Before Saturday’s season opener against San Jose State University, USC football faced some bad news: Two of its top wide receivers — sophomore Tanook Hines and transfer junior Terrell Anderson — would miss the game due to injuries.

Without their star wideouts, the Trojans would need to rely on a group of freshman receivers making their collegiate debuts to fill the noticeable void. Even with the veteran presence of redshirt senior quarterback Jayden Maiava, the lack of on-field experience could have spelled disaster for what was supposed to be an easy win to start the season.

Instead, USC’s offense didn’t miss a beat.

Headlined by a stunning debut from wide receiver Trent Mosley, the Trojan freshmen dominated Saturday’s affair, propelling No. 14 USC (1-0) to a 42-26 victory over the San Jose State Spartans (0-1). Though the Trojans wavered down the stretch, allowing 23 points in the final quarter, a powerful all-around first half was more than enough to secure the season-opening win.

“They came out here, and they let it rip,” Head Coach Lincoln Riley said of USC’s freshmen in a postgame news conference. “It certainly wasn’t flawless, but it was pretty damn good.”

Mosley spearheads impressive offensive showing

Mosley certainly put his name on the map in his first collegiate game, racking up 118 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions. The true freshman made six catches of double-digit yards, including a 17-yard pass in the second quarter that he took another 16 yards on the ground.

“He just does what he does in practice. I mean, I don’t think anybody here is very surprised,” Riley said of Mosley’s performance. “He’s a consistent player, an explosive player … he came in and attacked it.”

Mosley was far from the only newcomer to shine, though: Freshman wide receivers Tron Baker and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt combined for 81 yards on four catches apiece, with Dixon-Wyatt adding a touchdown in the second quarter. In total, five freshmen made their first receptions Saturday, a group rounded out by tight end Mark Bowman and wide receiver Boobie Feaster.

Though he wasn’t passing to Makai Lemon or Ja’Kobi Lane — both of whom left for the NFL Draft after last season — Maiava looked as confident as ever against the Spartans, putting up the most efficient performance of his career so far. The Trojan quarterback converted 25-of-29 pass attempts for a total of 286 yards, while throwing for two touchdowns and running in one of his own to open the scoring in the first quarter.

For the final 15 minutes, Riley opted to bring in freshman quarterback Jonas Williams, who projects as USC’s quarterback of the future after this season. Williams looked sharp for most of the fourth quarter, including two long passes of 18 and 20 yards, but he threw the only interception of the game to end USC’s penultimate drive.

Miller, Jordan build on 2025 success

While the freshmen took over in the receiver room, the run game was dominated by two familiar faces: redshirt senior running back Waymond Jordan and redshirt sophomore running back King Miller. A former walk-on, Miller took over starting duties last year after Jordan suffered a season-ending ankle injury. The two appear to be sharing the role to start the season.

The duo controlled the ground all day, rushing for a combined 111 yards on 23 attempts — most of which came in the first quarter, when Riley still seemed hesitant to rely on his young receivers. Though Miller saw more carries, Jordan was the more efficient of the two, averaging 6 yards per carry compared to Miller’s 4.2.

“We’re always competing with each other,” Miller said in a postgame news conference. “Whether he’s getting the ball [or] I’m getting the ball, we’re just trying to make the best for this team and go out there and get wins.”

Yet another true freshman, running back Shahn Alston, made his presence known after Jordan and Miller were taken out late in the game. Alston recorded 30 yards on seven attempts, all in the fourth quarter, including the first touchdown of his career to score USC’s final points of the day. 

Patterson’s defense shines early, falters late

Aside from the plethora of new players, another newcomer was under the spotlight: Defensive Coordinator Gary Patterson.

Saturday’s matchup marked the first test of whether Patterson would live up to his lofty expectations — and for most of the game, he seemed to pass with flying colors.

USC’s defense was impenetrable through the first 45 minutes, holding San Jose State scoreless in the first half and allowing only a field goal in the third quarter. Junior defensive tackle Jide Abasiri starred with 2.5 tackles for loss, including a massive stop on fourth-and-1 to stifle a dangerous Spartan drive in the second quarter.

However, the Trojans brought in several reserves to play the fourth quarter, opening the door for San Jose State to narrow the gap. The Spartans scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives, bulldozing through USC’s once-stalwart defense and cutting the lead from 32 points to 16.

“I know [Patterson’s] pissed right now about the fourth quarter, as you can imagine,” Riley said. “The guy’s standards are so high; that’s how it is for our defense.”

Nevertheless, the early-game version of the defense was very promising, forcing several three-and-out drives and holding San Jose State’s run game all but silent. If the Trojans can maintain that level of defense against tougher opponents, their chances of earning their first College Football Playoff bid become much more realistic.

Looking ahead, USC faces a short week before a rare Friday matchup against Fresno State University. The Trojans will take on the Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 6 p.m.