By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
USC jumped out to a fast start as quarterback Jayden Maiava passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, leading No. 14 Southern California to a 42-26 victory over San Jose State before 51,144 fans at the Coliseum.
Trent Mosley caught seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in an impressive debut for the Trojans. The Orange County product was among several promising newcomers making an impact in coach Lincoln Riley’s offense.
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt also caught a touchdown pass in his USC debut, while Riley Wormley and Shahn Alston each rushed for their first Trojans touchdowns.
With College Football Playoff aspirations, USC entered the season with a restocked roster around Maiava. The quarterback completed 25 of 29 passes as the Trojans built a 35-3 lead through three quarters. Six of the 10 Trojans who caught a pass were making their USC debuts.
“Really dominated the game there through three quarters,” Riley said. “A lot of exciting ball. (We had) a lot of guys (in) their first games as Trojans make a lot of big plays out there.”
USC entered the day as a heavy 38.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, after finishing last season 9-4 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten.
Maiava, beginning his third season as the Trojans’ starting quarterback, rushed for a score on USC’s opening drive. Dixon-Wyatt caught a short scoring slant in the second quarter, while 2025 breakout star King Miller rushed for a touchdown to give USC a 28-0 lead just before halftime.
“Shout out to freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley, shout out to the guys up front, the offensive line, the running back room,” Maiava said. “They all played great for three quarters, and now we’re on to the next.”
Defense Strong Through Three Quarters
USC’s new defensive coordinator and his unit looked sharp for most of the game. The Trojans held San Jose State to just three points through the first three quarters before the Spartans rallied against USC’s backup defenders.
New San Jose State quarterback Luke Weaver led three fourth-quarter touchdown drives, tightening the final score considerably.
Freshman quarterback Jonas Williams, viewed as a possible successor to Maiava next season, played the fourth quarter and passed for 55 yards with one interception. Williams holds an Illinois High School Association state record with 11,347 career passing yards and 147 touchdowns.
USC committed just one turnover and controlled the clock, holding a 39:15-to-22:45 advantage in time of possession. The Trojans were also flagged only five times for 34 yards.