No. 14 USC opens its season with a mismatch, and the Trojans are laying 38.5 points against San Jose State in Week 0.
That number tells the story. Lincoln Riley’s team enters the year with Big Ten ambitions and a quarterback in Jayden Maiava who is firmly in the center of the conversation. USC is expected to be one of the more dangerous offenses in the country again, and this first test comes against a San Jose State team that was 3-9 last season and went 0-6 on the road.
Maiava’s 2025 season gave USC exactly the kind of production it needs to chase bigger goals. He threw for 3,711 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and he added 157 rushing yards and six more scores. That came after he completed less than 60 percent of his passes in 2024, but the upside is obvious enough that he could work his way into the Heisman conversation if the Trojans get into the College Football Playoff.
The numbers behind the offense are even louder. USC finished No. 5 nationally in EPA/Play last season and was No. 1 in EPA/Pass, which is a big reason the Trojans are expected to come out firing again. If Maiava trims the turnovers, the ceiling gets even higher, and so does his draft stock in 2026.
San Jose State, meanwhile, is trying to reset after a rough finish. The Spartans opened 2025 on the road at Texas and got beat 38-7.
They also ended last season on a four-game losing streak, and in four games to close the year they failed to reach 20 points. Their offense finished outside the top 100 in EPA/Play, and now they’re handing the quarterback job to Hawaii transfer Luke Weaver, who has 105 career pass attempts.
That inexperience matters here, especially against a USC defense facing an opponent that oddsmakers clearly don’t expect to keep pace. The total is hovering near 60 points, and if the game does turn into the kind of scoring track meet the market suggests, USC looks like the side most likely to separate and cover.
This is also the first of several manageable games for the Trojans before a key Big Ten meeting with Oregon at the end of September. For USC, the goal is simple: start fast, look sharp, and get out of Week 0 without drama.
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Texas Tech Is Right In The Middle Of A Massive Recruiting Battle
One of the top recruiting names on the 2028 board is down to the stretch run, and USC is still very much in the mix. Five-star offensive lineman Austin Attalah plans to announce his college commitment on Aug. 25 on The Pat McAfee Show, choosing between the Trojans, Texas and Texas Tech after working his way down from a larger group of suitors.
For USC, this is the kind of heavyweight battle that can shape an entire class before it even fully takes form. Texas Tech currently holds the edge in a 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction, and Attalahs family ties to Texas add another layer to a decision that has been narrowing for some time, leaving the Trojans waiting to see whether they can make the final push before the announcement. [Read more 🡒]
USC Rookies Are Already Giving Trojans Fans Plenty To Track In August
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There is still plenty of preseason sorting left to do, and not every rookie has been asked to do the same amount yet. Ramsey was held out of Houstons most recent game as a precaution, and Caleb Williams has been kept on a limited snap count in Chicago, even as expectations build for him to see more action soon. For USC followers, it is the kind of early-August tracking that can make the next few weeks feel a little more personal, with each appearance offering another clue about where these rookies are headed. [Read more 🡒]
USC Needs Tanook Hines Now More Than Ever
Tanook Hines return to practice during USCs Mock Game week was a welcome sight for a Trojans offense still sorting out its next wave of playmakers. The sophomore receiver had been out through spring and the early part of fall camp because of injury, but he showed up looking noticeably bigger, a sign of how much the program is counting on him as he enters his second season.
USC has plenty of reason to lean on him. Hines already carved out a starting role as a true freshman and was a key contributor in the 2025 season, which is why his presence matters so much now with a young receiver group needing a steady hand. The Trojans do not just need him healthy, they need him to help set the tone for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]