USC Is Must See TV as it Gets More Primetime Games

Six of USC's first nine games this season will have been on NBC which means the Trojans are back to being slotted in prime time.

Save for USC's game against Louisiana that kicked off locally at 8:00PM at the Coliseum, every one of the Trojans games this year has been on TV when the entire country is still awake an interested in what's happening during the games. And they're doing this without having the strongest non-conference schedule too.

USC has landed another primetime television slot, with the Trojans’ massive Halloween home matchup against No. 3 Ohio State set for a 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff (7:30 p.m. ET) on NBC.

The October 31 showdown will mark USC’s fifth consecutive primetime kickoff on NBC and the sixth time this season the Trojans have played on the network.

Six of USC’s first nine games this season have aired on NBC, a sign that the Trojans are once again becoming a regular fixture in the national television spotlight. For a program looking to reestablish itself among college football’s elite, that kind of exposure matters.

The Trojans are getting their games in front of a national audience, and the upcoming matchup against the Buckeyes gives them another opportunity to showcase their program in one of the sport’s most anticipated regular-season games.

With the exception of USC’s matchup against Louisiana, which kicked off locally at 8 p.m. at the Coliseum, every Trojans game this season has been scheduled for a time when fans across the country can reasonably tune in and follow the action. That consistency has given USC a chance to remain part of the national conversation throughout the season.

And the Trojans have done it without playing the strongest nonconference schedule. While marquee opponents can certainly help attract television audiences, USC’s continued presence in prominent broadcast windows suggests the program remains an attractive draw for national viewers.

The Ohio State game is an especially significant opportunity. The Buckeyes enter the matchup ranked No. 3, and a Halloween night at the Coliseum should provide a compelling setting for a game with major implications for both programs. With a 7:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff, the matchup also lands in a familiar national viewing window for fans across the country.

For USC, these television assignments are about more than finding a convenient time to play. They provide a platform to build the program’s national profile, showcase its players and compete in front of an audience that extends well beyond Southern California.

Of course, television exposure and results on the field are two different things. Being featured on NBC does not guarantee the Trojans will meet their goals, and the biggest games will ultimately be judged by what happens between the lines.

Still, USC is getting the opportunity to play in front of a national audience week after week. The next challenge is making sure the performance matches the platform.

On Halloween, the Trojans will get another chance to do just that against one of the nation’s top teams.