The Big Ten opener sends No. 12 USC 2,500 miles east to Rutgers, and the Trojans arrive with a clean record and a few questions still hanging in the air.
They are 3-0 after non-conference play, but last week’s win over Louisiana left a mark on the defensive side. USC gave up 358 total yards on just 52 plays, a step back after opening the season by holding Fresno State to 116 total yards.
That contrast is exactly why this matchup feels like a chance for the Trojans to reset the tone. USC coach Lincoln Riley made it clear Tuesday that the standard inside the program has to keep climbing.
"We've had some different positives, but with that different issues, but one thing we've talked about with our guys is raising the floor with our play," said USC coach Lincoln Riley Tuesday ahead of opening conference play.
"A lot of times you hear coaches say, 'be more consistent' or 'make less mental mistakes.' But one thing we determine in our program is the floor of your play," he continued. "And that's often how great players are determined to be, right?"
That message matters as conference play begins, especially with a road trip that brings its own quirks. Cross-country travel has been a major talking point since the Big Ten expanded coast to coast. In 2024, teams crossing two or more time zones went just 6-22 in the regular season, and while that number improved to 11-17 in 2025, the travel grind still sits in the background of games like this one.
USC already felt some of that in its 34-32 loss to Illinois, when the Trojans started strong before late chunk plays tilted things the other way. Against Rutgers, though, the timing may help.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, which means 12:30 p.m.
Pacific time - a much friendlier setup for a West Coast team than an East Coast noon start.
If USC can get on top early, the Trojans can avoid a game that turns into a late fourth-quarter test where fatigue starts to matter.
The defense has a clear chance to answer after last week’s uneven showing. Gary Patterson’s unit was dominant in the opener against Fresno State, stacking up five sacks, two turnovers and two safeties while suffocating the Bulldogs.
The Louisiana game looked very different. Rutgers, though, brings an offense that has had trouble getting its run game moving, which could play right into USC’s hands.
The Scarlet Knights managed only 27 rushing yards on 14 carries against UMass and also had issues running the ball against Boston College. They have also turned it over eight times in two games, with six of those being interceptions. If USC can shut down the run and force Rutgers into third-and-long, the Trojans’ defensive front should have more chances to attack the quarterback.
Another USC player worth watching is true freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley, who has quickly become one of the team’s top playmakers. Through three games, he has 13 catches for 255 yards and four touchdowns. He opened with 118 receiving yards against San José State, followed that with 104 yards and two touchdowns against Fresno State, then was quieter against Louisiana with two catches for 33 yards.
Mosley still found a way to make noise in that game, returning a punt 86 yards for a touchdown. Even so, his production through the air was well below what USC had seen in the first two weeks.
Rutgers could be the stage for him to bounce back. The Scarlet Knights allowed 252 passing yards to Boston College, and USC’s group of receivers presents a bigger problem than that number alone suggests. With so many weapons on the outside, Rutgers can’t lock onto one target, and that could open space for Mosley to get loose again.
In Other News...
USC Walks Into A Road Game That Could Get Awkward Fast
Rutgers is already in an uncomfortable spot before USC ever takes the field in this one. The Scarlet Knights have opened the season with back-to-back heavy losses, including a home defeat to UMass and another setback against Boston College, and the tone around the program has turned quickly as questions start to follow Greg Schiano into the week.
USC, meanwhile, walks into a road game where the opponents mood may be as much a factor as the matchup itself. The Trojans are getting Rutgers at a time when the Scarlet Knights are trying to steady a season that has already gone sideways, and if the noise around Schiano keeps building, this could become one of those trips where the football and the larger tension around the program are impossible to separate. [Read more 🡒]
USC Heads To Rutgers With A New Receiver Concern
USCs trip to Rutgers picked up a little more uncertainty when true freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley landed on the injury list and was ruled out for the game because of a knee ailment. Mosley has been part of the group the Trojans have leaned on for depth, and his absence comes at a point where the offense is trying to keep its receiver rotation steady heading into another road test.
Lincoln Riley said the timeline is still unclear, though the expectation is that it should not turn into a long-term issue. In the meantime, USC is looking at other options to absorb the snaps and production, with Zacharyus Williams and Terrell Anderson among the receivers who could be asked to take on more of the load. [Read more 🡒]
USC Fans Got The Jayden Maiava Shoulder Answer They Needed
Jayden Maiava gave USC plenty to feel good about in its win over Louisiana, piling up a career-high five touchdowns while also putting an end to the shoulder chatter that had lingered around him. The senior quarterback said he is healthy, and the way he played looked every bit like a passer operating without restriction, with freshman tight end Mark Bowman emerging as a major part of the offense with six catches and two scores.
For a Trojans team trying to build momentum, the timing mattered as much as the numbers. Maiava also spoke about getting ready for Rutgers and reflected on how far he has come over three seasons at Southern Cal, which adds another layer to a performance that was already important for the scoreboard and the injury conversation alike. [Read more 🡒]