Matt Entz is heading back to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and he’s doing it with Fresno State in tow for a Friday night meeting with No. 14 USC.
The matchup puts Entz against the program he helped last season, when he coached the Trojans’ linebackers and watched the defense take a clear step forward. USC’s total defense climbed from 119th in 2023 to 70th in 2024, while the scoring defense improved from 121st to 56th. Now he returns as Fresno State’s coach, and both sides are treating the game with respect.
“You talk about a historical facility,” Entz told reporters. “It’s pretty iconic to be able to play a game there.
We’ve tried to talk through all these things with our team so when we get there, we understand it’s a big event. But it’s still 120 yards by 53⅓.
No different from what you played on in high school.”
USC coach Lincoln Riley was just as complimentary.
“He’s a really good football coach and took over a proud program that’s got a lot of great history and tradition in the way that they play,” Riley said.
“That’s one of the schools that, other than a week when we’re playing them, we all root for around here. I hope they win every other game except this one.”
Fresno State enters as a first-year Pac-12 member after the conference’s major reset. Ten teams departed in 2022, including USC and UCLA, and the league was not fully rebuilt until this season.
The Bulldogs are also expected to bring the physical edge Entz has carried at each stop. He spent two seasons leading North Dakota State to FCS national titles, and he’s pushing the same themes now in Fresno.
“One of the most overlooked and underutilized words in the English language is ‘belief,’ and so we’ve been talking about it for the last 10 days,” Entz said. “There has to be a belief.
“We’re going to trust our process and our approach. Doesn’t necessarily guarantee victory, but it’ll guarantee that we’re going to be competitive.”
For Fresno State, the quarterback situation is worth watching. Jayden Mandal was named the starter this week, even though he missed the 2025 season with an elbow injury and did not throw a pass in practice. Even so, Entz said the staff was encouraged by Mandal’s timing, decision-making and accuracy during fall camp.
The Bulldogs are likely to lean on the ground game while Mandal settles in. Rayshon “Speedy” Luke and Bryson Donelson return after running for 731 yards and 624 yards last season, respectively, and they’ll be asked to challenge a USC front that faded after the starters left the San José State game.
USC’s defense could also get some help if edge rusher Braylan Shelby and defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart are cleared to return from injury. In the meantime, veterans have been helping younger players sort through the details.
“It’s key details,” USC defensive tackle Floyd Boucard said. “Making sure you stay focused on knowing everything that’s going on, making sure you get your call, know your call, and then also just know who you’re playing with.”
On the other side of the ball, USC is again dealing with some lineup shuffling at receiver. The Trojans started three freshmen in the opener - Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Trent Mosley and Tron Baker - and freshman tight end Mark Bowman was in the mix too. If Tanook Hines remains out, Baker, Hines and Corey Simms are all listed as possibilities at outside receiver.
The line has held up through the changes. Tobias Raymond is set for his second straight start at center, Hayden Treter will start again at left guard, and the group helped Jayden Maiava throw for 286 yards and two touchdowns against San José State.
Maiava also crossed 5,000 career passing yards as a Trojan in that game and now sits at 5,198.
Entz knows USC will try to keep the pressure on, and he expects Fresno State to have to stay disciplined to slow Maiava down.
“We’re going to have to be really sharp on defense,” Entz said. “We’ve got to be able to hold up on some of the isolation plays and we’ve got to get hats to the ball. And we’ve got to tackle well and try to find ways to get (Maiava) off schedule at different times.”
Fresno State (0-0) visits No. 14 USC (1-0) at 6 p.m.
Friday. The game will air on FOX and ESPN 710.
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