USC brings a 2-0 start and a top-25 ranking into Wednesday night’s meeting with California, and the Trojans have looked sharp on the offensive end to open the season. They rolled past Milwaukee 95-63 in their opener before outlasting Wichita State 93-86.
California arrives at 2-1 after taking care of Adams State and Radford, then running into Houston in an 86-68 loss. That sets up an in-state matchup with plenty of scoring potential, and the numbers from both teams’ first three games point in the same direction.
Rodney Rice has been the engine for USC early on and is shaping up to be the Trojans’ most important player again this season. He averaged 20.3 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game last year, and through two games this season he’s bumped those marks up to 23.5 points, 9.0 assists, and 5.5 rebounds. He’s the player to keep an eye on every time USC takes the floor.
The better play here looks like the total rather than the side. California has had issues getting stops, even giving up 86 points to Adams State, while USC has been lighting up scoreboards with 93-plus points in each of its first two games. The Golden Bears have also shown they can score, putting up 84 or more in their first two outings before being held to 68 by Houston, one of the nation’s best defensive teams.
This one has the feel of a game where points come first.
In Other News...
Indiana Faces One Offensive Concern Fans Cant Ignore Vs USC
ESPN analyst Greg McElroys preview of No. 9 Indiana against No. 18 USC centered on a familiar sort of late-season tension: one team bringing a sturdy defense, the other trying to sort out its offense while the quarterback picture remains unsettled. McElroy sounded confident in Indiana on that side of the ball, even as he weighed the recent form of both programs and the key players who could end up deciding the matchup.
For USC, the bigger concern is less about the name on the jersey than the rhythm of the offense itself, especially with the uncertainty under center and the struggles that have shown up in recent games. Indiana has its own offensive issues to clean up after a recent slide in the rankings, but this game still feels like one where the Trojans ability to get organized on offense may determine whether they can keep pace with a Hoosiers team that has earned respect for how it defends. [Read more 🡒]
USC Just Landed A Recruit Who Could Boost Womens Golf Fast
USC womens golf added an important piece to its future with the signing of Eliana Saga, one of the nations top junior players and a member of the U.S. Junior National Team. She arrives with a rsum that already includes international experience and multiple top finishes, and she becomes the Trojans first signee in the class of 2027.
For Justin Silversteins program, the timing matters as much as the talent. Landing a player with Sagas profile gives USC an early foundation for the next recruiting cycle, and it signals the kind of ceiling the Trojans are aiming for as they keep building toward the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]
USC Is Bringing Real Swagger Into Its Biggest Test Yet
USCs week of preparation for Indiana has come with a little extra edge, and not just because of whats at stake. Defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart and running back Waymond Jordan both talked about the Trojans trash-talking culture as part of the way the team gets ready, a sign that this group is leaning into the kind of swagger that can travel well when the pressure rises.
The timing matters because this is one of those games with real College Football Playoff implications, and USC is walking into it as the underdog. The availability picture adds another layer, with tight end Walter Matthews questionable for the Trojans while Indiana is dealing with its own issues, including the absence of starting running back Turbo Richard and an uncertain quarterback situation because of injury. [Read more 🡒]