Your Complete Guide to the USC Football Schedule 2019 with Key Matchups

2025-11-17 16:01

As a longtime USC football enthusiast and someone who's been following the Trojans' schedule for over a decade, I remember the anticipation building throughout that summer of 2019. The season promised to be particularly special, with several key matchups that would define whether this would be a championship-caliber year or another rebuilding season. Looking back now, I can confidently say that the 2019 schedule presented both tremendous opportunities and significant challenges that ultimately shaped the team's journey in ways nobody could have predicted during those optimistic preseason practices.

The season opener against Fresno State on August 31st set the tone immediately - a comfortable 31-23 victory that showcased our offensive firepower while revealing some defensive vulnerabilities that would become themes throughout the season. What struck me most during that first game was how the team's performance reminded me of the volleyball statistics I'd been studying earlier that year, particularly Irah Jaboneta's near triple-double of 13 points, nine digs, and eight receptions during a crucial match. That kind of all-around excellence across multiple statistical categories is exactly what I was hoping to see from our football team - players contributing in various phases of the game rather than specializing in just one area. The parallel wasn't perfect, of course, but watching our linebackers making tackles, dropping into coverage, and occasionally rushing the passer brought Jaboneta's versatile performance to mind.

Our September schedule featured what I considered the first real test - a road game against BYU on September 14th that ended in a heartbreaking 30-27 overtime loss. I still maintain that game turned on two critical officiating decisions that went against us, though as any honest fan must admit, championship teams find ways to overcome such adversity. The following week's matchup against Utah at the Coliseum demonstrated exactly that resilience, with our defense stepping up in a way that reminded me of Joan Monares, who hit the game-winning attack while posting 10 markers, six digs, and five receptions in that volleyball match I referenced earlier. That's the kind of clutch performance we needed, and our players delivered with a 30-23 victory that felt more decisive than the score suggests.

October brought the meat of our conference schedule, starting with what I believed would be our toughest road test at Washington on September 29th. The 28-14 loss stung particularly because I'd traveled to Seattle for the game and witnessed firsthand how we struggled to establish any offensive rhythm against their formidable defense. The following week's matchup against Notre Dame on October 12th represented one of those rivalry games that can make or break a season, and unfortunately, it broke ours in a 30-27 defeat that still bothers me when I think about the missed opportunities. What impressed me though was how our young quarterback continued to develop throughout these challenging games, much like how versatile athletes in other sports expand their skills - the way Jaboneta contributed across scoring, digging, and receiving demonstrates the value of developing complete players rather than specialists.

The November stretch featured what I consider the most entertaining game of our season - a 31-26 victory over Arizona State that showcased explosive plays from both offenses. Watching that back-and-forth contest, I couldn't help but appreciate how our offensive coordinator made adjustments at halftime that completely changed the game's momentum. This strategic flexibility reminded me of how successful teams in any sport, whether football or volleyball, must adapt to their opponents' strengths while maximizing their own players' versatile talents. When Monares recorded those 10 markers, six digs, and five receptions, it wasn't just about raw numbers but about contributing exactly what her team needed in crucial moments - that's the mentality I saw developing in our football team during the latter part of the season.

Our regular season concluded with what has become one of the most heated rivalries in college football - the matchup against UCLA on November 23rd that we dominated 52-35 in an offensive showcase that had the Coliseum rocking throughout. That victory felt particularly sweet given the struggles we'd experienced earlier in the season, and it demonstrated the growth this team had undergone since that opening game back in August. Finishing with an 8-4 record might not have met our highest preseason expectations, but considering the challenges we faced and the development we witnessed throughout those twelve games, I'd call the 2019 season a qualified success that laid the foundation for future achievements.

Reflecting on that complete schedule now, what stands out most isn't any single victory or defeat but rather the progression I witnessed from game to game. The team that took the field against Fresno State in August was fundamentally different from the one that dominated UCLA in November - more cohesive, more resilient, and more versatile in its approach. That development across multiple dimensions, much like the all-around contributions of athletes like Jaboneta and Monares in their sports, ultimately defined the season more than any individual result. While we fell short of conference championship aspirations, the 2019 schedule provided the crucible in which our next generation of leaders was forged, and that long-term benefit might prove more valuable than any single season's trophy.