USC’s offensive front keeps piling up the recognition, and Elijah Paige is the latest Trojan to get singled out for it.
The USC offensive lineman was named a Midseason First Team All-American by The Athletic, a nod that fits the way he has played so far this season. At 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, Paige has been especially effective in pass protection, allowing just 3 pressures in 202 pass-blocking snaps and no sacks while working at left tackle.
The numbers back up the acclaim. According to PFF, Paige ranks No. 2 among all Power Four offensive linemen with at least 254 block snaps with an 85.7 offensive grade, and he is No. 3 with an 81.0 pass block grade. Among Big Ten tackles, he sits first in offensive grade at 85.7, second in pass block grade at 90.7 and fifth in run block grade at 81.0.
USC’s entire offensive line also earned a spot on the 2026 Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll, reflecting how much the group has done to fuel Lincoln Riley’s offense. The Trojans are averaging 310.1 passing yards per game and 152.3 rushing yards per game, while putting up 36.4 points per contest. USC also leads the nation in first downs offense with 177.
The protection up front has helped quarterback Jayden Maiava put together a productive season. He is 152-for-224 for 2,045 yards and 18 touchdowns, and the starting line has kept him upright with fewer than one sack per game - six total so far.
There’s been production on the ground, too. The run blocking has helped six different Trojans combine for 12 rushing touchdowns this season.
No. 16 USC heads to Wisconsin this weekend to face the Badgers.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m.
CT) on Saturday, Oct. 24, and the game will air live on NBC.
In Other News...
USC Passing Game Faces A Real Test As Dixon-Wyatts Role Grows
The next road trip gives USCs passing game a chance to find out how far it has come. Wisconsin brings a defense that has been statistically strong, and that is the kind of matchup that tends to expose timing issues, communication lapses and young receivers still learning how to handle a bigger stage.
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt has become a bigger part of the Trojans offense this season, especially with fellow freshman Trent Mosley sidelined, and he knows the challenge ahead. He talked about the need to stay in sync with Jayden Maiava, a point that matters even more when a receiver is asked to carry extra weight against a defense built to make easy throws hard to find. [Read more 🡒]
USC Defense Has One Road Test Fans Cant Ignore
USCs defense came out of the bye week looking more settled, and Lincoln Riley said the difference has shown up in the way the Trojans are adjusting as games unfold. He pointed to better in-game adaptation and a healthier roster as part of the turnaround, while also crediting defensive coordinator Gary Pattersons move to the booth for helping the unit settle in and cut down on mistakes.
Now comes a tougher road test against Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph, whose ability to hurt defenses both through the air and on the ground gives the matchup a different kind of stress. Riley made it clear that USCs recent progress is encouraging, but the next step is proving the defense can keep playing like a unit that belongs in the conversation with the best ones when the challenge changes. [Read more 🡒]
USC Faces A Real Road Test As Availability Questions Loom
USC has spent the week trying to make the unfamiliar feel routine, leaning on crowd noise in practice and even looping Wisconsins Jump Around to get ready for the trip to Camp Randall Stadium. It is the kind of preparation a team makes when it knows the environment will be as much a factor as the opponent, and several players and coaches have spoken about the challenge of stepping into one of college footballs louder road settings.
The other layer to this matchup is the injury picture, which already arrived with some uncertainty. USCs initial availability report listed 11 players in varying stages of health, adding another point of attention as the Trojans get closer to kickoff. For a team facing its first real road test, the question is not just how it handles the noise, but which pieces will actually be available once the game begins. [Read more 🡒]