USC left the Coliseum with a 49-30 win over Louisiana on Saturday night, and the Trojans are now 3-0 on the 2026 season. The scoreline says comfortable victory. The details say there’s still plenty to clean up.
The biggest issue was the kind of sloppy, uneven performance that can get exposed fast once the schedule stiffens. USC did enough to control the game, but it never looked especially sharp.
At times, the Trojans seemed to be moving through the night instead of taking command of it. That’s not going to fly when the competition gets better.
Even so, this game also put a spotlight on just how dangerous this freshman class can be. USC’s first five touchdowns all came from true freshmen, and the production didn’t stop there.
A freshman also led the team in tackles on defense. If there was any lingering doubt about the impact of this 2026 recruiting class, Saturday offered another loud answer.
The breakout name was tight end Mark Bowman. He turned in the best performance of his college career so far, leading USC in receiving with six catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Among the freshmen making noise, Bowman stood out as the one who most clearly changed the game.
Not everything was so encouraging. USC’s secondary depth remains a real concern after a second straight example of an opposing quarterback piling up damage in the fourth quarter once the backups were on the field. The Trojans have depth in a number of places, but right now, defensive back does not look like one of them.
Then there were the penalties. USC was flagged eight times for 78 yards, and that kind of self-inflicted drag is hard to overlook. Plain and simple, that number has to come down.
Next up, the Trojans open Big Ten play on the road at Rutgers next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m.
Pacific time/3:30 p.m. Eastern time on CBS.
In Other News...
Former Auburn Star's Sudden USC Exit Now Looks Far More Serious
Chad Baker-Mazaras sudden exit from USC basketball has taken on a much more serious cast than a routine roster departure. The former Auburn standout filed a lawsuit against coach Eric Musselman, claiming Musselman directed a racially charged rant at him after a game in February, and that the fallout led to Baker-Mazara being dismissed from the program the next day.
The suit goes beyond the breakup on the bench. Baker-Mazara also alleges USC skipped an NIL payment and tried to end the agreement by invoking a morals clause, and he is suing for breach of contract, conversion and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage. He says the dismissal damaged his NBA Draft stock, turning what looked like a quick roster move into a dispute with bigger implications for the Trojans and their coach. [Read more 🡒]
USC Heads Into Big Ten Play With Real Momentum And One Concern
USC wrapped up its nonconference slate at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with a 49-30 win over Louisiana, a result that gave the No. 12 Trojans a little more confidence as Big Ten play arrives. The offense again had plenty to like, with freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley adding both a punt return touchdown and a receiving touchdown to keep building on a strong start to the season.
Freshman tight end Mark Bowman was another bright spot, catching six passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns before being held out of the second half as a precaution. On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Jide Abasiri flashed enough disruption to draw a high PFF grade, but USC still heads into conference play with one lingering concern after a game that otherwise looked like another step forward. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Sends USC A Clear Warning Before Big Ten Play
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With Big Ten play looming, Riley made it clear the next phase will demand more from USC than the first three games have. He talked through the lessons already learned and the players who have helped steady the start, but the bigger question now is how the Trojans hold up when the competition changes and the margin for error gets much thinner. [Read more 🡒]