USC football has officially returned itself to elite scheduling company.
In July of last year, USC football angered a sizable portion of its fan base as well as former players by announcing that it had scheduled a 2021 game against UC-Davis. The Trojans had been one of three FBS programs that had never scheduled a game against an FCS team.
Wednesday, however, new athletic director Mike Bohn confirmed that the Trojans are on the verge of canceling that football game and replacing it with another. Thursday night, USC football made it official as both they and San Jose State confirmed a Sept. 4, 2021, game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
San Jose State had originally been scheduled to face Georgia on that date. Last week, however, UGA canceled the game in order to play Clemson in that season’s opener. For that cancellation, San Jose State will receive $1.8 million from UGA.
“Facing USC in Los Angeles is a great opportunity for our student-athletes and fans,” SJSU athletic director Marie Tuite said in a statement. “Southern California is an important footprint for us in recruiting and we’re very excited to add this game to our 2021 football schedule.”
Tuite was also very complimentary of her UGA counterpart for his transparency throughout the process.
“I’d like to thank Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity for being transparent with us during the process,” said the AD. “I’ve experienced the atmosphere in Athens on gameday and it’s a special place. Maybe one day in the future the Spartans will make the trip.”
As for USC football, they officially rejoin Notre Dame and UCLA as the only FBS schools that have never played a game against an FCS team. They are, however, in denial about never having scheduled an FCS school.
OFFICIAL: @USC_FB has swapped FCS opponent UC Davis for FBS opponent San Jose State in 2021, keeping our streak alive of never scheduling an FCS team. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/qSuJwQR880
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) February 20, 2020
Be that as it may, USC will pay UC-Davis $750,000 for the game-that-was-never-scheduled-but-actually-was.
USC and San Jose State have met four times previously, with the Trojans winning all four of those matchups. The two schools are also scheduled to play in 2024.