ended
USC wins 56-28 vs. San Jose State — as it happened
by STEFANO FENDRICH & JOSHUA SACHER
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USC football opens season behind electrifying Zachariah Branch debut
PINNED
TROJANS WIN 56-28.
- 1st 3:41 – TOUCHDOWN TROJANS, Williams to Singer. Kick good.
- 2nd 14:12 – touchdown Spartans, Robinson. Kick good.
- 2nd 9:38 – TOUCHDOWN TROJANS, Williams to Washington. Kick good.
- 2nd 3:32 – TOUCHDOWN TROJANS, Jones. Kick good.
- 2nd 0:08 – touchdown Spartans, Cordeiro to Nash. Kick good.
- 3rd 10:45 – TOUCHDOWN TROJANS, Jones. Kick good.
- 3rd 6:00 – TOUCHDOWN TROJANS, Williams to Branch. Kick good.
- 3rd 1:50 – touchdown Spartans, Cordeiro to Nash. Kick good.
- 3rd 1:34 – TOUCHDOWN TROJANS, Branch. Kick good.
- 4th 12:28 – TOUCHDOWN TROJANS, Williams to Rice. Kick good.
- 4th 6:53 – TOUCHDOWN TROJANS, Moss. Kick good.
- 4th 5:08 – touchdown Spartans, Cordeiro to Nash. Kick good.
We’ll be posting updates throughout the game on this page, as well as recaps after every quarter on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, as well as Threads.
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August 26, 2023 8:36 p.m.
TROJANS WIN.
(Robert Westermann / Daily Trojan)
Seven seconds left in the 4th. It’s safe to say the game is called: USC 56, San Jose State 28. Impressive work from the Trojan defense in this season opener, despite some crazy drives from the Spartans — especially in the first half.
August 26, 2023 8:11 p.m.
SJSU got one back, with Nash getting yet another touchdown on the day, a 2-yard catch, but still trail 56-28.
August 26, 2023 8:10 p.m.
The Spartans are driving after a 57-yard run. The Trojan’s run defense continues to be pushed to the limit.
August 26, 2023 8:05 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
The Trojans continue to pour salt on the wound for SJSU, with Moss keeping it himself and running it in 4 yards for the touchdown. The Trojans lead 56-21 after the nine-play 78-yard drive.
August 26, 2023 8:00 p.m.
Caleb Williams’ day is now done, with Miller Moss now in at quarterback. Williams finished the day, completing 18 of 25 passes for 278 yards and four touchdowns.
August 26, 2023 7:56 p.m.
Christian Roland-Wallace made a great defense breakup, forcing another Spartans three-and-out.
August 26, 2023 7:50 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
Brendan Rice got in on the fun with a 12-yard touchdown catch from Williams to open the fourth quarter. Williams has four touchdowns on the day to four different receivers.
August 26, 2023 7:44 p.m.
At the lighting of the torch and end of the third quarter the Trojans lead 42-21.
Zachariah Branch in his first game of college football: four Catches, 58 receiving yards, 232 all-purpose yards, a receiving touchdown and a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown.
August 26, 2023 7:38 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
Zachariah Branch continues his electric debut. On the ensuing kickoff after the SJSU touchdown, Branch ran it back 96 yards to the house to push the USC lead right back to 21.
August 26, 2023 7:34 p.m.
Touchdown Spartans.
San Jose won’t go away just yet. On a beautiful throw and catch with the defender holding him, Nash pulled in another touchdown from Cordeiro, this time from 32 yards out. San Jose cuts into the Trojan lead, 35-21 with just under two minutes left in the third quarter.
August 26, 2023 7:25 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
Zachariah Branch makes defenders look silly on his way to his first collegiate touchdown. Trojans lead 35-14.
August 26, 2023 7:17 p.m.
The USC defense stepped up in a big way. On third and nine at the USC 34, the Trojan defense sacked Cordeiro 22 yards pushing SJSU out of field goal range and forcing a punt.
August 26, 2023 7:17 p.m.
The USC defense stepped up in a big way. On third and nine at the USC 34, the Trojan defense sacked Cordeiro 22 yards pushing SJSU out of field goal range and forcing a punt.
August 26, 2023 7:04 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
Austin Jones punched it in from three yards away to push the Trojans’ lead back up to a two-possession game. USC leads 28-14 after driving 75 yards in four minutes.
August 26, 2023 7:04 p.m.
The Trojans picked up a huge fourth-down conversion at their own 46-yard line. Williams hit Mario Williams for the 23-yard first-down conversion. USC is now in the redzone.
