USC to open 2014 season vs. Fresno State

By Kevin Kelley -
Los Angeles Coliseum
USC will host Fresno State in 2014. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

The USC Trojans will open the 2014 season against the Fresno State Bulldogs, both schools announced on Monday.

USC will host Fresno State at Los Angeles Coliseum on Aug. 30, 2014. This will be the third meeting between the two schools, although USC vacated their 2005 win against the Bulldogs due to NCAA sanctions. Fresno State won the only other contest 24-7 in the 1992 Freedom Bowl.

The addition of Fresno State completes the 2014 non-conference schedule for USC. The Trojans are also slated to play at Boston College on Sept. 13 and host Notre Dame on Nov. 29.

“We are excited to add Fresno State to our 2014 schedule,” said USC head coach Lane Kiffin, an alumnus of Fresno State. “It is a quality in-state opponent with a traditionally strong program. The games between the teams in the past have been very competitive and have attracted lots of fans from both sides.”

Fresno State now has two of four non-conference games scheduled for 2014. The Bulldogs host Nebraska on Sept. 13. FSU was also set to host San Jose State, but the Spartans are joining the Mountain West in 2013.

“We expect that this announcement will be well received. The Fresno State fan base has desired this rematch for several years and we are very pleased to have the game included on the 2014 slate,” Fresno State Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh said. “Contracting this game with USC reflects our continued commitment to maintain a non-conference schedule that is balanced, while including competition with the nation’s elite programs.”

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Comments (7)

Jinzo: Don’t bet the farm on it. Fresno State is on a strong upward trend, and the coach is a lightning rod.

USC should be forecd to play all 11 of its conference opponents next year,,and 5 non-conf games too. Let them have Fresno and Notre Dame at home. Others should be road games at Alabama, at So. Carolina, at Ohio State