USC Announces Mid-Major Out of Conference Games for 2015 and 2016, In Lieu of Texas A&M by Michael Castillo

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The Trojans have inked a three-year deal with the BYU Cougars to play them over the course of three alternating seasons from 2019 to 2023. The deal, announced on BYUCougars.com, includes one game in Provo and two in Los Angeles, to be played on Thanksgiving weekend. The agreement will begin on September 14, 2019, and conclude on the 27th and 25th of November, in 2021 and 2023.

USC and BYU have met just two times in school history, both coming under Pete Carroll and on the way to back-to-back national championships. The Trojans beat the Cougars 35-18 at the Coliseum in 2003, while routing BYU in Provo the year after, 42-10.

With the games in Los Angeles set to take place during odd years on Thanksgiving weekend, the Trojans are essentially creating a counter for the Notre Dame series. The past two odd years including 2013, USC has concluded the season with home games against UCLA on Thanksgiving weekend, but with the BYU agreement now in place, the crosstown showdown will likely be locked into its traditional slot on the third week in November.

For BYU, the move is the latest in a long list to ensure prominent scheduling as an independent. Over the past two seasons, BYU has secured a lengthy deal with Boise State and games against the likes of Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and Virginia.

As expected so far in advance, all further details of the deal have yet to be worked out, included time and television.