No. 14 USC Opens Season With 42-26 Victory Over San José State

The victory gave USC a winning start to the season and marked another successful opening game for a program entering its fifth season under head coach Lincoln Riley.

USC Controls the First Half

The Trojans controlled the opening half.

USC scored seven points in the first quarter and added 21 in the second to take a 28-0 halftime lead.

The team added another touchdown in the third quarter, extending the advantage to 35-3 before San José State mounted a late comeback.

The Spartans scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

USC ultimately finished with a 42-26 victory.

The late San José State rally demonstrated the difficulty of maintaining a shutout against a Division I opponent for an entire game, but USC had already established enough separation to protect the victory.

Maiava Leads USC's Offensive Effort

Quarterback Jayden Maiava played a central role in USC's opening-day success.

The Trojans' official game center highlighted Maiava and a group of new playmakers as key contributors to the victory.

Maiava's performance included both passing and rushing contributions, providing USC with a balanced offensive threat.

The Trojans also received contributions from a large group of young players.

Fox Sports reported that 16 true freshmen appeared during the game, highlighting the depth of USC's incoming class and the coaching staff's willingness to use younger players early in the season.

San José State Finds Its Offense Late

San José State struggled to generate offense during the first three quarters.

The Spartans finally found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, scoring 23 points.

Quarterback Luke Weaver completed 21 of 32 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns while also contributing 42 rushing yards, according to San José State's official account.

The late production prevented the game from ending as a complete blowout.

It also gave San José State an opportunity to evaluate its offense under competitive conditions against one of the country's ranked teams.

A Strong Start for a Ranked USC Team

The victory gives USC an early win that can provide momentum entering the rest of the schedule.

Ranked teams face significant pressure at the beginning of a season because early losses can affect postseason positioning and national perception.

USC avoided that problem by taking control from the opening quarter.

The program's 42-point performance also demonstrated the potential of an offense featuring returning players alongside new contributors.

However, the fourth-quarter defensive performance provides an area the team will likely need to examine.

Allowing 23 points in the final period after controlling the game for three quarters reduced the margin and demonstrated how quickly momentum can shift.

A Major Opening for Los Angeles

The game also represented a major event for Los Angeles.

The Coliseum remains one of the city's most recognizable sports venues, and USC football has a long association with the region.

The program's home games attract large audiences and contribute to the city's broader sports culture.

The opening-day matchup also gave Southern California college-football fans an early look at USC's 2026 team.

For national audiences, the result provided an early indication of whether the Trojans can remain among the country's competitive programs.

For the players, it was the first opportunity to play a meaningful game after the offseason.

Looking Ahead for the Trojans

The opening victory provides USC with a positive starting point, but one game cannot determine the outcome of an entire college-football season.

The Trojans will face more difficult opponents as the schedule progresses, and maintaining consistency will become increasingly important.

The team's young players will also be asked to handle larger roles as the season develops.

Saturday's victory nevertheless provided several positive indicators.

USC scored 42 points, controlled most of the game and received contributions from both established players and freshmen.

San José State's fourth-quarter surge showed that the Trojans still have areas to improve.

The final score, however, remained comfortably in USC's favor.

The 42-26 victory therefore gave the No. 14 Trojans the result they wanted in their season opener while providing coaches with an early assessment of the team's strengths and weaknesses.

For Los Angeles sports fans, the season has officially begun, and USC's opening performance immediately put the Trojans into the national college-football conversation.