USC’s second game of the season left the Trojans with a statistical profile that looks a little different than it did a week ago, but the big-picture story is still easy to spot: this team is putting up major numbers through the air, creating havoc on defense, and leaning on a few breakout performances that have already pushed into the national conversation.
Start with Jayden Maiava, because his efficiency is doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the offense. He is ranked fifth in the country with an 88.9 completion percentage, and that comes with an important wrinkle: he has played two games while a majority of the other quarterbacks around him have only played once. Even so, the number is eye-catching, and it has already twice reset the highest single-game mark by a USC quarterback with a minimum of 25 attempts since at least 1995.
The passing game as a whole has been the sharpest part of USC’s offense. The Trojans are averaging 376.5 passing yards per game, which puts them No. 10 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten.
Their total offense sits at 528.5 yards per game, good for No. 28 nationally and No. 3 in the conference. USC is also converting 66.7 percent of its third downs, a rate that lands tied for eighth in the country and tied for first in the Big Ten.
There are a few spots where the numbers have slipped compared with last week’s first-game snapshot. USC’s scoring offense is down to 40.5 points per game, compared with 42.0 after Week 1.
The rushing offense now sits at 152.0 yards per game, and the Trojans are at 7.3 yards per play. Red zone efficiency is at 76.9 percent, and the Trojans have allowed two sacks.
On defense, USC has some numbers that stand out immediately. The Trojans are allowing 13.0 points per game, 226.0 total yards per game, and just 4.5 yards per play.
They’ve also piled up six sacks, which is tied for third in the nation and tied for first in the Big Ten. Opponents are converting only 33.3 percent of third downs against USC, and red zone trips have been converted at a 60.0 percent clip.
Jide Abasiri has been a notable force on the defensive line through two games. He already has 3.5 tackles for a loss, which is tied for fourth in the country.
There’s also a clear youth movement showing up in the receiving stats. Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt both went over 100 receiving yards in USC’s win over Fresno State, making them the first two freshmen to do that since records were made available in 1973. They’re also the first duo to reach that mark in the same game since 2022, when Mario Williams and Jordan Addison did it.
USC has also been moving the chains at a ridiculous rate. The Trojans have 56 first downs in two games, which ranks first nationally.
They’ve produced 35 first downs on pass plays, far ahead of the field, and 20 more on the ground, which is tied for seventh. Defensively, USC has allowed 28 first downs, tying it for No. 119, though only nine of those came on Friday.
That last note matters, since the Trojans have played twice while most teams have only played once.
The penalties and turnover numbers are less tidy. USC is averaging 10.0 penalties per game, which ranks tied for No. 113 nationally and tied for No. 15 in the Big Ten. The Trojans have a turnover margin of -0.5 per game and have committed three total turnovers.
One more detail worth noting: Caden Chittenden has been perfect on all 11 of his point-after attempts, and that total ranks first in the nation. He still hasn’t attempted a field goal this season, and he is the only player among the 45 kickers who haven’t tried one yet who has played in two games.
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 🡒]