August 30, 2026
No. 14 USC Opens 2026 Season with 42-26 Win Over San Jose State
Jayden Maiava threw for 286 yards and two scores as USC's freshmen made an immediate impact in a dominant season debut.
No. 14 USC opened the 2026 college football season on Saturday with a 42-26 victory over San Jose State at the Coliseum, improving to 7-0 all time against the Spartans. The Trojans were in control from the opening kickoff, building a commanding 35-3 lead through three quarters before San Jose State scored 23 fourth-quarter points in garbage time.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava drove the offense, finishing with 286 passing yards and two touchdown strikes. Both scoring passes went to freshman wide receivers, with Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt each hauling in a touchdown catch in their collegiate debuts.
Freshmen Shine Across All Three Phases
USC's 2026 freshman class left a visible imprint on the victory beyond the passing game. Defensive end Luke Wafle earned a starting assignment and made his collegiate debut on that side of the ball, part of a broader showing by first-year players that head coach Lincoln Riley described as a direct product of what they had earned in practice.
I thought they did a great job. Like I said, the team through three quarters played pretty damn good. The guys contributed on all sides of the ball. I thought a lot of those guys did what we challenged them to do, which was take what they've done in practice to earn those opportunities. Following guys like Jide [Abasiri], Jayden [Maiava], and our older guys, they came out here and let it rip. They all affected the game. You felt it on defense, you felt it on offense and you felt it on special teams. Good to see those guys rise up and be ready to play.
— USC head coach Lincoln Riley
The late defensive lapse that allowed San Jose State to make the final score more presentable was a blemish on an otherwise efficient performance. USC was listed among the winners from Saturday's nationwide Week 0 action, a slate that also featured Bill Belichick's North Carolina program and NC State. The Trojans' season-opening result sets an early tone for a program with clear College Football Playoff aspirations entering the fall.
