LOS ANGELES, CA — No. 14 USC delivered a statement performance on Friday night, overwhelming Fresno State from the opening whistle and cruising to a 39-0 shutout at home.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava was nearly flawless, completing 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans improved to 2-0. Freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley emerged as his biggest weapon, hauling in two scoring passes while continuing an impressive start to his college career.
Mosley caught four passes for 104 yards, including touchdown receptions of 68 and 10 yards. He had already made an impact in USC’s opener against San Jose State with 118 receiving yards.
Tanook Hines added a touchdown reception, while freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt continued to make his presence felt with six catches for 102 yards.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley praised his team’s performance on both sides of the ball.
“It was a pretty complete game from the team,” Riley said. “Very excited about how we finished it off.”
The Trojans’ defense was equally impressive under first-year coordinator Gary Patterson. USC held Fresno State to just 116 total yards, including only 49 yards through the first three quarters. The Trojans also forced two turnovers, recorded two safeties and limited the Bulldogs to just 2.6 yards per play.
The defensive performance was a significant improvement after USC’s relatively conservative showing in its Week 0 victory over San Jose State.
“ We did some great things,” Riley said. “(Patterson) makes things challenging on the other side, and I think what you saw was our belief in it was even higher than last week.”
Maiava Continues Strong Start
Maiava established control of the game early and didn’t need to play beyond USC’s first series of the second half.
The veteran quarterback has been highly efficient through the Trojans’ first two games, throwing only six incompletions while accounting for five touchdown passes. He has also demonstrated the ability to extend plays with his legs and remain accurate while throwing on the move.
The challenge ahead will be maintaining that efficiency when USC begins facing the toughest opponents on its schedule.
Mosley Becoming a Major Weapon
Mosley’s rapid development has given Maiava another dangerous option in the passing game.
His 68-yard touchdown came after he broke free through the middle of the Fresno State defense, giving USC another explosive play and putting the Trojans firmly in control.
His second touchdown, a 10-yard reception shortly before halftime, helped send USC into the locker room with a commanding 30-0 advantage.
“We’re all on the same page and playing at a really high level, but obviously there are some things to clean up,” Maiava said.
USC Defense Sets the Tone
The Trojans established their defensive dominance almost immediately.
USC’s first safety came when Kennedy Urlacher reached Fresno State quarterback Jayden Mandal in the end zone. Urlacher later forced another turnover by knocking the ball loose from Mandal.
Sixth-year defensive back Prophet Brown also recorded the first interception of his career, capping a memorable night for a player who missed the entire 2025 season because of injury.
“It meant everything,” Brown said. “I did a lot of stuff behind the scenes, just worked and worked and stayed focused.”
Urlacher, meanwhile, turned in one of the night’s biggest defensive performances. The Notre Dame transfer recorded three tackles, including two sacks, and delivered the safety on his blitz.
Following the victory, Urlacher was rewarded with the opportunity to lead the USC band.
Difficult Night for Fresno State
Fresno State struggled to generate any offensive rhythm in its first game against a ranked opponent under coach Matt Entz, who previously worked as an assistant at USC.
Mandal completed just 7 of 15 passes for 77 yards and was responsible for two turnovers. He also was taken down in the end zone twice.
Mandal missed the entire 2025 season because of an injury, and Friday marked only his second career start during his fourth season with the Bulldogs.
Entz acknowledged that his quarterback’s lack of experience played a role in the struggles.
“There were times I felt like he looked really good in there, and then there were times I think he dropped his eyes and started watching the rush a little bit and didn’t trust the protection,” Entz said. “That’s probably a little bit of inexperience.”
Despite the difficult performance, Entz said Mandal would remain his quarterback.
“I know we’re a better football team than this, and this is unacceptable,” Entz said. “And we’re going to get back to work.”
A Statement From the Trojans
USC controlled virtually every aspect of Friday night’s matchup. Maiava consistently found openings in the Bulldogs’ secondary, while the Trojans’ defense suffocated Fresno State’s offense and repeatedly created pressure.
The victory gives USC a 2-0 start and provides Riley’s team with significant momentum heading into the next portion of its schedule.
The Trojans’ biggest early-season challenge is likely still ahead, with No. 2 Oregon scheduled to visit Los Angeles on Sept. 26. But based on Friday’s performance, USC appears to be developing into a much more complete team.
What’s Next:
Fresno State: The Bulldogs return home Sept. 12 to face Sacramento State.
USC: The Trojans host Louisiana on Sept. 12.
