3 things that we learned about USC in one of its most impressive efforts under Lincoln Riley

The USC Trojans continued their early season dominance with a 39-0 shutout victory over Fresno State, moving to 2-0 overall. Following this dismantling of the Bulldogs, what key takeaways have emerged regarding the state of the Trojans?

True freshman Trent Mosley delivered an encore performance following his impressive debut, eclipsing the 100-yard mark once again. This time, however, he terrorized the Bulldogs' defense with two touchdowns, doubling his output from the season opener against San Jose State.

Trent Mosley is on track to be an All-American

While Mosley entered the program as one of the most highly touted recruits in the 2026 class, he has evolved quickly from a mere contributor into a primary playmaker. Quarterback Jayden Maiava shows no hesitation targeting the freshman, who has fully capitalized on increased opportunities created by an injury-plagued wide receiver corps. With this explosive start, it is becoming clear that the Trojans have produced yet another elite talent, reaffirming USC's reputation as a premier destination for developing game-changing wide receivers.

The starting defense might be a shut-down unit

Zero touchdowns allowed. That is the state of the USC Trojans’ starting defense through the first two games of the season. While it is still early, pitching a shutout against a Fresno State squad expected to be a formidable member of the new-look Pac-12 is a significant statement. The Trojans’ defense faced some scrutiny after failing to finish strong against San Jose State, but context is required as many regular starters had already been pulled from that contest.

The performance against the Bulldogs warrants similar perspective. The defense made history by forcing two safeties, marking the first time the program has achieved such a feat in a single game. There has long been chatter regarding whether a Lincoln Riley defense can support an offense well enough to guarantee College Football Playoff success, but the early returns are promising. Fresno State may not be the toughest test USC will face this season, but a shutout is a shutout, and it is clear that Gary Patterson has his unit playing with a loose, aggressive, and confident attitude.

Jayden Maiava is a real Heisman candidate

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Lincoln Riley has a Heisman-caliber player at quarterback. Jayden Maiava has been elite in every sense of the word. He continues to maintain a stellar touchdown-to-interception ratio, and although he was pulled early for the second consecutive week, he still managed to break his own school record for single-game completion percentage while throwing for 349 yards.

Maiava is carving up defenses with ease, and while tougher tests lie ahead, the Trojan signal-caller is positioning himself to leave a legendary legacy at this storied program.

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