LOS ANGELES -- Texas opted not to join the Pac-10 this summer, but college football fans eventually will get a rematch of the epic 2006 BCS Championship Game between USC and the Longhorns.
USC and Texas will play against each other in 2017 and 2018, Trojans athletic director Pat Haden announced Thursday.
"USC versus Texas is a classic matchup and I'm sure fans from both schools, as well as all college football fans, will look forward to these games with much anticipation," said Haden, the former USC quarterback who replaced Mike Garrett this year as AD. "It's been a long time since USC has played Texas in the regular season, and of course we all remember how exciting the recent bowl game meeting was between the teams."
The 2017 game will be played on Sept. 16 at the Coliseum. The 2018 game will be in Austin on Sept. 15.
USC leads the all-time series with Texas 4-1, with wins in 1955, 1956, 1966 and 1967.
Texas outlasted USC 41-38 behind quarterback Vince Young in the 2006 BCS title game, played at the Rose Bowl. That loss denied USC a third straight BCS title, though the NCAA later vacated USC's 2004 title after ruling that tailback Reggie Bush received improper benefits and was ineligible for the 2005 Orange Bowl.
USC also will play a home game against Utah State in 2013. USC last played Utah State in 1989.
Mark Saxon covers the Angles and USC for ESPNLosAngeles.com.