USC already has a game under its belt, beating San Jose State 42-26 in Week 0, but that score doesn’t tell the whole story. The Trojans were 38.5-point favorites, and while they won, San Jose State actually outscored them 23-7 in the fourth quarter after USC pulled its starters. This Friday night, USC hosts Fresno State at the Coliseum on FOX, and the Bulldogs are bringing a seriously tough defense that could make things interesting.
Maiava Looked Sharp, But There’s Pressure on Riley
Look, Jayden Maiava was electric in Week 0. The guy completed 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, plus he ran in another score. Not only that, true freshman Trent Mosley had a wild college debut, snagging seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. Maiava led the Big Ten with 3,711 passing yards last year, so we know he’s got the arm. Lincoln Riley brought in the No. 1 recruiting class, and those young dudes were all over the field in the opener, with five true freshmen starting and more getting serious playing time. This season feels like make-or-break for Riley, who’s in his fifth year and still chasing that first College Football Playoff appearance for the Trojans. The pressure’s on, big time.
Fresno State’s Defense Is No Joke
Here’s where it gets real: Fresno State is making its 2026 debut after a 9-4 season, and their defense was flat out one of the best in the country last year. They’re returning seven starters from a unit that ranked second in FBS in passing defense, giving up just 153.8 yards per game. Second! They were also fifth in interceptions with 20, sixth in opponent completion percentage at 53.8%, seventh in takeaways with 26, seventh in rushing touchdowns allowed with nine, and tenth in total defense, allowing only 285.7 yards per game. They led the Mountain West in passing defense, interceptions, takeaways, and total defense. Fourth-year junior Jayden Mandal is making just his second collegiate start at quarterback for the Bulldogs, and while their defense is legit, those insane numbers from last year didn’t come against an offense with USC’s kind of talent.
Can Fresno State’s monster defense actually stifle USC’s offense? It’s gonna be a tough ask for Mandal in just his second start in this kind of environment. The smart money is on the Trojans to win big on Friday night at the Coliseum. You know Riley wants to make a statement, and with that young talent buzzing, they’ll be looking to put on a show and keep that CFP dream alive.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply