USC Dominates Fresno State in 39-0 Victory

It was another commanding halftime lead for USC.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava showcased his impressive efficiency once again.

And Trent Mosley made a strong case for being the top freshman receiver in the nation.

The major difference between No. 14 USC’s 39-0 victory over Fresno State at the Coliseum on Friday and their earlier season opener? The conclusion.

This time, the Trojans held strong both early and late against the Bulldogs, unlike the defensive lapses they experienced in the fourth quarter against San Jose State.

“It was a pretty complete game from the team,” said USC coach Lincoln Riley. “Very excited about how we finished it off.”

Fresno State struggled throughout the game, managing just 116 yards of offense. In the final minute, facing a fourth-and-goal situation at the USC eight-yard line, backup defensive end Jadyn Ramos made a critical sack.

“We bit down on our mouthguards, had some grit and were able to finish,” said Trojans defensive tackle Jide Abasiri, part of a team that racked up five sacks.

This performance offered redemption for a defensive unit that had previously faltered. Last week, they allowed 23 points in the fourth quarter, but this time they secured their first shutout since a 48-0 win over Utah State in September 2024.

There was a slight uptick in attendance for this unusual nonconference matchup; with USC now in the Big Ten and Fresno State having joined a restructured version of USC’s former conference, the crowd of 53,014 was about 2,000 more than the previous week in oppressive heat.

Those who attended were treated to nearly flawless play from Maiava. He completed 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns without any interceptions before being substituted by backup Jonas Williams late in the third quarter.

So far, in two games, Maiava has completed 48 of 54 passes, boasting an astonishing 88.9% completion rate.

His favorite target could very well lead to some competitive Heisman Trophy narratives. After having over 100 yards in his debut, Mosley surpassed that mark before halftime in this game.

Interestingly, Fresno State (0-1) allowed Mosley to slip away early in the second quarter, leading to a painful 68-yard touchdown after he made a clean catch inside the Bulldogs’ 40-yard line.

Was Maiava caught off guard by Mosley’s sudden openness? “Maybe a little bit, yeah,” he said, grinning.

Mosley secured another 9-yard touchdown later in the second, catching a pass at the five and deftly avoiding a defender before breaking the plane. He ended up with four catches totaling 104 yards and two touchdowns.

Freshman wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt also shone with six catches for 102 yards.

Maiava enjoyed the return of a familiar face, as USC wide receiver Tanook Hines, who missed the season opener due to injury, caught an 8-yard touchdown pass during the team’s initial drive.

However, there were a few hiccups; the Trojans fumbled three times, losing the ball on two occasions.

These miscues didn’t impact them against a Bulldogs team that struggled to maintain offensive momentum or protect quarterback Jayden Mandal, who faced constant pressure and endured two safeties.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever had two safeties in a game in my coaching career,” Riley remarked. “So that was pretty darn cool.”

One series in the second quarter highlighted the Trojans’ defensive strength: they stopped running back Rayshon Luke for a two-yard loss on first down, pressured Mandal into an intentional grounding on second down, and subsequently knocked him out of the back of the end zone for a safety on third down.

The situation didn’t improve for Mandal or the Bulldogs’ offense. USC safety Prophet Brown recorded his first career interception on a pass that was simply thrown up for grabs, and Fresno State ended with a mere 56 yards of offense before a final, inconsequential drive.

Riley noted that his defense executed with speed and confidence, which stemmed from their belief in each other and in new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson’s strategies.

“I thought our front and our back end really played well together and complemented each other,” Riley added. “That’s what really good defense looks like. It was steady with a bit of explosive plays defensively, and that’s quite an effective approach.”

USC has one more game to prepare against Louisiana — or two, depending on your perspective based on recent events in Rutgers — before facing Oregon on September 26 at the Coliseum.

Both Maiava and Mosley seem ready, and perhaps now the Trojans’ defense is too.