USC got a noticeably fuller Coliseum on Friday night, and the difference was hard to miss.
With the temperature down to 77 degrees for the Trojans’ game against Fresno State, fans filled the student section and showed up in greater numbers across the stadium after the sparse turnout for last weekend’s season opener against San José State drew national attention. The official figure barely moved, with 53,014 tickets distributed Friday compared with 51,144 announced Saturday, and the Coliseum still sat well short of its 77,500 capacity. USC averaged 67,783 fans per home game during the 2025 season.
Some of the added energy came from Fresno State supporters who made the trip from far beyond California, including one fan who came from Florida. Brandon Wilson, originally from Palos Verdes, said the Bulldogs’ appeal comes from how they play.
“It’s the grind they do,” said Brandon Wilson, a Florida resident who is originally from Palos Verdes. “It’s not given to them. They don’t get a lot of transfers, and they’re not a big-name program.
“But they beat the crap out of a lot of guys and they are hard-nosed and that’s why we show up every day.”
Wilson attended with his wife and toddler daughter. A USC fan growing up, he said he changed sides once his younger brother joined Fresno State.
By halftime, some USC fans were still settling in as the sun dropped behind the Coliseum and the Dodgers’ 7:10 game against the Washington Nationals was about to begin a few miles away. The Trojans had already given them plenty to enjoy, taking a 30-0 lead into the break in a game that looked like it was rewarding the crowd for choosing college football over baseball on a crowded holiday weekend.
USC was again without defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart and defensive end Braylan Shelby, who missed a second straight game. Stewart is dealing with a foot injury, while Shelby’s issue has not been disclosed. Both are expected to be major pieces on the defensive line this season.
Tight end Tucker Ashcraft has still not made his USC debut. The Wisconsin transfer was not dressed, and true freshman Mark Bowman made his second straight start at the position. Linebacker Elijah Newby and backup quarterback Sam Huard also suited up in street clothes and did not play.
The Coliseum also had a pair of familiar faces back in the building. Former USC receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon were there as they prepare for their NFL rookie seasons. Lane recently made the Baltimore Ravens’ 53-man roster, while Lemon, a first-round draft pick, is with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Lane stopped for selfies with fans after a strong preseason that included a 16-yard touchdown catch from Joe Fagnano against the Eagles. Lemon has spent most of the preseason sidelined by a lingering hamstring injury, though he is expected to return healthy for the regular season.
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USC Has A Freshman Turning Heads As Young Defenders Step Up
Trent Mosley wasted no time making his presence felt, and for USC that has been one of the brighter early developments of the season. The freshman receiver opened his college career with seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown against San Jose State, then followed it up with another strong outing the next game, adding multiple touchdowns and drawing notice from teammates and coaches alike.
Mosleys emergence has helped soften some of the attention on a defense that has also been getting useful early contributions from young players. Nickel Kennedy Urlacher, Alex Graham and Jide Abasiri have each shown up in recent games, giving USC signs that some of its younger defenders are beginning to settle in and play meaningful snaps when the Trojans need them most. [Read more 🡒]
USC's Rout Put New Draft Attention On More Than One Trojan
USCs blowout of Fresno State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum drew more than attention from the scoreboard. NFL scouts from five franchises were in the building, turning a September game into another reminder that the Trojans are still a weekly stop on the pro personnel circuit. With former USC names already scattered across the league, the presence of those evaluators added a little extra weight to a rout that otherwise could have been just another easy win.
The most visible reasons were on the field. Quarterback Jayden Maiava continued to give scouts a look at how he handles an offense under little pressure, while defensive players Jide Abasiri and Kennedy Urlacher also stood out in the kind of game where evaluators are often looking for who keeps competing after the outcome is settled. For USC, the broader takeaway is familiar: when the Trojans play well, the NFL tends to show up, and not just for the obvious headliners. [Read more 🡒]
USC Freshman Is Giving Lincoln Riley A New Receiver Problem
USCs 2-0 start has already included a welcome bonus for Lincoln Riley: a freshman receiver who looks ready for more than a depth-chart cameo. Trent Mosley has been one of the early bright spots for the Trojans, making his presence felt right away with key catches, yardage, and touchdowns that have helped him stand out in the opening weeks of the season.
For Riley, that kind of emergence creates the sort of good problem coaches like to have and opponents hate to solve. Mosleys production has quickly raised expectations for what he can mean in the offense moving forward, and it also adds another layer to a USC passing game that already had enough weapons to keep defenses busy. [Read more 🡒]