A new wave is taking over USC’s offense, and Saturday’s win over Louisiana made that harder to ignore.
King Miller looked like the back who can tilt the whole operation. Trent Mosley kept flashing the kind of playmaking that turns limited touches into real damage.
And Mark Bowman finally gave the Trojans the tight end breakthrough they’ve been waiting for. Add in a defense that was active and disruptive, and USC had plenty of bright spots in its third game of the season.
Miller was the clearest separator in the backfield. Waymond Jordan had his moments with some physical second-half runs, but Miller looked like the lead option from start to finish.
He piled up 128 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, good for 7.1 yards per carry. When he gets rolling, USC’s offense changes speed in a hurry.
Mosley didn’t need a huge volume day to leave his mark. He caught just two passes, but those grabs went for 33 yards and a touchdown.
He also added an 83-yard punt return. Week after week, he keeps looking like the kind of player the Trojans can build around.
Bowman’s outing may have been the most important development of all. The freshman tight end posted 6 catches for 83 yards and showed exactly why he belongs in the passing game.
He even hurdled two defenders on one of his bigger gains. USC already has elite receivers, and now it looks like it has an elite tight end too.
On the other side of the ball, Luke Wafle and Deven Bryant helped set the tone. Wafle was a disruptive force on the defensive line, finishing with 7 total tackles, 6 solo, and 1 tackle for loss.
Bryant was everywhere as well, collecting 5 solo tackles and helping drive the improvement in USC’s run defense. Through the first part of the season, he has been a steady, reliable presence.
Not every young receiver found the same opening. Boobie Feaster didn’t get a target, and Tron Baker’s role continued to shrink even after an encouraging start to the season. Both are waiting for their next chance.
The same goes for the veterans who entered the year expected to lead the room. Tanook Hines and Terrell Anderson were projected as the top two targets, but their roles have already been cut back.
Anderson’s health affected his place, and in his first game back, he contributed only on special teams when Trent Mosley got hurt. There’s still too much talent there to write them off, but right now the pecking order in USC’s receiver room is clear.
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
USC is 3-0 after its win over Louisiana, and Lincoln Riley spent his latest media session sounding like a coach who knows the early record only tells part of the story. The No. 12 Trojans have shown growth through the opening stretch, but Riley pointed to the challenges the team has already faced and the way different pieces have helped them keep moving forward, especially on the defensive side.
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 🡒]