Aspects and techniques relate to scheduling resources for uplink transmissions in wireless communication systems. In some examples, an allocation of resources for uplink may be based on a common reference resource (e.g., a reference physical resource block, PRB) also used for allocation of resources for downlink In other examples, allocation of resources for uplink may be based on a different reference resource. A scheduler may further provide an indication whether the same, common reference resource is used, or a different reference resource. A scheduler may further indicate a different reference resource as needed. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.