USC opened the season with the kind of start that gets attention fast, and Jayden Maiava was right in the middle of it. In a 42-26 win over San Jose State in Week 0, the Trojans’ quarterback completed 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, making an early push toward the Heisman conversation.
That performance put Lincoln Riley’s team in a good spot heading into Friday’s Week 1 matchup with Fresno State. USC is already inside the top 25, and another convincing showing could help it climb before the next AP Poll.
Fresno State enters this one in a new chapter of its own. The Bulldogs are kicking off their first season in the brand-new look Pac-12, and they’re expected to be part of the race for a winning record. They also have a new starter at quarterback, with head coach Matt Entz naming Jayden Mandal to the job on Monday.
Mandal’s path has not been a smooth one. He has dealt with injuries throughout his college career and has attempted only nine passes, all the way back in 2024. His medical history includes surgery for an ulnar nerve transposition, along with a UCL tear in his throwing arm, a shoulder cyst and a torn labrum.
This summer, though, Mandal said he was fully ready to go.
"Yeah, 100%," Mandal said. "There's always that fear when you get a surgery: Am I going to come back healthy?
Is it going to take a long time? But just trusting God's plan and knowing what he has for me got me through that, and I'm so blessed.
I'm back, and I'm 100%."
Even with Mandal under center, Fresno State faces a tough ask on Friday night. USC already has one 16-point win this season, even if it did not cover, and the Trojans are heavily favored again.
Maiava’s first outing showed why USC believes it can have one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses. He threw for the 286 yards and two scores, helped the Trojans build a 28-0 first-half lead, and then gave way to Jonas Williams. USC finished with 42 points, and the attack looked every bit the part of a unit that can pile up points quickly.
There’s still a little more to prove, though. Maiava turned the ball over too often in the 2025 season, and if he cleans that up in 2026, he’ll have a real shot at staying in the Heisman mix. He also led the Big Ten in passing yards last season with 3,711, another sign of just how much USC can lean on him.
Fresno State may have enough on defense to make this more competitive than a typical mismatch. The Bulldogs were fifth in EPA/Play on that side of the ball last season, and that could keep the game from turning into a complete runaway, especially if USC ends up resting starters again.
Still, the matchup points toward points. San Jose State put up 26 on Fresno State in Week 0, and USC’s offense has already shown it can get to 30 against just about anyone. The OVER has been the trend in most of the Trojans’ games, and with 68 combined points in USC’s opener, that angle has plenty of life again here.
For a game with USC favored and Fresno State trying to settle in with a new quarterback, the clearest edge is the Trojans’ ability to score in bunches. That’s why the total looks like the most appealing angle in this one.
In Other News...
USCs Week 0 Numbers Hint At Something Bigger On Offense
USCs season opener left behind more than a win, it also offered an early statistical snapshot that suggests this offense may already be tracking toward something more dangerous. Jayden Maiavas efficiency stood out right away, with the quarterback setting a completion percentage record in his debut as the starter, while true freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley made his first college game look far less ordinary than most opening nights for an 18-year-old.
There is still plenty to sort out, especially on the other side of the ball, but the broader picture from Week 0 was hard to miss. USC showed up in the national and Big Ten rankings in ways that reflect real production, and the number of true freshmen in the starting lineup only added to the sense that this group is still getting its footing while already flashing a higher ceiling than a typical early-season team. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Herbstreit Just Called Out USC Fans Over A Growing Problem
USCs home opener brought the kind of spotlight the program usually expects, but not the kind of crowd it wanted. ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit took aim at the Trojans fan support after the stadium was only about half full, despite USC coming in ranked 14th nationally and trying to position itself for a run at the conference title.
Herbstreits criticism also pointed beyond the stands and toward the broader picture around the program, including the schools response to the disappointing turnout. For a team trying to build momentum early, the scene served as a reminder that success on the field does not always guarantee the atmosphere around it, and USC has some work to do to turn home games back into the kind of event that matches the expectations. [Read more 🡒]
USC May Have Found A Freshman Lincoln Riley Can Trust Early
USC did not have to wait long to find out what Mark Bowman could offer. The freshman tight end started in the season opener against San Jos State and spent most of his night doing the unglamorous work that helps an offense function, especially as a run blocker. For a player with Bowmans recruiting profile and a high school rsum that drew plenty of attention, the early role says a lot about how quickly he has adapted to the college game.
Landon Tengwall noted Bowmans advanced physical development and the kind of blocking skills that can earn a young player trust fast, and that matters in Lincoln Rileys offense. Bowman also chipped in three catches for 15 yards, but his bigger value may come from what he does before the ball ever reaches him. If USC is going to lean on its ground game early, Bowman already looks like someone the staff is comfortable putting on the field. [Read more 🡒]