How to watch USC-Rutgers Big Ten football game for free today

Southern California quarterback Jayden Maiava throws a pass during an NCAA college football game against San Jose State in Los Angeles, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)AP Photo/Kyusung GongIf you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.By Thomas Lagrone | tlagrone@al.comThe No. 12 USC Trojans play against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a Big Ten football game today. The game will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS. You can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DIRECTV and FuboTV. Why this game mattersUSC has started the season with a 3-0 record, making the Trojans a contender for the Big Ten title. The USC squad is searching for its first College Football Playoff appearance, so the Trojans must win this matchup. Rutgers has had a terrible start to the season, as the Scarlet Knights have lost to Boston College and UMass. However, an upset this afternoon could turn the season around for Rutgers. Key players to watch in today’s matchupUSC’s star quarterback Jayden Maiava will take the field today. He has already scored 11 total touchdowns this season, and Maiava has thrown for nearly 900 yards. If Maiava continues his great play this afternoon, then today’s game could be decided quickly. Rutgers will be led by its star wide receiver KJ Duff. He has 333 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns this year. How you can watch today’s game for freeDIRECTV and FuboTV have CBS in their streaming packages, and both services currently offer five-day free trials. With this in mind, you can catch all the football action for free this weekend. How to watch Texas A&M-Kentucky college football game for free todayHow to watch Alabama-Florida State college football game for free todayHow to watch Vanderbilt-NC State college football game for free todayHow to watch Georgia-Arkansas SEC football game for free todayHow to watch Clemson-North Carolina ACC football game for free todayThomas Lagrone is an Alabama native and recent graduate from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a bachelor's degree in sports communication. Thomas has loved participating in and watching sports...