Breaking down the USC Trojans’ biggest winners and losers through Week 8

The USC Trojans have entered their second bye week of the regular season which serves a well-timed break as they gear up for the stretch run of their 2025 campaign.

Sitting at 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play, the Trojans have largely met expectations through the first seven games. With a week to regroup and refocus, it’s also the perfect moment to reflect on the season to this point and highlight the biggest winners and losers from USC’s journey so far.

Here are USC's winners through Week 8 in 2025

Makai Lemon, WR

Perhaps the least surprising name on the winners list is wide receiver Makai Lemon. The elite wide receiver has been the most explosive playmaker on one of the nation’s top-ranked offenses and has firmly positioned himself as a likely first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

Through seven games, Lemon has racked up 758 receiving yards, a mark that ranks near the top both in the Big Ten and nationally, while adding six touchdowns to power a highly efficient Jayden Maiava–led passing attack. He set a new career high with 11 receptions against Illinois and has topped 100 receiving yards in a game three times, including two performances over 150 yards.

Lemon’s breakout campaign has cemented his status as one of college football’s premier receivers. As USC heads into the back half of the season, it’ll be crucial for the Trojans to maximize his impact because this is almost certainly Lemon’s final year in the cardinal and gold.

Jayden Maiava, QB

There was plenty of speculation before the season about whether Jayden Maiava could effectively lead this USC offense. Seven games in, the answer has been a resounding yes.

While Maiava hasn’t been flawless and his performance against Notre Dame showed there’s still room for growth, he’s been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country, and it hasn’t been particularly close. The signal caller has guided the Trojans to a 5-2 record, already surpassing the 2,000-yard passing mark, and could realistically approach 4,000 yards by season’s end if he maintains his current pace.

So far, Maiava has thrown for 15 touchdowns against four interceptions, completing 68.1% of his passes. He’s also added four rushing touchdowns, though he hasn’t been the running threat some expected which is something that could change given the lingering injuries to Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders.

Like Makai Lemon, Maiava ranks near the top of nearly every statistical category in both the Big Ten and the national leaderboards. With five games remaining, USC’s postseason hopes hinge largely on his continued development and ability to lead this offense down the stretch.

Ryon Sayeri, K

Ryon Sayeri has arguably been the most consistent performer on USC’s 2025 roster, which is no small feat given the level of talent across this team. The veteran kicker has been a model of reliability on special teams and a crucial weapon anytime the Trojans cross midfield.

Through seven games, Sayeri has converted 12 of 13 field goal attempts, an impressive 92.3% success rate, while remaining perfect on 33 of 33 extra points. He also drilled a career-long 54-yarder against Michigan, further cementing his status as one of the most dependable kickers in the Big Ten.

Sayeri has displayed nerves of steel all season, delivering in key moments with calm precision. As USC enters the most demanding stretch of its schedule where games tighten and every point matters, Sayeri’s steadiness and clutch ability will be vital to the Trojans’ push toward their season goals.

Here are USC's losers through Week 8 in 2025

Defensive Secondary

The USC Trojans have shown noticeable improvement in the trenches this season, particularly on the defensive front, but the secondary remains an area of concern. While the defense limited Notre Dame’s passing attack, that was largely due to the Irish gashing USC for 300 rushing yards rather than a lockdown performance in coverage.

There’s no denying that help is on the way through recruiting and the transfer portal, and safety Kamari Ramsey continues to be a bright spot. The future NFL draft pick serves as both the brain and voice of the defense, providing leadership and stability on the back end. Still, too often, the Trojans have suffered from blown coverages and missed assignments, putting immense pressure on the pass rush to bail out the defense on nearly every drop back.

This bye week likely comes at the perfect time for the secondary to regroup and refine its communication and discipline ahead of the season’s final stretch. With five must-win games remaining to stay in the College Football Playoff conversation, USC can’t afford to give up explosive plays through the air.

The defensive line won’t surrender 300 rushing yards often, which means the secondary must rise to the challenge when high-powered passing attacks come calling.

Run Game

It wasn’t immediately apparent against Michigan, but the Notre Dame game made it clear that USC’s offense is struggling to establish a consistent running game. Entering the season, Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders were the unquestioned RB1 and RB2, and both had performed at a high level before injuries sidelined them. Their absence has created a major challenge that Lincoln Riley now has to navigate.

Going forward, King Miller will take over as the lead back, with Bryan Jackson expected to see increased opportunities thanks to his punishing, physical running style.

However, the drop-off in overall talent is noticeable, and with the offensive line still dealing with injuries, the pressure on the Trojans to dominate up front is higher than ever. It worked against Michigan, but opposing defenses will now have plenty of film on Miller and will craft game plans to contain his explosive bursts.

That lack of balance was on full display in South Bend, where USC became one-dimensional, forcing Jayden Maiava to throw 42 times. That’s not a sustainable formula in the Big Ten, where defenses are disciplined, physical, and too smart to be caught off guard. For USC to stay competitive and keep defenses honest, the rushing attack needs to be at least serviceable, giving Maiava enough support to keep the offense versatile and efficient down the stretch.

Lincoln Riley, Head Coach

For the most part, Coach Lincoln Riley has done an admirable job guiding this USC team, and it’s clear the Trojans are on track for a far more successful season than a year ago. The issue hasn’t necessarily been the losses themselves as there’s no shame in falling on the road to ranked opponents like Illinois and Notre Dame, but rather how those losses have unfolded.

To be clear, Riley’s critics often overlook the reality of the situation. He inherited a program that had been mismanaged by prior administrations and has worked to restore stability and competitiveness in Los Angeles. Still, there are moments when play-calling feels conservative or disjointed, and when pivotal junctures arise, USC has struggled to seize the momentum needed to close out games.

In both losses this season, the Trojans held second-half leads only to let them slip away, which represents a trend that has understandably frustrated the fan base. Riley often emphasizes that this team is “close,” and he’s right. USC appears to be just one step away from breaking through that invisible barrier of finishing big games.

However, that step remains unclaimed, and it has placed USC in a five-week must-win stretch to stay alive in the College Football Playoff race. The margin for error is now zero, a position that could have been avoided had the Trojans been able to finish just one of those earlier close contests.