The Coliseum is already buzzing! No. 14 USC just dropped a touchdown in their Week 0 opener against San Jose State, with redshirt senior quarterback Jayden Maiava punching it in himself, giving the Trojans an early 7-0 lead with 3:53 left in the first quarter. This is exactly the kind of start head coach Lincoln Riley wanted, kicking off his fifth season in charge.
Maiava and USC’s Early Dominance
Riley’s got a reputation for dominating season openers, aiming for a perfect 10-0 record as a head coach, and this early score keeps that dream alive. But the real show is Maiava. The guy is hailed as the nation’s best quarterback, and he’s already living up to the hype. Remember 2025? He was All-Big Ten Third Team, led the nation with a ridiculous 91.2 QBR, and topped the Big Ten with 3,711 passing yards. With 31 career starts, he’s a veteran who knows how to get it done. The Trojans’ first score came from Maiava himself on a one-yard rush, but their offense is already humming on the ground. They’ve racked up a strong 67 rushing yards on just 10 attempts. Waymond Jordan is leading the backfield with 42 yards on 5 carries, and King Miller has chipped in 24 yards on 4 attempts. Maiava is also sharp through the air, completing 4 of 5 passes for 25 yards, connecting with Mark Bowman (8 yards), Zacharyus Williams (6), Tron Baker (6), and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt (5). It’s a complete offensive effort in these opening minutes.
San Jose State Stumbles Out of the Gate
Meanwhile, San Jose State is definitely feeling the pressure from that No. 14 ranking. Their offense is struggling to find any rhythm against USC’s defense, and it shows on the stat sheet. At this point in the first quarter, they’ve only managed a meager 0 rushing yards on one lone attempt. Quarterbacks Luke Weaver and Robert McDaniel have combined for just 1 completion on 2 attempts, gaining a grand total of 7 passing yards. Receiver Jerry McClure has that lone catch for 7 yards, but it’s clearly not enough to generate any sustained drives. Their defense is trying to hold the line, with Dylan Lee getting 3 total tackles and Caleb Womack adding 3 solo tackles, while Runye Norton also has 3 solo tackles. Even with Malakai Hoeft and Isaiah Buxton each getting a solo stop, they just couldn’t stop Maiava and the USC offense on that opening scoring drive. Trent Carrizosa also put in a 46-yard punt, so special teams got a workout. They need to figure out how to generate some offense fast if they want to hang in this game.
This is just the first quarter, folks, but the tone is set. USC looks poised to continue Riley’s impressive opener streak, and Maiava is already proving why he’s considered the nation’s top signal-caller. Can San Jose State adjust and find a way to answer this early dominance? The rest of the game at the Coliseum is going to be a battle, and you know Maiava is just getting warmed up. We’ll be watching to see if the Trojans can keep this momentum rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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