Jayden Maiava and Trent Mosley were the big winners for USC in Week Zero

The USC Trojans opened their season with a dominant 42-26 victory over the San Jose State Spartans this past weekend. In this breakdown, we analyze the standout performances and key takeaways as we identify the winners and losers from USC's season-opening win.

Winner: QB Jayden Maivia

Jayden Maiava set a new school record for single-game completion percentage at 86.2%. While the offense played conservatively, Maiava’s efficiency and poise under Lincoln Riley in his third season highlight his immense potential. If he continues to perform at this level and leads the Trojans to key victories, he will firmly cement his place in the Heisman Trophy conversation.

Winner: 2026 Recruiting Class

While it would be easy to highlight Trent Mosley, who became the first true freshman wide receiver in program history to record over 100 receiving yards in his debut, joining the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, the entire 2026 recruiting class deserves recognition. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Shahn Alston also made immediate impacts by finding the end zone in their first games.

"He's a consistent player, and an explosive player. I thought he came in and attacked it. He didn't play hesitant, and he was a good weapon for us,' Riley said of Mosley.

The fact is, this top-ranked class lived up to the hype on Saturday with contributors like Luke Wafle, Mark Bowman, Mosley, and Dixon-Wyatt were paramount to the Trojans' victory, proving that the future in Los Angeles has already arrived.

Losers: USC poor fan support

Despite the social media backlash regarding attendance at the Trojans' season opener, the criticism feels shortsighted. The conditions in Los Angeles were brutal, with extreme heat reaching dangerous levels. So much so that recruits had to be escorted back to the Bloom Center for safety once the game was well in hand.

"We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance," USC said in a released statement. "We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum atmosphere can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up Saturday and look forward to seeing increased attendance the rest of the season."

The USC faithful remain among the most passionate in the country, and while the visual of the stadium may not have flattered the reported 51,000 fans in attendance during Week Zero, the atmosphere will undoubtedly improve as the season progresses and the weather becomes more hospitable.

Nicholas Burmood has been covering USC Athletics on Reign of Troy since 2025. Follow Nick on X @FightOnNick

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