USC didn’t just handle a tougher test in Game 2 - it looked like a different kind of team altogether.
Against Fresno State on Friday, the Trojans put together the kind of complete performance that turns heads fast. Both the offense and defense were rolling, and Lincoln Riley and Gary Patterson had their units looking ready for Big Ten play. After what happened in Game 1, USC came out and showed a version of itself that feels good enough to hang with just about anybody.
The passing game was the first thing that jumped off the page. Jayden Maiava looked calm, in command, and very comfortable as he carved up a formidable defense.
His connection with USC’s young receivers stood out, too. Tanook Hines got on the field, but the freshman wideouts clearly made the bigger impact in this one.
As they settle in and get more involved, this group has a chance to become one of the best receiver rooms around.
That aerial firepower is only part of the story. USC’s run game and the veteran offensive line’s physicality give the offense a different gear. The Trojans aren’t built to score one way; they can beat teams through the air and on the ground, and that versatility matters against every opponent they’ll see.
Defensively, the change has been just as striking. Gary Patterson looks like the right hire, because this group is playing with a level of physicality USC hasn’t shown in a while. Jide Abasiri has emerged as a real presence on the defensive line, and plenty of others are stepping up around him.
After easing off the gas in Game 1, USC’s defense stayed locked in for all four quarters against the Bulldogs. It suffocated Fresno State and matched the offense punch for punch.
For the Big Ten, that’s a problem. For USC, it looks like the Trojans finally have a roster capable of competing at that level - and one worthy of College Football Playoff consideration.
In Other News...
Maiava Just Gave USC Fans A Real Heisman Conversation
Week 1 gave USC exactly the kind of early jolt it needed, and Jayden Maiava was right in the middle of it. Among a slate of eye-catching opening performances around college football, his showing for the Trojans stood out enough to push his name into a much bigger conversation than just a strong start for one quarterback.
For USC fans, that matters because the Heisman race can feel like it starts before most seasons really settle in, and Maiava has at least put himself on the board. There is a long way to go, of course, and plenty of other early stars to compare him against, but after opening weekend he is no longer just part of the backdrop of the national conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Maiava Is Raising USCs Ceiling Faster Than Anyone Expected
Jayden Maiava has barely had time to settle into USCs offense, and already he looks like the kind of quarterback who can change the math around the Trojans season. Through the first two games, he has been sharp and decisive, and his performance against Fresno State was especially eye-opening, with 23 completions on 25 attempts for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Lincoln Riley has noticed, too, praising Maiavas understanding of the offense and the arm talent that makes the whole system look like it has another gear.
For USC, the encouraging part is not just the production, but how quickly it has arrived. FanDuel Sportsbook now lists Maiava with the 10th-best Heisman Trophy odds, a reflection of how fast his name has moved into the national conversation. The Trojans still have a long season ahead, but if this is the baseline, the bigger question is no longer whether Maiava can manage the job. It is how high he might push USC if this level keeps up. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Enters A Season That Could Change Everything At USC
Lincoln Riley is heading into a season at USC with the kind of pressure that comes with expectations, especially after the move into the Big Ten raised the stakes around every game. Analyst Paul Finebaum recently pointed to Riley as one of the coaches who could do a lot for his standing this fall, and much of that hinges on the same formula that has long defined his best teams: a quarterback who can tilt games and an offense that keeps USC in the conversation.
Jayden Maiava has become part of that discussion after arriving from UNLV and showing well enough to give the Trojans real hope at the most important position. Even so, USCs path is about more than offense. The Big Ten has no shortage of physical tests, and Rileys team will need its defense to hold up if this season is going to look less like another reset and more like the one that changes the tenor of his tenure. [Read more 🡒]