August 26, 2023 6:42 p.m.
Key first-half stats:
Total Yards:
USC: 226 SJSU: 176
Passing Yards:
USC: 134 SJSU: 95
Rushing Yards:
USC: 92 SJSU: 81
Time of Possession:
USC: 12:44 SJSU: 17:16
August 26, 2023 6:32 p.m.
USC ended their first half with a three-and-out being capped with an 11-yard sack of Williams.
(Brooks Taylor / Daily Trojan)
The Spartans struck right before the end of the half with a 28-yard touchdown catch by junior Nick Nash. After the three-and-out, San Jose State marched 46 yards in 19 seconds
Caleb Williams takes a knee to close out the half, after the Spartans’ late strike. End of first half: USC – 21, SJSU – 14. The Trojans will receive to start the second half.
August 26, 2023 6:22 p.m.
The USC defense got another quick stop, forcing a punt after just four plays. Willaims will have 1:35 to try and get any more points for the Trojans before half.
August 26, 2023 6:14 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
The Trojans punch it from two-yards out courtesy of Austin Jones on third down after another 10-play drive. USC is stretching their lead before half, ahead 21-7.
August 26, 2023 6:10 p.m.
Senior rush end Jamil Muhammad came flying around the edge and applied a big hit on Cordeiro to force yet another three-and-out. The Trojans’ defense is starting to heat up.
August 26, 2023 6:03 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
Caleb Williams brings out some magic, launching a 76-yard touchdown to Tahj Washington after dropping the snap. With the ball on the ground, Williams had the wherewithal to pick it up and launch the ball to the wide-open Washington streaking down the field. Trojans lead 14-7.
August 26, 2023 5:55 p.m.
The Trojans held strong and forced a three-and-out. The defense had their best possession of the day, allowing negative three yards on those three plays.
August 26, 2023 5:52 p.m.
USC is forced to punt after a three-and-out, giving the Spartans a great starting field position. Caleb Williams was penalized for intentional grounding on the third down.
August 26, 2023 5:43 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN SPARTANS.
The Spartans even the score at 7-7 after a one-yard touchdown rush by running back Kairee Robinson.
The 28-yard scramble the Trojans allowed on third and 22 proved to be costly.
August 26, 2023 5:38 p.m.
At the end of the first quarter, USC leads SJSU 7-0 thanks to a Caleb Williams-to-Dorian Singer strike.
(Robert Westermann / Daily Trojan)
The quarter will open with San Jose State at USC’s one-yard line with a first and goal opportunity.
August 26, 2023 5:37 p.m.
USC forced the Spartans into a third-and-22 situation but allowed Cordeiro to get out of the pocket and scramble for 28 yards and a first down.
August 26, 2023 5:30 p.m.
SJSU is already at the Trojans’ 39-yard line after a 20-yard run by senior running back Kairee Robinson and 13-yard reception by junior receiver Charles Ross. It took only three plays for the Spartans to get into Trojan territory.
August 26, 2023 5:26 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN TROJANS.
Caleb Williams got the Trojans’ first touchdown of the year on a third down 13-yard strike to Arizona transfer Dorian Singer. USC leads 7-0 after a 10-play 80-yard drive.
August 26, 2023 5:23 p.m.
Trojans enter the red zone after Marshawn Lloyd picks up the first down.
August 26, 2023 5:22 p.m.
USC is driving, already at the Spartans’ 30-yard line after a 37-yard rush by Austin Jones.
August 26, 2023 5:21 p.m.
After allowing three first downs on the first drive, the new-look Trojan defense held strong and forced a punt after getting a sack on second down. USC allowed Spartans senior quarterback Chevan Cordeiro 11 rushing yards on the first drive.
August 26, 2023 5:21 p.m.
After allowing three first downs on the first drive, the new-look Trojan defense held strong and forced a punt after getting a sack on second down. USC allowed Spartans senior quarterback Chevan Cordeiro 11 rushing yards on the first drive.
August 26, 2023 5:10 p.m.
San Jose State has won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball.
The Trojan defense, which has all eyes on them this season, will have its first opportunity to show improvement from last season, or lack thereof.
August 26, 2023 5:08 p.m.
The Trojans will be wearing a special No. 12 sticker on their helmets in honor of Charles White, the late Heisman awardee. They had a moment of silence to honor White and the late C.R Roberts before the game.
August 26, 2023 4:45 p.m.
15 minutes to kickoff.
We’ll be posting updates throughout the game on this page, as well as recaps after every quarter on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, as well as Threads.
