Saturday around the region: USC at Rutgers leads a full football day.

Rutgers gets a ranked opponent and a chance to change the direction of an 0–2 start. USC’s visit leads the September 19 regional college schedule, with home games in Manhattan, Piscataway, Stony Brook and Albany. Princeton and Fordham travel. This pregame guide covers the selected matchups and viewing options.

Rutgers: a conference opener with immediate stakes

Rutgers hosts No. 12 USC at SHI Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on CBS. The Scarlet Knights enter 0–2; USC is 3–0. It is Rutgers’ Big Ten opener and a Scarlet Out, with fans encouraged to wear red.

KJ Duff gives Rutgers a reason for optimism: 333 receiving yards and five touchdown catches through two games, according to the school’s preview. AJ Surace threw three touchdown passes in his first collegiate start against Boston College. Rutgers still lost 28–21. There has been production, but no win to go with it.

Against USC, finishing drives will matter more than adding to an attractive yardage total. Rutgers needs to turn its offensive promise into enough points to stay with a ranked opponent. A conference opener offers a fresh start in the standings, even if it cannot erase the first two Saturdays.

The regional schedule · All times Eastern

Noon — Lafayette at Columbia. The Lions open at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium in Manhattan. This is the earliest kickoff in our selection and an option for readers looking for a game within the city.

1 p.m. — Princeton at Bryant, in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The Tigers begin their season on the road. Princeton’s official schedule is linked below for game coverage and subsequent dates.

2:30 p.m. — Rhode Island at Stony Brook, at LaValle Stadium. Stony Brook’s schedule provides the official streaming, live-statistics and ticket links. Readers planning to attend should use those links for current availability.

3:30 p.m. — Monmouth at UAlbany, at Casey Stadium, with coverage on FloCollege. Both enter 1–0 in CAA play; UAlbany is 2–1 overall and Monmouth 1–2. This is a regional matchup that also has an immediate conference consequence.

3:30 p.m. — USC at Rutgers, on CBS. The Big Ten opener shares its kickoff time with Monmouth–UAlbany.

6 p.m. — Fordham at William & Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, on ESPN+. Fordham also lists WFUV 90.7 FM for radio coverage. It is an evening follow for Rams supporters, not a local home game.

Plan the afternoon

Columbia offers a game within New York City; Rutgers and Stony Brook give fans nearby home options. Albany is a Capital Region trip. The linked school pages carry ticket and viewing details, including any subscription requirements. Check availability before traveling.

Fordham’s evening kickoff extends the schedule beyond the afternoon games. For scores once play begins, use the school coverage linked below; this guide preserves the pregame schedule rather than providing live results.