Jayden Maiava completed 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards and three total touchdowns as No. 14 USC beat San José State 42-26 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Aug. 29.

The Trojans built a 28-0 halftime lead and stretched it to 35-3 entering the fourth quarter before reserves surrendered late scores. USC topped 500 total yards of offense.

Freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley stole the show in his collegiate debut. The former Santa Margarita High standout caught seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, becoming the first Power Four freshman receiver to hit those marks in a debut since Purdue's Rondale Moore in 2018, the Los Angeles Times reported. Mosley also ripped off a 41-yard punt return on his first collegiate opportunity.

In the second quarter, Mosley caught a pass over the middle and broke three tackles for a 33-yard gain. He found the end zone in the third quarter on a 14-yard reception in the red zone.

"That kid moves differently. I mean, he's special," running back King Miller said of Mosley after the game.

Maiava set the tone early, rushing for a 1-yard touchdown on USC's opening drive. He then completed 14 consecutive passes at one stretch before missing on a deep shot to Mosley near the end zone. The redshirt senior returned to USC after throwing for 3,711 yards in 2025 and posting the highest total quarterback rating in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), passing on the NFL Draft for one more season.

Miller led the ground game with 63 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman Riley Wormley scored on a 5-yard run, freshman Shahn Alston punched in a fourth-quarter touchdown, and freshman receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt hauled in a 9-yard slant for his first college score, capping a 91-yard, 12-play drive. USC's running backs found the end zone four times.

Defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, the former Hall of Fame head coach at TCU in his first season running USC's defense, saw his unit hold San José State to 102 yards in the first half and 93 rushing yards for the game. Junior defensive tackle Jide Abasiri stuffed San José State's Isaiah Carlson for a two-yard loss on a fourth-and-1 in the second quarter. The Los Angeles Times described freshman defensive end Luke Wafle as looking unblockable at times off the edge.

The Spartans did not score until midway through the third quarter on a field goal by kicker Trajan Sinatra. But San José State outscored USC 26-14 in the second half, averaging 8.4 yards per play against mostly second- and third-string defenders.

Head coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged the late letdown but kept perspective, telling the Los Angeles Times that USC dominated through three quarters and that the fourth-quarter struggles showed the team still needs its full roster depth.

Freshman quarterback Jonas Williams replaced Maiava in the fourth quarter, completing 4 of 5 passes for 47 yards on his first collegiate drive. Normal backup Sam Huard was ruled out before kickoff. Wide receivers Tanook Hines and Terrell Anderson also sat out with injuries.

Former USC receiver and 2018 Super Bowl champion Nelson Agholor led the Trojans out of the tunnel before kickoff, with fans braving 90-degree heat for the noon start.

USC hosts Fresno State in its second game of the season.