There was plenty to like in USC’s Week 0 win over San Jose State, and the clearest takeaway was this: a handful of Trojans already look ready to carry serious weight in a season that could turn quickly if the growth keeps coming.
Jayden Maiava set the tone. The quarterback looked composed and in control, exactly the kind of steady presence USC needs as the offense sorts itself out.
Lincoln Riley kept the offense fairly simple, but Maiava still showed he can comfortably get to at least 200 yards and operate without forcing the issue. Even with his playmakers still working into rhythm, he gave USC reason to feel good about where this offense can go.
King Miller also came out of the opener with his stock moving up. He picked up right where he left off, only now with more size and more physicality. The added weight showed up in the way he ran downhill, and nothing about the performance suggested his role sharing carries will cut into what he can produce this year.
The breakout name on offense was Trent Mosley. He looked like the best player on the field for USC, plain and simple.
Once Maiava started finding him, the connection popped. Mosley already looks like a reliable target, and it would not be a surprise if he ends up being the Trojans’ top playmaker.
That kind of showing changes the temperature around an offense fast.
Corey Simms deserves a spot in the positive column too, even if he isn’t getting the same attention. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, he brings a different body type to the receiver room and gives Maiava a target who can win contested catches and fight for extra yards.
He finished with 4 catches for 42 yards and kept the momentum going after a strong camp. With so many smaller, faster options around him, Simms fits neatly into the mix.
On defense, Jide Abasiri was the loudest presence USC had. The defensive tackle was a problem all game long, finishing with 2.5 tackles for a loss and 4 total tackles.
He lived in the backfield and looked like the best defender on the field Saturday. That kind of performance is how a player makes it clear he’s the guy.
Luke Wafle didn’t post a sack, but the freshman still flashed real upside. He nearly turned one play into a sack and a safety early, and the disruption was obvious even when the stat sheet stayed modest. Wafle ended with 2 tackles, 0.5 tackles for a loss, and a pass deflection, which is a strong first step for a highly touted newcomer.
The concerns were real on the other side of the ball. USC’s secondary had a rough day, and the numbers tell the story.
Luke Weaver threw for 234 yards and 2 touchdowns, and that simply won’t cut it. The pass rush made life harder, but the back end still has to be better, especially with players like Jontez Williams and other young defensive backs failing to stand out.
If that holds, bigger offenses will make USC pay.
There was also too little from Kam Crawford. With Braylon Shelby and Jahkeem Stewart unavailable, the expectation was that a veteran edge player would step forward.
Instead, Crawford managed just 1 tackle. As the starter off the edge, USC needs more from him.
And while the linebackers piled up tackles, the unit still had too many missed fits and too many snaps where run lanes opened up. The production was there on paper, but the execution wasn’t clean enough. Against rushing teams like Ohio State or Oregon, that kind of inconsistency would become a major problem in a hurry.
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USC Is About To Get An Early Test Up Front
USC is getting a useful measuring stick early, and it comes in the form of a Fresno State defense that was the best unit in the Mountain West a year ago. The Bulldogs held opponents to just 286 yards and 19 points per game, and the strength starts up front under defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto, who brought his system over from Northern Illinois and has plenty of experience to lean on in the trenches.
The matchup should tell plenty about where the Trojans are on the line of scrimmage, especially against a front that has made life hard on the run game. Fresno State went 9-0 last season when it kept opponents under 140 rushing yards, and linebacker Tytus Khajavi is expected to be one of the key players helping set the tone. Against a USC offense that wants to establish itself early, that kind of resistance can reveal a lot quickly. [Read more 🡒]
USC Fans May Not Love This Name In The Next Coaching Cycle
The next college football coaching cycle is already taking shape, and USC will be watching closely as a familiar set of names begins to surface. Kliff Kingsbury, Mike Norvell and Kalani Sitake are all being discussed as possible candidates for upcoming openings, a reminder that the sports carousel never really stops spinning once the season gets going.
For Trojans fans, the part worth tracking is not just who lands where, but which coaches remain in the conversation if jobs at the top of the market open up. Kingsbury, Norvell and Sitake each bring a different profile and a different recent track record, which is why speculation around them is starting to build now, well before any actual vacancy is filled. [Read more 🡒]
USC Depth Chart Puts Pressure On Two Trojans Fighting To Stay Relevant
USCs updated depth chart heading into Week 1 against Fresno State did more than set the opening lineup. It also offered a clearer look at the crowded competition around several players returning from absence, with the roster now forcing a few Trojans to prove they belong in the rotation rather than simply waiting for their turn. For some, thats a healthy sign of depth. For others, it is a reminder that opportunity in college football can disappear quickly if reps start going elsewhere.
Among the players under the most pressure are redshirt-freshman running back Riley Wormley and redshirt-junior linebacker TaMere Robinson, both of whom need to carve out more meaningful roles to stay relevant. Their paths have already been shaped by limited chances and a roster that keeps adding competition, and with playing time at a premium, the next stretch could matter a great deal for how they fit into USCs plans going forward. [Read more 🡒]