The USC Trojans wasted no time making a statement in their season opener, delivering their highest-scoring performance since 1930 with a 73-13 rout of Missouri State at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Missouri State briefly held the lead after kicking a field goal on its opening drive, but USC quickly seized control and never looked back. By halftime, the Trojans had poured in 42 points, showcasing their offensive depth and defensive dominance against a Bears squad making its debut as a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program in Conference USA.
Photo Cred: On 3
Quarterback Jayden Maiava set the tone early, displaying poise and command in contrast to some of last season’s inconsistencies. He completed 15 of 18 passes for 295 yards and added two rushing touchdowns. With Maiava steering the offense, the Trojans scored six first-half touchdowns and built a commanding lead. Missouri State’s lone highlight of the half came when wide receiver Tristian Gardner scored the Bears’ only touchdown late in the second quarter.
Freshman quarterback Husan Longstreet took over in the second half and looked flawless in his collegiate debut. Longstreet went a perfect 9-for-9 passing, throwing one touchdown while also adding two rushing scores. His efficiency and confidence only deepened USC’s offensive dominance and provided a glimpse of the team’s promising future behind Maiava and the young playmakers developing in Lincoln Riley’s system.
The Trojans spread the wealth, with nine different players finding the end zone. Standout performances came from wide receiver Makai Lemon, safety Bishop Fitzgerald, and running backs Waymond Jordan and King Miller. USC also scored on defense, underscoring the complete, complementary football Riley said he expected to see.
Photo Cred: The Sporting Tribune
“That shows some of the versatility of this team,” head coach Lincoln Riley said after the game. “We were able to get a lot of different guys involved. We (also) scored off defense. It was exciting to see. I anticipated that we would play something like this. It’s kind of what I’ve seen on the practice field. I expected we would come out and play well on all sides and be complementary, and we did that.”
Missouri State, which managed 224 yards of total offense compared to USC’s 597, struggled to match the Trojans’ physicality and speed. Quarterback Jacob Clark completed 16 of 24 passes, but the Bears were largely stifled once USC found its rhythm. “Tough night for the Bears. Really, really good football team,” Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard said. “When you look at their roster and you look at their sheer size, strength all across the roster, it’s a good learning experience for us. Obviously wish the score could have been a little different. This is the league you’re stepping into.
When you go to FBS, this is what the top, best FBS looks like. So I think it was a good view for everybody to see. USC (1-0) will look to keep momentum rolling when it hosts Georgia Southern on Sept. 6 at the Coliseum. Missouri State (0-1) heads to Marshall on the same date in search of its first FBS win.
