Dick Tomey returns fifteen starters as well as a number of injured players who missed the bulk if not all of last season. While the Spartans have been gradually improving their program from year to year, this match up for the Trojans amounts to nothing more than a warm-up for the Ohio State game. Look for the Trojans to fine-tune the offense and defense in preparation for the next week's game against the Buckeyes.

Sat, Sep 12 at (6) Ohio State 8:00 pm

With Terrelle Pryor running the show full time for the Buckeyes, the Trojans’ game plan must take into account his athletic prowess and physical abilities. As with the Trojans, the Buckeyes, “must revamp its linebacker corps. Without All-Americans James Laurinaitis and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, more pressure falls on an experienced defensive line that returns everyone and linebackers like Ross Homan and Austin Spitler.” After being massacred, 35-3 last year, the Buckeyes will be looking to turn the tables against USC on their home field. A loss for either team would be detrimental to the loser’s pursuit of a BCS Championship.

Sat, Sep 19 at Washington 3:30 pm

In week three the Trojans head to Washington to take on former offensive-coordinator and new Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian. The Huskies bring back sixteen starters from a team that went 0-12 under Tyrone Willingham last season. While Washington has nowhere to go but up following last year's disaster of a season, it will probably be a year or two before Sarkisian is able to right the ship, so to speak. Look for Pete Carroll and the Trojans to make quick work of the Huskies and former coach, Steve Sarkisian.

Sat, Sep 26 Washington State TBA

Washington State appears poised to finally put some points on the board after getting knocked around by the Trojans in last year’s match up, 69-0. After going 2-11 last year, the Cougars are another team looking to turn things around and raise the level of competitiveness in the conference. The biggest question for the Cougars is who will be starting at the quarterback spot where Marshall Lobbestael and Kevin Lopina are going head-to-head in fall practice.

Sat, Oct 3 at (12) California 8:00 pm

The Golden Bears present the first Pac-10 challenge for the Trojans’ football program on its quest to become 2009-2010 BCS champions. USC will have its hands full with Jahvid Best, “one of the most dynamic big-play backs in the country,” as well as an underrated Cal defense that could present headaches all over the field for Trojans starting quarterback, Aaron Corp. Head Coach Tedford has always had a knack for working miracles with his quarterbacks; and, if he can work out some of the kinks in Kevin Riley's mechanics, the Golden Bears have an opportunity to be very good next season. At the very least, USC's match-up against California should be very entertaining.

Sat, Oct 17 at Notre Dame 3:30 pm

Once thought of as the Fighting Irish’s equivalent to Pete Carroll, Charlie Weis has had a tough time in South Bend the last few seasons as head coach at Notre Dame. After finally showing some promise and finishing with a respectable 7-6 record this past season, Weis and the much-hyped Jimmie Clausen will try to quiet their detractors and steer the Irish to a big season. This blurb from a Yahoo! Team report should tell you everything you need to know about this year’s Southern California, Notre Dame game: “There is no hiding the stakes, and the Irish have the kind of schedule that can be navigated to a big season. Other than USC, none of the opponents figure to be above Notre Dame’s class. And the Irish do get the Trojans at home.”

Sat, Oct 24 (25) Oregon State 8:00 pm

In probably the most anticipated match up this year, the Trojans will be seeking to exact a little revenge on a Beavers team that ruined USC’s championship dreams last year. The 27-21 loss to Oregon State was USC's only one of the season and eliminated them from number one contention. The Beavers will be exploiting the amazing offensive talents of the Rodgers brothers, wideout James Rodgers and his brother, running back, Quizz Rodgers. While both suffered from injury-shortened seasons, the Rodgers brothers, “combined for 50 percent of OSU’s total offense of 5,019 yards, with Quizz totaling 1,500 on rushes and receptions and James adding 1,015.”

Sat, Oct 31 at (14) Oregon 8:00 pm

Following the home match-up against Oregon State, the Trojans will head north to take on the Ducks of Oregon. While the Ducks are another squad introducing a new head coach (Chip Kelly), Oregon does boast one of the better, if not the best, quarterback in the Pac-10 in Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli is tough to keep track of on the field given his abilities with both the run as well as the pass. Besides Masoli, LeGarrette Blount takes over at running back after splitting time with Jeremiah Johnson. There is a great chance that given his expanded role, “in Oregon's dynamic offense, Blount could put up monster numbers.” The Ducks, who finished 2^nd in the Pac-10 last year, present another hurdle for the Trojans this coming season.

Sat, Nov 7 at Arizona State 8:00 pm

Last year, many believed that Arizona State head coach, Dennis Erickson, had the Sun Devils poised to take a shot at USC and the title of “top dog” in the Pac-10. Unfortunately for ASU, former quarterback Rudy Carpenter could never seem to get things going and ended up rounding out the season with six consecutive losses en-route to a 5-7 finish. The Sun Devils enter the 2009 season with little experience at the quarterback position and lack of big-play potential at running back, as well as numerous question marks across the whole team. Fans in the desert are counting on Erickson to turn things around; however, Arizona State certainly has the odds stacked against them.

Sat, Nov 14 Stanford TBA

Jim Harbaugh has done wonders with a Stanford program that has languished in mediocrity for some time now. The improving Cardinal do not boast an array of flashy-star players; however, Harbaugh has his team doing the little things that are necessary to win games. The Cardinal may not be great next season, “but with games against Washington State, Wake Forest, San Jose State, Washington and UCLA to start the season, Stanford has every chance to begin 4-1, perhaps even 5-0.” Keep an eye on red shirt-freshman quarterback Andrew Luck, who has been turning heads up in Palo Alto.

Sat, Nov 28 UCLA 10:00 pm

Since being appointed savior to a floundering UCLA football program, Rick Neuheisel has proved that he can “talk the talk.” Now, in his second season it will be interesting to see whether or not he can “walk the walk.” In giving the Bruins a makeover, Neuheisel has stressed a defense-first attitude that has the UCLA defensive unit poised to be one of the best in the Pac-10. The Bruins have always played the Trojans hard (they may not have won but they played hard) and it will be an interesting test for USC as Neuheisel attempts to rekindle a great southern California football rivalry.

Sat, Dec 5 Arizona 3:30 pm

Even with the losses of starting QB Willie Tuitama, WR Mike Thomas, and T Eben Britton, the Arizona Wildcats should have continued success under Mike Stoops after winning their first bowl game in almost a decade last year (a 31-21 victory over BYU). Stoops has worked hard to transform the perennially bad Wildcats team into a serviceable Pac-10 program. With the departures of Tuitama and Thomas, the offense will be a little different for Arizona this coming season, but look for the Wildcats to take full advantage of “sensational tight end Rob Gronkowski.” Under Stoops, the Wildcats have always played the role of the underdog quite well, which could present problems for the Trojans at the conclusion of the regular season.

All times Eastern.

In case you missed it:

Training camp update: Trojans in the NFL (Part I)
Training camp update: Trojans in the NFL (Part II)
Training camp update: Trojans in the NFL (Part III)

School is back in session:

USC 101: History of the Song Girl
USC 101: Meet Pete Carroll (Part I)
USC 101: Meet Pete Carroll (Part II)