Nine-Day Span Will Feature Four Games Between LA Rams, USC

A year ago following the release of the 2016 Los Angeles Rams schedule, one of my initial takeaways had to do with the nascent relationship between the Rams and the University of Southern California. At the time, I noted that the school had requested the Rams to not host any Monday Night Football games. The impact on the franchise’s financial expansion is pretty obvious. The Rams would go on to play in two primetime games: the season opener on Monday night in San Francisco and a late-season Thursday night game in Seattle.

2017 Los Angeles Rams Regular Season Schedule

Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Fast-forward to the Rams’ second season back in LA and yet again there is no primetime NFL action in the Coliseum on behalf of the Rams on the 2017 schedule. The only national game will be a Thursday night contest in Week 3 again on the road against the 49ers.

But what jumped out to me this year about the relationship between the two football entities? A nine-day glut to in early September that will be chock full of football in Los Angeles:

Here’s the quartet:

• Sep. 9: USC v. Stanford
• Sep. 10: Rams v. Indianapolis Colts
• Sep. 16: USC v. Texas
• Sep. 17: Rams v. Washington Football Group

By the time Washington, the former employer of new Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, arrives, that field could be tore the hell up.

Saturating the market even more? The Los Angeles Chargers open their season on national television on Monday Night Football on September 11, a historic date to say the least.

I don’t think you overstate how big of a week this will be for Los Angeles-area football. Season openers for the Rams and the Chargers who join the Rams in the Battle for LA. USC led by QB Sam Darnold in two marquee matchups. McVay’s Revenge.

September is going to be...well, it’s how a football season should start.

Will the field at the Coliseum be able to hold up?